The basement echoed with Cassie''s triumphant, crazedughter. "Father, did you really think I was being kind to Laura out of the goodness of my heart? I was lowering your guard! If I hadn''t pretended to care about her, how else could I have arranged for all these people to be around her?


    "Father, aside from Sheldon, who still foolishly clings to you, everyone else at Holden Residence follows my orders now."


    Grinning, Cassie twirled in ce, the hem of her red wedding dress fanning out as she danced. "I yed the role of the gentle, kind, considerate sister-inw for long enough. I''ve been sick of it for years. Finally, I don''t have to pretend anymore. Everything is going exactly as I nned."


    "Cassie, you''re insane! How could you do this?" Charles'' voice trembled with rage, but he was held firmly in ce by Cassie''s men, unable to move. "Do you even realize what you''re doing? This is beyond unforgivable. Aren''t you afraid of the consequences?"


    Cassie tilted her head, her expression mockingly innocent. "Father, what are you saying? I''m your beloved daughter. How could you curse me like that?


    "I just love my brother; what''s wrong with that? Didn''t you love my mother? It''s just the same a woman loving a man, a man loving a woman. What''s the difference?"


    "He''s your brother! Your biological brother!" Charles'' voice roared with fury. "This is my fault. I trusted you too much, letting my guard down. I never imagined you harbored such disgusting thoughts."


    "What''s so disgusting about it?" Cassie''s lips curled in defiance. "Father, you''re biased."


    "You drugged your own brother! Do you have no shame? Are you even human?" Charles'' fury deepened. "Cassie, there are countless men in the world. Why must it be your own brother?


    "Even if it costs me my life, I will never allow you to harm Laura. And I will never allow you and Wesley to be together. If you still see me as your father, if you still care about this family, then you will noty a hand on your brother.


    "Cassie, I''m begging you. Don''t hurt Laura. Don''tmit this atrocity with your brother. If you go through with this, how will I ever face your mother in the afterlife?"


    His voice cracked, his eyes red with sorrow. He no longer shouted, no longer cursed her. He pleaded now. "Cassie, please. I''m begging you. There''s still time to turn back. As long as you don''t harm Wesley and Laura, I will pretend none of this ever happened. We can still be a family. Please."


    Tears welled in his eyes. "Cassie, you''re a good child. I''ve always believed that; you''ve always been a good child."


    Cassie let out a mockingugh. "Father, spare me the sentiment. Don''t call me a ''good daughter.'' I have no interest in ying that role. I''d rather be the viin.


    "Laura can forget about spending a lifetime in wedded bliss with my brother. But I''m notpletely heartless. I could give you all onest chance."


    Herughter grew lighter, as if she were amused by her own words. pping her hands together, she said, "If Laura is willing to drink the medicine I give her, then I''ll let you all go. Father, since you care so much about her, I''m curious-will she sacrifice herself for you?


    "Cassie, you''re insane! You''repletely deranged!"


    "So what if I am?" Cassie shrugged, unbothered. "I don''t care. As long as I get what I want, that''s all that matters.


    "Let''s make a bet, Father. If Laura drinks the medicine, I''ll let you go. But if she refuses, then you will stop interfering in my rtionship with my brother."


    "Fine." Charles gritted his teeth. "But if you lose, you will leave the Holden family. You will never set foot in this house again without my permission."


    "Deal." Cassie''s eyes gleamed with confidence. "I refuse to believe Laura would willingly throw her life away for any of you. Father, sit tight and watch the show. Wait for me. I''ll personally bring you and my brother up myself."


    She turned and walked out of the basement, herughter echoing behind her.


    Charles'' heart pounded anxiously. He was terrified that Cassie had truly lost all reason that she would do the unthinkable to her own brother.


    Sheldon, now restrained as well, could do nothing. How had Cassie managed to take control of Holden Residence sopletely, without anyone noticing?


    It wasn''t long before Cassie had them both dragged into Laura''s room.


    Wesleyy unconscious on the floor, drugged.


    Cassie had spent plenty of time


    talking to Laura already. Now, she looked at her with a bright, almost sweet smile. "Laura, if you drink the medicine I give you, I''ll let my brother and father go.


    "How about it? Trade your life for theirs. You''d be willing, wouldn''t you?"


    She was speaking to Laura, but her eyes were fixed on Charles. She wanted him


    to see for himself. She wanted him to witness Laura''s betrayal.


    Charles clenched his fists, his gaze sharp with fury. "Cassie, don''t push this too far."


    Before Cassie could respond, Laura''s unwavering voice cut through the tension. "Cassie, if I drink this, you''ll release my father-inw and Wesley?"


    Cassie nodded, her smile yful. "Yes."


    Without another word, Laura took the ck vial from Cassie''s hand and swallowed its content in one gulp.


    Laura trembled briefly, then copsed onto the bed, unmoving.


    Tears streamed down Charles'' face. After a long silence, he spoke with pain in his voice. "Cassie, you lost."


    "I lost?" Cassie''s expression twisted in disbelief.


    How could this woman so easily, so decisively, drink the medicine she had given her?


    Did she not understand the consequences?


    No-Cassie had exined them clearly.


    "Cassie, you lost. It''s time for you to uphold your end of the bargain." Charles'' voice was steel. "Don''t make me despise you even more."


    "I refuse." Cassie swept an arm across the bedside table, knocking everything to


    the ground. "Why should I ept defeat? I don''t ept this!" she snapped.


    "Guards,e here!"


    "I will erase all of your memories. I won''t lose. I refuse to lose. Even if I change


    what you remember, I''ll still be the winner."


    Charles roared, "Cassie, turn back now!"


    Cassie replied with a mocking smile, "Father, don''t rush. Since we made this wager, I''ll honor my word. let you and Wesley go, but I won''t make things easy for you.


    "I want you all to be torn apart forever. I want Laura to never see her son in this lifetime. I want their son to grow up without ever knowing his parents-filled with hate and resentment."


    Cassie concluded with a cruelugh, "You can keep dreaming about living in peace."