Cassian glanced at me, and the pain in his eyes seemed genuine. He soothed Ashley's anger, finally saying, "Snow has no one else; she should stay in the house…"
He looked at Ashley, seemingly conceding. "Let her be a concubine, then."
I went from being his wife to his mistress while the maid moved up in the world, earning Ashley's favor.
Every time I felt I couldn't stay in this house any longer, it was Cassian who comforted me, insisting that as long as he was around, no one would dare bully me.
Before all this, I believed him. After all, it was my health that was failing; I couldn't let Cassian down. Especially when I saw the way he looked at children; it pained me deeply, making me feel like I owed him something.
"I only want a child with Fiona; my heart belongs to you," Cassian would whisper sweetly, even though he carried the scent of Fiona's perfume on him. I'd swallow my discomfort and smile at him.
But today was different. When Cassian returned home after a night of drinking, his collar bore the lipstick mark of another woman.
I knew he was a flirt and had likely been out with a courtesan.