Page 34 of Sinful Obsession

I started to rise—but a shadow blocked our path.

Chapter 5

CHARLOTTE

The one-eyed man stood too close, his smirk dripping with malice.

“Where did you find her, Cassian?” He asked, his voice low, taunting.

“None of your business, Luca,” Cassian snapped, his tone a warning shot.

I froze. Still seated. Still processing.

Luca’s attention shifted to me. “You don’t remember me, do you?”

Before I could speak, another man emerged.

My blood turned to ice.

My father.

I hadn’t seen his face since—

No. I didn’t remember. But my body reacted before my brain could catch up. My stomach twisted with revulsion, with fury. I wanted to claw the smug grin off his face.

“Charlotte,” he said, faking surprise. “We all thought you were dead. How... how did you make it back?”

Confusion crashed over me, a tidal wave that drowned my thoughts.

Dead? My heart pounded, nausea surging as I gripped the chair for stability.

I stood slowly, my fists clenched at my sides

What did he mean?

“I advise both of you to walk away,” Cassian said darkly, standing taller beside me.

“Or what?” Luca barked a laugh. “You’ll stab me in the other eye, Cassian? Hm? You know what’s at stake now.”

“Mr. Luca.” A new voice broke in—low, cold.

I turned toward the sound. Artem Vasiliev.

“Mr. Grayson,” Artem added, now addressing my father. “That’s no way to welcome our princess.”

Artem walked forward with that same eerie grace, stopping just a few steps from Cassian and me. His presence demanded silence.

Cassian stepped in front of me, his body a protective shield.

“Cassian,” Artem continued, voice calm but carrying the weight of a blade. “It's good to see you again. But, as I advised young Vincent, wouldn’t it be wise to step aside from the leadership trials? Everyone knows I’m the strongest candidate. Neither you nor little Vincent stand a chance.”

His tone was polite. But the arrogance in it scraped down my spine.

Cassian’s grip tightened on my hand. “If you’ll excuse us, gentlemen.”

The three men—Father, Luca, and Artem—blocked our path, their presence a wall of menace. “Come on, Cassian,” Artem said, his tone almost playful, “you can’t just walk away.”

Cassian’s eyes narrowed.