His Ex-Wife Is A Billionaire (Evadne and Thaddeus) novel Chapter 1042

Cassius?

About...Cassius? The things he could never possibly know?

Every word was like a seductive poppy, blooming wildly, making his head spin, addicting, impossible to resist.

And all because he loved him. Loved him so deeply it was almost pathetic.

And that love—it was the easiest way for the other man to hurt him.

“How long will this take? I need to get home. It’s my partner’s birthday.” Chasel finally relented, his voice flat but tense.

“Not long.”

The other man’s eyes, shadowed and unreadable, flicked sideways as he gestured with a single hand, “Come on. My car’s this way.”

—

A black sedan tore through the winter night, headlights slicing through the darkness, neon signs and Christmas lights blurring past the windows.

Chasel sat in the passenger seat, clutching a bouquet of white roses. His gaze flickered nervously to the passing city, uncertainty written all over his face.

The man behind the wheel kept stealing glances at him—a face that was almost too handsome for a guy, striking, impossible to ignore.

“What’s your name?” Chasel pressed again, frustrated by how little he knew about this stranger.

Not knowing anything about him made Chasel feel exposed, unsafe.

The man’s gaze lingered, then he looked back at the road, knuckles whitening on the steering wheel. “Ian.”

Chasel mouthed the name, then pressed on, “You know Cassius? How do you know him? Are you two enemies, or is this some old grudge?”

Ian ignored him, kept his eyes forward, refusing to say another word.

After an hour, the car pulled into a deserted driveway and stopped in front of a run-down house. The place looked abandoned—yard overgrown, paint peeling—but Chasel could tell, underneath the neglect, it must have once been a beautiful home.

Old Victorian style, with a faded charm he found himself drawn to despite everything.

Ian was oddly polite, stepping out first and opening the passenger door for him.

Chasel hesitated. Maybe he should’ve bailed earlier. But now, it was too late.

Ian strode ahead. Chasel followed, curiosity edging out his nerves. “What is this place?”

Ian stopped, turning to look at him, voice cold. “What, Cassius never mentioned he had a house here?”

Chasel’s eyes widened. “You mean… this place is Cassius’s? Why let it rot like this?”

“Cassius, do you love me?” the stranger asked, voice soft with a smile.

“I do.” Cassius’s voice was low, rough, trembling with emotion. “I love you. I’ll always love you. Forever.”

Cassius, who was always so reserved, so careful, sounded almost reckless, desperate.

“What if one day… I die?” The stranger’s words were tinged with sadness, almost hidden under the surface.

Cassius’s reply came in a rush, harsh and shaky. “Don’t say that! If you died, I’d go with you.”

“No, Cassius. I don’t want anything to happen to you. I want you to live. But if that day ever comes… I just want you to remember me.”

Every word hit Chasel like a punch to the chest, shattering him from the inside out. He clutched the roses so tightly the stems cut into his hand, barely able to breathe.

On the screen, Cassius sat with another beautiful man—their heads pressed together, faces close, eyes shining.

Chasel’s vision blurred with tears as he stared at the stranger who looked so much like him. Not quite—he knew the difference immediately. But it was close enough to hurt.

And no matter how much they resembled each other, Chasel could see it clearly: the man Cassius kissed, cherished, loved with all his heart—

Wasn’t him.