THE PRISONER RETURNED AS A KING

Chapter 2: THE OFFICE RIDE

Kade stared at the divorce paper in his hand, and then at the sport car peeling away, leaving dust awakened in the air.

"Divorce paper?" Kade muttered.

His thoughts conflicted.

He planned to surprise Cassandra with his presence but Margaret's presence had just made him realize Cassandra one way or the other that he was out of prison and he had slapped him a divorce paper as welcome.

Even if she was going to end their marriage, it was ridiculous that it was happening immediately he walked out of the prison and he she didn't give him any honour, sending her the divorce paper through her assistant.

Yet, Kade couldn't shake off the confusion. He needed clarity. Maybe Margaret didn't misidentified him and the papers were meant for someone else. But looking at the bottom of the paper, Cassandra's familiar signature was already carefully written there, Final.

Kade still decided he needed an answer and he arrived at headquarter of the Mercer group. The fifteen story building stood tall, glass and steel glinting with a mocking shine upon everything around it.

The building had been renovated with new material and it was different from what Kade knew in the past. The Mercer family are obviously doing well.

Kade released a sharp breath and walked inside the building. In the past, Kade would always bring lunch packed in container for Cassandra so he knew his way around the place.

He stepped into the elevator and stepped out at the last floor where Cassandra's office was. Anticipating overwhelmed his heart, making him temporarily forgot about the divorce paper.

Five years ago, Cassandra was on her way from the office when she hit a man with her car from an influential family with her car. The man lost his life and Cassandra rushed home that night, shaking and crying that she'd killed someone.

A quick decision was taken by the Mercer family which in the past felt like a cruel transaction, but now that he was free, it looks like the perfect decision he would have regretted if he never submitted himself.

The Mercer family pleaded with him to save their daughter, they call it devotion, they said Cassandra won't be able to survive it if she went to the prison. Frankly, Deadmoo would have broken her.

Despite the love he had for Cassandra, it was a difficult decision. His innocence for her freedom.

"As much as I want to help, this.. it's difficult."

"Do you want her to suffer?" She's your wife. This is part of the responsibility of a devoted man." Kate, his mother-in-law who never appreciated anything he does had said. She crumbled to her knee, shedding tears that was too much to be false. "Please, my son-in-law."

Then Cassandra revealed something that completely crumbled his fragile hesitation.

She planted a hand on her belly, rubbing it gently.

"Your baby, Kade..our baby." She sniffled, tears streaming heavily down to her cheek with snot. "She's not going to survive it there."

And so, Kade submitted himself, threw away his innocence for love, for devotion, and so their innocent child could survive.

Kade still remembered the moment he was taken out of the court room.

"Murderer!"

"Kill him! Burn him!"

He looked across the courthouse to see Cassandra, wearing a loose black gown, she was in her mother's arms, shedding tears uncontrollably.

Kade's heart was filled with anticipation of seeing his wife and her daughter.

"She must be four years old now." The thought filled his heart with excitement. He stood at the door of Cassandra's office now with a heart drumming in excitement and anticipation, imagining Cassandra's reaction when she saw him and the joy when his young daughter calls him DADDY.

He raised his hand slowly and knocked on the door gently.

Killian pushed the door open slowly and stepped into the room. The tang smell of something heavier than fresh printed paper hit him first— Cologne, sweats and something heavier metallic smell of something musky.

Kade stepped in fully and the scene that caught his eyes next completely shattered him on standing.

Inside the executive office that was meant to Command authority, Cassandra was there doing a different job that was supposed to be for him alone. She sat half-naked on another man's lap on the enormous chair, jerking up and down and screaming in ecstacy, sharp enough to rip through Kade's heart like blade. She threw her head to the man's neck, enjoying every bit of the ride.

"Ah...yes, you're hitting it right..Jack...Oh, Jack right there..."

Ragged breathing rippled the room.

Kade just stood there without moving like a man who had just walked into the wrong phase of life he never knew existed. His breath seemed to cut off at the sight.

"Cassandra!"

He shouted, loud enough to break their entanglement.