Chapter 177: Cassidy’s Fury
Cassidy followed Zeke into Claire’s room and watched as he carefully laid their sleeping daughter on the bed.
After that, they walked together to the living room, each lost in their own thoughts.
They sat down side by side.
Her heart raced, her thoughts spinning with fear for Claire.
"So, what happened? Why didn’t Blake answer my calls? Did something happen to Claire? Why do her eyes look so swollen?" Cassidy asked, no longer able to hold back her questions, her worry spilling out.
Seeing how anxious she was, Zeke grew uneasy, afraid of how she might react once she learned that Claire had been kidnapped earlier.
He took a deep breath and clasped Cassidy’s hand tightly. "Baby, calm yourself."
"I can’t calm down when it comes to my child. So, for God’s sake, Zeke, tell me what really happened," Cassidy demanded, her voice sharp with urgency.
"Okay, I’ll tell you," Zeke said at last. "Claire was kidnapped earlier."
"What?" Cassidy gasped, her voice raised as she shot up from the sofa in shock.
Zeke quickly reached for her hand again, gently pulling her back down beside him.
"What do you mean Claire was kidnapped? Was she hurt? Who took her?" Cassidy demanded, panic blazing in her eyes as she stared at him.
"Baby, calm down, okay? Claire is fine. I already caught the kidnapper. You don’t have to be afraid anymore," Zeke explained, trying to soothe her.
But Cassidy’s fear only tightened inside her chest. Memories of the shooting that had almost taken Claire away once before flooded her mind. "Are you sure Claire’s all right? Did you check her properly?"
She stood up again, ready to rush to Claire’s room herself, but Zeke held her back.
"Where are you going?"
"I want to check on Claire," Cassidy said firmly, pulling her wrist free from his grip.
"She’s sleeping. Let her rest. You don’t want to disturb her, do you?"
Zeke’s words made Cassidy’s steps falter. Her instincts screamed at her to rush to her daughter, but she forced herself to stay put.
Cassidy let out a heavy sigh and sat back down, glaring at Zeke. "So, you already caught the kidnapper? Who was it? And why didn’t you tell me earlier?" Her anger rose, fueled by the thought that he had hidden such an important thing from her.
"I didn’t tell you because I knew your reaction would be like this—panicked, scared, unable to think clearly." Zeke pulled her hand back into his grasp and rested it on his thigh.
"The kidnapper is someone I know."
Guilt pressed on him heavily; if anything had happened to Claire, he would never forgive himself.
"Is the kidnapper the same person who shot Claire and hit my car?" Cassidy asked, seeking confirmation.
Zeke nodded.
Cassidy’s face tightened. She had suspected it all along, that every disaster and danger happening to her and Claire somehow had ties to Zeke. She gave him a sharp, bitter look.
"So, someone you know? You mean your enemy?"
"No. Not an enemy," Zeke said, lowering his head, guilt weighing on him. "But someone I knew back in college."
Zeke could see how upset she was. Her anger was strong, and he couldn’t blame her. Zeke blamed himself. Because of him, Cassidy and Claire had gone through so many terrible things.
"Someone you knew from college? Then why would that person do this if they’re not your enemy? What would they get from it?"
Zeke lowered his head slightly, ashamed, not wanting to meet Cassidy’s eyes as he admitted it. "Because back in college, she liked me. Maybe she’s doing this out of jealousy, because she couldn’t have me," he said quietly.
"But I never had anything with her. I didn’t even like her. She was... a stalker, a little unstable. That’s all." He added quickly, not wanting Cassidy to misunderstand.
When Cassidy heard that the one behind all this—the person who had hurt her and Claire was a woman acting out of jealousy, she almost wanted to hit Zeke, to yell at him. But she held it in, trying to keep her emotions under control. She knew Zeke wasn’t the one at fault, and lashing out wouldn’t change anything.
As if reading her thoughts, Zeke suddenly said, "Baby, if you want to hit me, then do it. I deserve it."
Cassidy scoffed and pulled her hand from Zeke’s grasp. "So, where is that woman now? Did you hand her over to the police?"
If Cassidy saw the woman, she thought, she might kill her for what she’d done to Claire.
"Not yet. I’m still holding her," Zeke said.
"Where are you keeping her?"
"In a warehouse."
A flash crossed Cassidy’s eyes. "I want to see her. I want to meet her."
