Chapter 2 My share

Cassie's eyes scanned the divorce agreement, each word slicing deeper, like tiny knives carving her chest open. Her heart sank with every sentence, until it felt as though it had dropped into a pit with no bottom.

Her breath caught when she saw the proposed settlement: a paltry $1 million.

"It's not fair," she whispered, though her voice trembled more with fury than with grief.

After all the years she had poured into Silverwood-years stolen from her youth, years swallowed by late nights, endless meetings, and dawns where she stumbled in half-awake with coffee as her only strength. After all the sacrifices she had made, all the loyalty she had shown-this was her husband's reward? A scrap thrown like a bone to a dog?

She had given her husband everything, and this was how he repaid her? With a measly $1 million settlement?

"Cassie, maybe you should talk to a lawyer before you do anything." Cora wasn't having any of it. She knew Trent was stupid but not this stupid.

But Cassie's voice rose, sharp and broken. "Cora, I've made billions of dollars for Silverwood. Billions! Yet I'm treated like a servant. I'm paid in crumbs, in pennies called royalties. No equity. Nothing to my name!"

Cora stayed silent, her expression carved from stone. She had warned Cassie before-warned her that Trent and his family were parasites, feeding on her brilliance while keeping her blind with promises of love.

But Cassie, ever the dutiful wife, the obedient daughter-in-law, the woman who wanted so badly to please, had chosen to close her eyes. And now? Now the truth sat on her lap in black and white.

Cassie was always the model daughter and innocent, naive daughter-in-law. She always wanted to please others, putting them before herself. And naturally, people too advantage of her.

She was still trying to process it all when she saw it, the reason for the divorce. "'Irreconcilable differences due to the wife's unreasonable behavior and neglect of marital duties'?"

"That's a lie!"

"Permit me to say, your husband is a bastard!"

But Cassie cut her off. "Yes, Cora! I completely agree. He's blaming me for the divorce. He's saying I'm the one who's unreasonable and neglectful."

How could he do this? How could he lie about her like this? She always put his needs before her own. And this was how he repaid her? By cheating on her and blaming her for the divorce?

She thought back to all the times she had bailed him out, covering up his mistakes and making excuses for his incompetence.

His parents had given him a meaningless title in the company, and everyone knew it was because he wasn't capable of doing any real work.

"This is ridiculous," Cassie spat, tossing the agreement onto the bedside table. "I'm not signing this."

"Look, let's call Nolen. Let's call him. He'll be your counsel and I can come for moral support!" Cora suggested.

Cassie looked at Cora. "You know what? You're right. I do deserve better. I deserve a fair share of what I've worked for all these years."

Cora nodded in agreement. "That's right, Cassie. You've made that company what it is today. You've earned the right to walk away with something."

Cassie's jaw clenched in anger as she thought about her husband's betrayal. "Billions, Cora. We're talking billions of dollars. And he thinks he can just give me a measly million dollars and call it a day?"

Cora shook her head. "No way, Cassie. You need to fight for what's yours."

"You're right. I'm not going to let him get away with this. I'm going to fight for what I deserve."

Cassie tried calling her family attorney, Nolen, but he wasn't answering. She tried again and again, but it kept going straight to voicemail.

Cora, who had been watching her, suggested, "Why don't I call a divorce lawyer I know? She's really good and has handled a lot of high-profile cases."

Cassie looked at her uncertainly. "I don't know...I've always dealt with Nolen for family matters."

Cora shrugged. "Well, Nolen's not answering, and you need someone who can help you now. Besides, divorce lawyers are a dime a dozen in LA. Couples get divorced every day here. It's practically a thing."

Cassie hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Okay, go ahead and call your lawyer friend."

....

The next day, after Cassie was discharged, Cora set up a meeting with Trent on Cassie's behalf. She couldn't stand hearing the man's name.

Cassie sat calmly in the conference room with her counsel, Rachel, by her left and Cora by her right.

The door opened, and Cassie's husband, Trent, walked in with a smug look on his face. But what really caught Cassie off guard was seeing her sister - Misty, standing beside him.

"What is she doing here?" Cassie asked.

Trent smirked. "Misty is my girlfriend now. She's part of my life."

