Cassian curated his life like he curated his Instagram — flawless, expensive, enviable.

But before all the money, the interviews, the flashy success?

He had been married to Janelle Rowe.

And he pretended he didn’t remember that.

CHAPTER 2 — THE WOMAN HE LEFT BEHIND

Janelle had loved him when he had nothing.

When his “company” was nothing more than sketches on napkins.
When investors laughed at him.
When he ate ramen three nights a week.

She worked two jobs — waitress by day, office cleaner by night — so Cassian could quit his job and chase his dream.

She celebrated his first investor.
She dried his tears when he doubted himself.
She believed in him before he believed in himself.

And just when life started getting good…

Just when the money arrived…

Just when the world started whispering that Cassian Holt was “going places”…

Janelle got pregnant.

He looked at her with the positive test in her shaking hand and felt nothing but panic.

Not joy.

Not hope.

Not love.

He saw a problem.

Two weeks later, he asked for a divorce.

He said she was “hood baggage.”
He said she didn’t fit his new image.
He said her pregnancy would ruin everything.

He offered her money to end the pregnancy.