Zeke looked taken aback. "What? You want to see and meet her, baby? Why?" he asked, more curious than refusing.
"Why? Am I not allowed to see her?" Cassidy challenged, folding her arms across her chest and glaring at him.
"No. That’s not what I mean." Zeke shook his head. "You can see her if you want, baby. I’ll take you there myself if you want to go."
"Good. I want to see her right now."
"Right now? Are you sure? What if we wait until tomorrow?"
"No. I want to go now."
Zeke hesitated for a second, then finally nodded. "Alright. Let’s go."
Cassidy and Zeke, with Blake driving, headed straight to the warehouse.
Markus and Nolan, who were still guarding the place, stiffened in surprise when they saw Cassidy step out of Zeke’s car. They quickly bowed their heads in respect as she walked past them.
Zeke then guided Cassidy inside, leading her toward the spot where Abigail was being held.
As soon as Abigail saw Zeke return, the despair on her face shifted into frantic desperation. She cried out, begging him to release her, her voice trembling.
She hadn’t yet noticed Cassidy standing just behind him. The instant her eyes fell on Cassidy, however, she froze. Her words faltered before turning into a shrill outburst.
"Y-You... this is all your fault!" Abigail cried out in hysteria.
Hearing the woman behind all of this scream at her and blame her, Cassidy stopped holding back her anger. She walked up to Abigail, raised her hand, and slapped her hard across the face.
Abigail’s ears rang, her head throbbing in pain.
"Y-you—"
Smack.
Cassidy slapped her other cheek, unleashing the fury she had kept inside for so long.
Smack.
Abigail shrieked and struggled in her bonds, yelling curses at Cassidy and demanding to be freed.
Blake stared, stunned by the sudden fierceness in Cassidy. He glanced at Zeke, and saw the same shock written across his face.
"You bitch. Let me go. If I get out, I’ll kill you," Abigail spat, struggling against her restraints, trying to provoke her.
Smack.
Cassidy slapped her again.
"Bitch... you and your bastard child—" Abigail snarled.
Smack. Smack. Smack. Smack.
Each hit landing with sharp force, echoing in the warehouse.
"Shut your mouth. Before you kill my child, I’ll kill you first," Cassidy snapped, her voice low and dangerous.
Abigail’s mouth throbbed from the hard slaps, the metallic taste of blood spreading across her tongue.
She glared at Zeke with sharp eyes. "So this is your type, Zeke? A barbaric woman who plays around with men? What’s his name again—Xavier?"
"Shut up, Abigail," Zeke cut in, his tone thick with anger at her insult.
Cassidy yanked Abigail’s hair, forcing her to look up. "Were those slaps still not enough? Do you really want me to end you right here?" she hissed.
Abigail mocked, "Do you dare? A coward like you could never do it. If you want to keep running, then keep running. Why come back?" she yelled, the words dripping with venom.
Cassidy turned away and walked toward the table she had noticed earlier, the one filled with Zeke’s tools.
Her hands trembled with rage, a deadly resolve forming as she reached for the knife.
Zeke’s eyes widened the moment he saw her hand close around the blade. Panic surged through him, and he rushed forward, quickly prying the knife from her grip.
He worried about what might happen if she lost control. "Let me do it, baby. You don’t need to stain your hands with something this filthy."
Cassidy held his gaze for a moment, then gave a small nod, handing the knife over to him.
Zeke walked toward Abigail. Panic flashed across her face, her body stiff with fear.
He turned the knife in his hand, then traced the cold edge slowly along her neck, careful not to cut.
A cold shiver ran down Abigail spine as the steel grazed her skin.
She swallowed hard, her head jerking back to avoid the blade. "Zeke, I’m so sorry. I already told you where your child is. Please... just let me go."
Zeke sneered. "You think just because you told me, I’d set you free? You’re dead wrong, Abigail."
Abigail froze.
"You tried to kill my child. You tried to hurt the woman I love. And now you dared to kidnap my daughter. You think I’ll let that slide?" His voice cut through her like a blade.
"Zeke, I’m so sorry. I did it because I love you so —"
"Cut the bullshit," he snapped. "You don’t love me. You’re obsessed. Obsessed with a man who rejected you, a man you could never have."
Zeke made a shallow cut across Abigail’s neck, just enough to draw a thin line of blood, meant to frighten her.
Abigail broke down, crying and screaming in terror as the blade grazed her neck.
***