By sunrise, I had learned two things: the Mafia boss waiting to marry me had already driven six wives out of his house, and if I refused to become number seven, my sick mother would lose her home

I sat frozen against the leather seat, staring at Cassian in absolute shock. "My mother called you?"

"Helen Carter is a remarkably clever woman," Cassian said, his voice smooth and steady as the SUV navigated the winding Hudson Valley roads. "She knew Margaret would force you into that dress the moment Evelyn ran. She called my office, gave Marcus the layout of the main house, and told us where Margaret kept the off-the-books accounting drives."

"Why didn't she tell me?" I whispered, my mind racing.

"Because if you had known, your fear wouldn't have been genuine," Cassian replied calmly. "And if your fear hadn't been genuine, Margaret wouldn't have believed her scheme was working long enough to sign the chapel registry."

He reached into his breast pocket and pulled out a sleek, unlisted smartphone, handing it to me.

"Call her," he said.

My fingers trembled as I dialed my mother's direct line. She answered on the very first ring.

"Lydia?" her soft, breathy voice came through the speaker.

"Mom," I gasped, holding the phone tight against my ear. "Are you alright? Did they bother you?"

"I'm sitting in my living room, sweetie," Mom said, her tone lighter and stronger than I had heard it in years. "Two very polite gentlemen in dark suits just installed a new medical oxygen concentrator in my bedroom. And... a man named Marcus just handed me the original deed to this cottage."

Tears pricked the corners of my eyes. "Mom, you took a terrible risk."

"The Aldridges treated us like dirt for ten years, Lydia," Mom said firmly. "I wasn't going to let that arrogant woman ruin your life to save her own skin. Mr. Vale promised me you would be safe."

I glanced over at Cassian. He was looking out his window, pretending not to listen, but the slight tension in his jaw told me otherwise.

"I'm safe, Mom," I said softly. "I'll come see you soon."

"Take care of yourself, daughter," she said before hanging up.

I handed the phone back to Cassian. "Thank you," I murmured.

"Don't thank me yet," Cassian said as the SUV slowed down, turning into a set of massive iron gates guarded by automated security cameras and heavy stone walls. "You are entering my home now. The world outside thinks you're a helpless victim trapped with a monster. If we want the Aldridges to panic and make a mistake, we have to play the part."

The SUV pulled up to the front steps of a magnificent, slate-roofed stone manor overlooking the river. The estate was breathtaking—ancient oaks, manicured lawns, and high security perimeters.

As the driver opened my door, Marcus stepped forward with a large garment bag.

"Mrs. Vale," Marcus said politely, using the title for the first time. "Your quarters have been prepared in the east wing. Mr. Vale’s legal team is convening in the study in thirty minutes."

I stepped out of the car, holding the long train of the stolen silk wedding dress out of the mud. I looked up at the towering stone mansion.

"What's the next step?" I asked Cassian as he walked up the stone steps beside me.