Cassandra suddenly remembered

Miles had an uncle, a blood relative, who was only five years older than him. He was an unexpected late-in-life pregnancy for Miless grandparents, born when they were nearing fifty.

Apparently, being so treasured as a child led to him being spoiled beyond reason. The young man grew up with an impossible temperamentvolatile, capricious, and impossible to predict. Eventually, the family washed their hands of him, sending him abroad to fend for himself.

Now he was back? And a doctor, of all things?

Cassandra found herself caught off guard.

Jasper Langley emerged then, towering over Miles by a significant margin, his gaze cool and indifferent. "What do you want?" he asked with a flicker of disdain.

Miles had always been wary of this uncle.

Though only five years his senior, Jasper carried himself with a gravitas that made him seem decades oldercalculating, sharp-tongued, and perpetually wielding his authority like a weapon. Growing up, he had dragged Miles into trouble more times than Miles cared to count.

Rose, seeing Miles retreat into silence, leaped into the breach with a syrupy smile and exaggerated sweetness. "Uncle Jasper, could you check my sister for us? Just to prove were not being unfair to her."

Jaspers lips quirked into a faint, almost mocking smile. "Youre afraid to die, but Im not?"

This finally pushed Miles to muster some courage. "But youre a doctoran expert. And dont you carry PEP meds with you at all times?"

Jasper, a brilliant and renowned surgeon, was known for his meticulousness. Like many in his field, he always carried post-exposure prophylaxis medication, precautions against the risks of his profession.

"Uncle Jasper, please" Rose pressed, her voice fluttering into another octave of artificial pleading.

Jasper, however, ignored Rose entirely. His attention shifted instead to the lone figure standing in the courtyard: Cassandra, encircled by curious and judgmental onlookers.

Jasper vaguely recalled the Cassandra Grant of a bygone eraa luminous, commanding presence, once hailed as the unrivaled first lady of Imperias elite social scene. What a far leap it was to this: a woman who had vanished for three years, kidnapped by human traffickers and spat back into the world battered and disgraced.

The silence around them thickened as Jasper descended the marble steps with unhurried ease, his gaze fixed on her.

Cassandra tensed, instinctively wary, her eyes narrowing as she locked onto him.

For some reason, the closer he came, the more it felt as though the sweltering heat of her surroundings had dwindled, replaced instead by a suffocating, leaden sort of chill. The pressure was almost oppressive.

Doctors were supposed to be compassionate healers, devoted to preserving life. But this man he bore more in common with an executioner.

"Give me your hand," Jasper said, his voice low and clipped, alighting on the air with none of the patience one might expect from a physician.

Cassandra recoiled instinctively, drawing her hand back as her brow furrowed deeper.

Rose seized the moment. "Sister, let Dr. Langley examine you. Hes the youngest medical professor in the country, celebrated far and wide!"

Cassandra hesitated, her eyes falling to the mans outstretched hand. It was pale, veins faintly visible beneath the alabaster skin, each knuckle pronounced with a sculptural precision.

"Sister, are you afraid the truth will betray you? Come on, you dont have to lie to us. Were familyno one would shun you for it. Just be honest. That way we can all take precautions and save the whole family from"

Before Rose could finish her calculated goading, Cassandra extended her hand toward Jasper, quiet and resigned.

Jasper grasped her delicate wrist, his grip steady but neither gentle nor rough. His expression was inscrutable, detached, as he methodically examined her arms and joints, his fingers brushing over the skin where scars crisscrossed in a grim record of violence. Old wounds, faintly healed, merged with fresh ones still raw.

The skin, though marked, didnt display any concerning signsno pustules, lesions, or suspicious eruptions.

Next, Jaspers cool gaze shifted to her neck. "Have you been running a fever recently?" he asked.

"No," she replied, her tone calm, even.

He said nothing in response, only raised his other hand to her face, his touch skating just beneath her jawline before moving behind her ears, probing gently.

He was assessing her lymph nodes. For someone afflicted with HIV, swollen lymph nodes were an ever-present symptom.

The courtyard had fallen deathly silent, all eyes fixed on Jasper as if watching the final act of a reckoning. Even the wind seemed to hold its breath.

Roses fingers were clasped around Miless trembling hand, her nails digging into his skin. Her heart pounded with anticipation, praying Jaspers verdict would affirm what they had all suspected, that Cassandra had contracted the virus.

