marked by midnight: the enemy's heiress-Chapter 26 : The man beside her

Her brain registered him immediately.

His face. His posture. His presence.

But her heart hesitated.

Her chest tightened in a way that had nothing to do with the music or the crowd. That presence... it couldn’t be him. And yet, it was. Time slowed, the noise dulling into a distant hum as recognition crept in, unwelcome and undeniable. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

Cassian stepped forward.

The world around him blurred, lights and laughter dissolving into nothing as his sole focus narrowed onto Mira. She stood there, so achingly familiar, so painfully real, that it felt unreal all at once. His steps were instinctive, drawn by something older than logic, deeper than reason.

And then suddenly—

A voice from behind her.

"Mira? What are you doing here? Let’s go home now."

A hand reached out and gently took hers.

Cassian froze.

A man.

He was undeniably handsome, dressed in a perfectly tailored suit that hugged his broad shoulders and lean frame. His sharp jawline and well-defined features gave him a striking presence, while his dark eyes held a calm, controlled intensity. Neatly styled hair and effortless elegance made him stand out without trying. The kind of man who didn’t need attention to command it.

Mira turned.

She forced a smile at the man. "Yeah. Let’s go."

The words hit Cassian like a physical blow.

His jaw clenched hard, his hand curling into a tight fist at his side. The room felt too small, the air too thin. Before he could move, before he could speak, she was already pulling her children toward her, guiding them gently, protectively.

The kids went with her.

She glanced at him once before leaving.

Just once.

It wasn’t long. It wasn’t dramatic. But it carried years of things unsaid, emotions buried too deep to surface in public. And then she was gone, disappearing through the doors with another man’s hand holding hers.

Cassian slammed his fist against the wall beside him.

The impact echoed, sharp and raw.

He ran a hand through his hair, breath uneven, frustration burning through him like fire. "I can’t let you go," he muttered under his breath. "Not yet. Not until I get the answers to the questions that keep playing in my head and don’t let me sleep."

He walked out of the party.

The drive home was a blur of red lights and unanswered thoughts. His mind reeled, spinning with questions that refused to slow.

Why didn’t she ever contact me?

Was it really that hard?

Where was she living?

Where... where is my baby?

And the most important question of all—

Who is that man?

The moment he reached his place, he called his assistant.

"Mira is here," Cassian said the second the call connected. "Where is she living now? What was she doing at the party? I want details. Did you get that? ASAP."

He didn’t wait for a reply.

The call ended.

He stepped out of the car, his expression set with determination sharp enough to cut steel. He would get his answers. He would not let this rest.

Inside his house, he unbuttoned his shirt and tossed it onto the floor carelessly, not bothering to pick it up. His chest felt too tight, emotions clawing their way out after years of restraint.

"I saw her," he laughed bitterly to the empty room. "I fucking saw her... finally."

He dragged a hand down his face. "I don’t even know if that’s funny. Is it?"

A groan left his throat as he leaned back against the wall. "I don’t know if I care but..." His voice faltered. "Wait. Was that... my kids?"

The realization hit him all at once.

"Mine?" he whispered. "Were they twins?"

He shook his head, overwhelmed, and walked straight into the shower, not even bothering to take off his pants. The water poured over him, hot and relentless, washing over the storm raging in his chest. He stood there, unmoving, letting the sensation ground him.

When he finally stepped out, he changed into sweatpants and a loose, baggy tee. Stripped of his suit and sharp edges, he looked more human. More vulnerable. His hair was messy, unstyled, nothing like the man the world knew.

He lay down on the bed, staring up at the ceiling.

When he closed his eyes, the only thing he could see was Mira.

And the kids.

The party replayed itself over and over in his mind. It had happened so fast, yet somehow still felt too late. But not late enough to end.

"We’re not done," he murmured into the silence. "Not yet, Mira Isabella Serrano."

His gaze drifted to the empty side of the bed, the space she used to sleep beside him. He had never allowed himself to think of her. Never let those memories cross his mind.

But this time, he couldn’t stop them.

He remembered her smile. The way she laughed when she thought no one was watching. How she could be a brat sometimes, stubborn and impossible. A quiet chuckle escaped him before exhaustion finally pulled him under.

---

The next morning, his phone rang.

Cassian’s eyes snapped open instantly.

"Sir, I’ve got some updates to tell you," Ryan said.

"I’ll be there in a few minutes," Ryan added quickly.

When Ryan arrived, he found Cassian pacing the room. Restless. Sharp. A man undone.

Cassian had never been impatient. Ryan had learned patience from him. Cassian was usually calm, controlled, like a sunset near the beach.

Unless it was about her.

"Good morning, sir," Ryan said. "Here’s the information you asked for. I dug deep. The man with Ms. Serrano is none other than Kael Rowan. Self-made. Scaled a logistics-tech firm, sold it, reinvested into infrastructure, energy grids, and silent equity stakes. He doesn’t chase headlines. He builds systems people depend on. The kind of millionaire who controls flow, not fame."

Cassian glared at him. "Are you describing him or praising him? Tell me whose side you’re on."

"Nobody’s," Ryan replied calmly. "Only the winner’s side. The one who has the queen."

Cassian frowned. "And what’s that supposed to mean? You calling me a loser already?"

"No," Ryan said quickly. "You always win, sir. So of course—it’s you."

Cassian rolled his eyes. "We don’t have time for this. What else?"

Ryan hesitated. "For your information, Ms. Serrano is currently living with him. Their relationship is kept private."

Cassian’s jaw tightened.

"I want to meet her," he said firmly. "Find out where he lives. Call her. Tell her to meet me at the restaurant."

Ryan nodded. "Alright, sir."

And ryan left.