Cassian PoV
I stormed out of Mother's chambers in the west wing of the de Luthaine mansion, my nails still digging into my palms as her words continued to echo through my mind. "You will run this family into the ground," she'd said, her voice as cold and unyielding as the marble busts lining the halls.
And Isadora—smug, perfect Isadora—had piled on, calling me a moron, a dropout, unfit to lead. They thought I was a failure, just like my father, the disgraced Aldrige who'd gambled away his name and fortune. Dad... he understood me better than either of those girls.
As I reached Damien's room to ask him where I could find the girl, my eyes darted toward his personal library. The door was slightly open. Inside, the slum girl was reading. Didn't think a girl of her class was a reader. Maybe she was more than just a pretty face from the slums.
I walked over and sat down in a chair in front of her. I smiled at her, but she ignored me, focusing on her book. I frowned. Was she really not into handsome men?
"Hey, what's your name again?" I asked, leaning in and flashing her my best smile.
She looked up at me and frowned. "Oh, it's you," she said, and then looked back at her book. "I'm Shelly. And, you're Cassian, right?"
I snickered. "Ah, so you heard about me. So, how are you enjoying your stay here, pretty lady?"
"It's okay, I guess," she said with a shrug, not even looking up. "It's a big place. A little too big for my taste."I laughed, the sound sharper than I intended.
"I bet. You were born poor, weren't you?" The words slipped out before I could stop them, a reflex from years of de Luthaine snobbery. It was the kind of jab Mother would approve of, but deep down, I winced. I needed her to like me, not hate me.
She frowned. "That's not a nice way to start a conversation."
"Just being honest. I'm not a liar." Unlike the rest of this family, I wanted to add, but I held back. No need to air our dirty laundry just yet.
She rolled her eyes. "Right."
Desperate to regain my footing, I leaned in closer, lowering my voice to a playful drawl. "So, what do you think of the family?" I was trying to be charming, but the way her eyes narrowed told me I was failing miserably.
"Why are you asking?" Her tone was guarded, like she could see right through me. It was unnerving—she wasn't like the usual girls who melted under my gaze.
"I'm just curious," I said, grinning. I was trying my best to be charming.
She sighed. "Well, I don't think much of them. They're all snobs, just like you."
"I'm not a snob," I said, frowning.
She rolled her eyes again. "Right. You called my little brother a brat and treated me like some eye candy for your entertainment. You're just as bad as the rest of them."
I sighed. "Okay, okay. Maybe I'm not the best guy in the world. But, I'm trying to make an effort here."
"Why?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. "Why are you trying to be friends with me?"
"I'm not trying to be friends with you. I'm just trying to be nice."
"Right, like I will believe that. You're just trying to be nice to me because you feel sorry for me, is that it? Well, I don't need your pity. I'm fine on my own."
I groaned, frustration bubbling up. "I'm not pitying you. I'm just trying to be friendly." Why was this so hard? I'd charmed countless women before—why was this slum girl making me feel like a fumbling idiot?
She closed her book with a snap, her gaze piercing. "Well, don't. I'm not interested in being friends with any of you, especially not you. I don't need any friends. I have my brother, and that's all that matters. Even so, I have Zara, Uncle Frederick, and Damien."
The mention of Damien sent a jolt of irritation through me. Of course she'd bring him up—the family's golden weirdo, always one step ahead of me. "You do know that Damien is just as bad as the rest of us, right? He's probably just using you."
She shook her head. "I don't think so. He's been nothing but nice to us since the beginning."
I laughed. "That's all an act. He's a lunatic. He's probably planning on killing you as soon as he gets his named the new head of the family."
She closed her book. "Damien is weird, but he isn't a lunatic, much less a murderer. He's just a bit eccentric. He's a genius, and geniuses tend to be a little crazy. But, he's not a bad guy. He's the one who invited me and Toren to live here, not you."
"Only so you could vote for him as the new head, so he can tear this family apart," I said.
"He wants to reform the family, not tear it apart. I can see why."
I shook my head. "That bastard is crazy. I wouldn't trust him."
She raised an eyebrow. "I don't trust any of you. But, I trust him more than you."
I sighed. "Fine, whatever. But if you ever need anything, just let me know."
She rolled her eyes. "Whatever. Now, can you leave me alone? I want to finish this book."
"Sure," I said. I stood up and started to walk out of the library.
"Oh, and by the way," she said. "If you're going to try to seduce me, you're going to have to try a lot harder than that."
I turned around and saw her looking at me with an amused smile on her face. My face reddened. Was I that obvious? I turned back around and left the room.
She was a tough nut to crack, but that only made me want her more. I wasn't going to give up that easily. I was going to make her fall in love with me, and then I was going to get her to give me everything she had. And then I was going to dump her and take my place as the rightful heir.
I just had to be patient and bide my time. She would be mine.