But then Jasper straightened, turning back toward the assembled family members. His words fell like a cold, steel blade. "Shes clean."

What?

Everyone froze, blindsided.

Thomass voice shot out, flustered. "How can that be? The police report saidwhen we went to checkthey listed that shed had a child, that she was HIV-positive"

A flicker of irritation broke through Jaspers detached composure. "You asked me to examine her. Now you dont believe what I tell you? Whatdid you summon me here for sport?"

By family rank, Jasper and Thomas were equals, so Jasper saw no need for courtesy.

Thomas scrambled to make amends. No, no, Dr. Langley, I didnt mean to question you.

Rose wasnt buying it either. She quickly interjected, Then maybe she hasnt shown symptoms yet? Being a carrier is terrifying enough.

Jasper frowned, checking his watch. His voice was flat, his words clinical. Even if she had HIV, you wouldnt contract it through normal interaction.

I dont have HIV, Cassandra said sharply, the words punching through the air.

Jasper gave a cold, faint laugh, turning his gaze on her with an edge that cut. Why are you snapping at me? Its your own family that doesnt believe you, not me.

Then he looked over at Thomas. Since the engagements off, I have somewhere to be. Ill take my leave.

Thomas assumed hed caused offense and rushed to salvage the situation, forcing a congenial air. Dr. Langley, youre already herewhy not stay for a meal?

But Jasper had already reached his Bentley. Without so much as a backward glance, he slid into the drivers seat. Your family drama? None of my interest.

Thomas froze, humiliated mid-step. His smile faltered, but he retained his ingratiating tone as he called out, Safe travels, Dr. Langley. Safe travels.

Cassandra had no illusions about the man. Standing there, watching her father lower himself with such obsequiousness, her disdain only deepened. The Langley family's considerable influence in Imperia aside, she couldnt respect someone who seemed to wear his privilege like a hollow crown. Power and wealth bred undeserved reputations, didnt they?

After seeing Jasper off, Thomas didnt bother hiding his mounting frustration. He sent the few remaining guests on their way, aiming to contain the unfolding spectacle before it dragged the family name any lower.

Cassandra followed her family toward the front steps, but as she crossed the threshold, Rachel stopped her in her tracks. Cassandra wait a moment.

Then, turning toward the interior of the mansion, Rachel called out, Pam! Go get a room ready.

The housemaid, Pam, responded immediately, vanishing to carry out the order.

Rachel returned her focus to her eldest daughter, her nerves showing. Just a moment, Cassandra. Itll be ready soon. Then, still clutching her younger daughter close, she disappeared into the sitting room, whispering furtively. Whatever supposed pain had plagued Rose earlier now seemed miraculously absent.

Cassandra remained at the villas entrance, her expression cooled to stone. She felt like some cast-off relic, forgotten by everyone.

Miles stood nearby, tall and silent, his dark eyes trained squarely on her. Emotion rippled under the surface of his perfect, chiseled featuresa heady mix of shock and restrained anguish. But Cassandra didnt spare him a look, not even once.

It wasnt long before Pam reemerged, her face drawn into a polite smile. Miss Cassandra, its ready. This way.

Cassandra followed her, assuming shed be led upstairs to her former room. To her surprise, Pam guided her straight through the sitting room and out to the back veranda. Under the shadow of the eaves, nestled in the farthest corner of the yard, stood a diminutive structure.

Pam gestured toward it awkwardly. Miss Cassandra, Madam said youll have to make do with this for now.

Miles had trailed behind Cassandra the entire time. The moment he realized what Pam meant, his face darkened as though thunder had split the sky. He turned, his voice sharp as he called back to Rachel in the sitting room. Aunt Rachel, whats the meaning of this?

Rachel rose lazily, her face unmoved by the outrage in his tone. She crossed the room, her disdain barely concealed. Miles, this doesnt concern you.

The house before them wasnt a guest room or even a servants quartersit was the Grant familys luxurious dog villa. Built for their beloved pets, it stood at just over half human height, with a floor area of barely a hundred square feet. And yet, outfitted with more opulence than many homes, it epitomized the shameless indulgences of the ultra-richa sobering reminder of what it meant to be less than a dog in their eyes.

Cassandra stood frozen, her gaze oscillating between the miniature dwelling and her mother. For a moment, she struggled to process it. Youre telling me you want me to live in there? With the dogs?

The words tumbled out in bitter disbelief, a desperate laugh catching at the edges of her voice.