All Cassie felt was anger and humiliation. Was Trent always this cruel or was she just not observant?

How dare he bring his mistress to their meeting? It was a blatant disrespect to her and their marriage.

Cora was enraged, she took Cassie's hand. "Don't let him get to you," she whispered. "We're here to negotiate and burn a hole in Silverwood's pocket."

Cassie took a deep breath and pushed aside her emotions. She focused on the task at hand, her eyes locked on Trent. "Let's get down to business," she said coolly.

Trent smirked, seemingly pleased with himself. "I'm glad we could finally meet," he said. His voice dripped with condescension. "I'm willing to offer you a generous settlement."

With the look in Cassie's eyes she could set Trent on fire.

Rachel leaned forward, locking eyes with Trent. "Let's see what you have to offer."

Trent handed Rachel a document. "This is my offer. I think it's generous."

Cassie looked at the document. "This is a joke," she said. "I deserve more than this."

Rachel nodded. "We'll need to discuss this further. This meeting is not over."

Trent leaned back in his chair. "I'm being very generous, Cassidy. You should take it."

Cassie shook her head. "No way. I've contributed just as much to this marriage and to your business as you have. I deserve a fair share."

Rachel spoke up. "We'll need to see financial records and other documentation to determine what a fair share would be."

Trent hesitated, clearly not wanting to hand over the documents. "I'll have my lawyer send them over," he said finally.

Cassie stood up. "I want to see them now. I want to know what I'm dealing with."

Trent sighed and pulled out his phone. "Fine. I'll call my lawyer and have him bring the documents over."

Misty, who had been quiet until now, spoke up. "Trent, do we have to do this now? Can't it wait?"

Trent looked at her, his expression softening. "No, it can't wait. This needs to be taken care of."

Cassie rolled her eyes. "This is ridiculous. You're more concerned with your girlfriend's feelings than with doing what's right."

Trent's expression turned angry. "Do not refer to my woman with such disrespect Cassidy."

Cora scoffed, "I am more than ready to throw hands with you Trent. You know me!"

Rachel stood up. "Let's take a break. This meeting is getting heated."

Trent was obviously not taking her seriously. He didn't even bother to bring a lawyer. His audacity shocked Cassie. A fair settlement? Generous? Who was he to use words like that on her?

"You know, Cassie, I've been thinking. You were only with me for my money, weren't you?"

Cassie's eyes widened in shock. "What? You did not just say that."

Trent sneered. "Don't lie to me. I know all about your little spending habits. You've been bleeding me dry for years."

"Is he on coke?" Cora asked. "I am not in a good mood today, stop playing."

Trent laughed. "Oh, really? Thinking back, what have you contributed, hmm? Your charm? Your beauty?"

Her cheeks burned. "How dare you."

"I dare," Trent said, rising to his feet, towering with false power. "Because I'm the one who holds the cards. My parents will back me to the end. You? You're nothing without me."

With that, Trent turned and walked out of the room.

Cassie tried calling her parents, but neither of them answered. She felt so frustrated.

"Come on, let's get out of here," Cora said, standing up.

Cassie nodded and followed Cora out of the conference room.

But just as they neared the exit, shadows fell across them-uniforms, badges, guns. Police officers swarmed in.

It was an ambush.

"Cassie Murphy, you're under arrest for embezzlement and money laundering," one of the officers said, cuffing her.

Cora shouted, struggling with the officers. "What? That's not true!"

And then, like a devil stepping from the smoke smirking. "I'm afraid it's very true, Cassie," he said, his hand in one pocket. "You see, I've been keeping track of all the 'loans' you've been taking from the company, the world will see it too. And let's just say, it's not going to look good for you."

Cassie's voice cut like glass. "You set me up."

Trent only shrugged, his smile coiled. "Just business, sweetheart. Just business."

As the officers dragged her away, Cassie's gaze locked on Trent's face.

Smug. Triumphant. Unrepentant.

And in that moment, something inside her-something deeper than rage, deeper than sorrow-began to burn.

"I'll call your parents," Cora said, already dialing the phone. "And I'll get you a lawyer. This is ridiculous."

Cassie didn't respond, her eyes fixed on Trent's smug face as she was led away.