Betrayed By My Fiancé, I Married His Most Powerful Enemy

Chapter 36: The Husband Reveal

I glanced at the two of them, turned around without hurrying, and said, "I’m in First Class."

Nicole, right on my heels, burst out laughing. She held up her boarding pass and waved it at Amara with a wide grin. "Sorry, we’re up there too. Enjoy Economy."

Quinn hadn’t even realized she’d been upgraded until we were already through the gate. Watching confusion spread across Amara’s face, she looked more satisfied than I’d ever seen her. First time in her career being treated better than the agency’s own CEO, and she was clearly savoring it.

Amara turned to Liam, suspicion all over her face. "What is this? Didn’t they say First Class was sold out? Did the agency book Valerie’s seat?"

"I have no idea what’s going on either," Liam said, frustration barely under control.

She’d planned this whole trip so carefully, probably imagining me stuck watching her and Liam get cozy for hours straight. Instead I walked right past her into First Class without so much as a glance back.

I’d assumed the cabin would be full like any other flight. But when the three of us stepped through, I stopped. Aside from us, there wasn’t a single other passenger anywhere in sight.

"Valerie, that jerk and his mistress aren’t getting upgraded too, are they?" Nicole whispered, eyeing the sliding door that separated the cabins like it might open any second.

The flight attendant stepped forward before I could answer. "You can relax, Miss Stark. Mr. Novak booked out the entire First Class cabin so you wouldn’t be disturbed. No other passengers allowed in."

Nicole grabbed her own head with both hands like the information was physically too much. "Valerie, your life is unfair."

Quinn stood there completely lost, opening her mouth to ask something, when the door to the private cabin slid open. A man stepped out in a brown suit, unhurried and composed, sharp featured, with a small black mole on his right ear that caught the light like it had been placed there on purpose.

Quinn froze.

Caspian. CEO of Hairuit Entertainment. A legend in the industry, standing in front of her at thirty thousand feet.

She looked like someone had knocked the wind out of her. What confused her even more, though, was my reaction, no stiffness, no formality, just genuine surprise wrapped around something warm.

"Mr. Novak, care to explain why you vanished without a word this morning and turned up here instead?"

Caspian took my bag from my hands without being asked, the kind of thing that had clearly become second nature to him. "Mrs. Novak. It seems you’re not happy to see me."

"It’s not that I’m not happy. I’m a little stunned." I smiled and hooked my arm through his, and we stepped into the private room and closed the door behind us.

Through the glass, I could still see Quinn standing frozen, like she’d forgotten how to blink. For a few long seconds she just stared, mouth opening and closing with nothing coming out.

Nicole, of course, was enjoying every second of it. "I guess Valerie never officially introduced you two," she said, grinning. "The CEO of Hairuit, the biggest name in the industry, is her husband. Trust me, I looked exactly like you do right now when I found out."

Quinn finally found her voice. "When did you two get married?"

"The same day Valerie was supposed to marry Liam." Nicole’s smile faded. "He was already sleeping with Amara behind her back. Valerie got blindsided, so she walked away from that wedding and married someone else instead." She glanced toward the private room, then smiled again. "Looking back, I’d say she made the right choice. It happened fast though, private ceremony, almost nobody knows they’re married."

She let the silence sit before turning back to Quinn.

"The fact that Valerie told you the truth says a lot. It means she trusts you." She folded her arms. "And don’t make the mistake everyone else does. Valerie may be married to Caspian, but she’s never hidden behind him. Everything she’s accomplished since the divorce, she’s done herself." Her voice softened. "She’s one of the rare people in this industry worth believing in. One day she’ll be standing at the very top." Nicole nodded toward Quinn. "You should decide now whether you want to stand beside her or against her."

Quinn lowered her eyes. She didn’t answer right away, but she didn’t have to. Even through the glass, I could see it on her face. She’d heard every word.

Nicole laughed suddenly. "I bet you’re thinking Liam and his little mistress are sitting back in Economy right now feeling awfully important."

That earned the smallest smile out of Quinn.

Nicole rolled her eyes, dramatic as ever. "Honestly, I wish I could walk over there and tell Amara to stop embarrassing herself."

This time Quinn actually nodded.

I didn’t know exactly what was going through her head, but something had clearly shifted. The woman who’d marched into my office threatening me only days earlier was gone. In her place stood someone finally starting to understand exactly what kind of game she’d stepped into.

A few minutes later, Quinn excused herself quietly and found an empty seat across the lounge, staring out the window like she needed a minute to process everything she’d just learned. I watched her for a moment before letting the door close fully and turning back to Caspian.

I was leaning against him now, still not entirely convinced he was real. I never expected him to wrap himself up and hand himself over like this.

"Surprised?" he asked, his hand moving slowly along my back.

"Very," I admitted, my mind still catching up. My chest felt full in a way I didn’t have words for, especially knowing how packed his schedule always was. "Cass, you didn’t have to do this. I can take care of myself."

"We’re newlyweds. We shouldn’t be apart." Quiet certainty in his voice. "Besides, I like surprising you. Although the way you said my name just now, I liked that even more. Say it again."

He hooked a finger gently under my chin.

"Cass," I said softly.

His kiss came right after, deep and unhurried. When he finally pulled back, he drew me in against him instead. "Sleep. Once you land you’re going to be busy."

"What about you?" I tipped my head up. "Are you only coming out for me?"

"If only it were that simple. Hairuit has enough subsidiaries in the States that inspecting each one properly would take me a full week." Something quieter passed through his expression, and I didn’t know it yet, but the real reason underneath all of it was the insurance he was still working out for my legs. "I have a place out there. If you can find an excuse to stay with me while you’re in town, I’d like that."

"Things over at Xova are a little complicated right now," I said honestly. "Liam’s sister, Iris, isn’t exactly harmless. My relationship with her was fine before all this, but at the end of the day she’s still his sister. If he asked her to, she’d sell me out without blinking and hand Amara the spotlight."

"And yet you don’t look worried at all," Caspian said. No concern in his voice, only quiet confidence in me.