This is the dress Coltrane forced Cassandra to wear.

Warning this chapter contains mature contents. Reader discretion advised...

**********

Present

Cassandra closed her eyes taking a deep breath and relaxed. If she is going to put through hell, it's better if she mentally prepares herself.

"We are here," the driver said out loud breaking the suffocating silence. She opened her eyes, getting out of the car. She stares at the house.

They stop in front of a penthouse. The house itself screams luxury. She felt uncomfortable and so out of place, that she wanted to run away from this place.

Coltrane grabbed her and dragged her inside the house. 

"Let me go" she yelled. The next thing she knows, she was flung against the wall. She groans, her vision blurred. A black spot appears in front of her eye as she blinks eyes. He forced himself against the wall holding her uptight. His hand around her.

She can hear his ragged breathing in her ear. "Where is Catherine?" Coltrane hissed something but it did not register her mind. Her head spun. It takes her a while to understand what he is saying. 

"How should I know?" Cassandra pushed him but he did not budge from his place.

"Move" she ordered him, struggling to get away from him.

"Then where is she? Did you tell her something you should not have?" His voice was cold. Her eyes widened as she glared at him.

"Shouldn't I be the one asking where she is?" She clenches her hand.

"After all you are the one she ran away from" she smirked, his words did poke her where it hurts most but she will never give him satisfaction.

"If that's true than Why were you in that fucking wedding dress?" Coltrane yelled at her.

"Ask Mrs.Walmart, what the hell I was doing in fucking dress" she yelled back. Every worker is still at their open display of hatred. They all went back to their room before facing Mr.Mayor's wrath.

"Yes, she did seem surprised and asked me what you were doing in Catherine's place" her eyes widened in shock.

"She lied, it was because of her I was wearing that dress" Cassandra whispered but he heard it.

"Why would she lie?" He asked.

"She has no reason to lie. You are making things up. Start talking before I do something I might regret" he grit his teeth. She closed her eyes, 'of course he will never believe her'

"Why would I tell her that? What would I get...." she trailed off feeling choked. She takes a deep breath trying to control her emotions. She gave herself up that day and she regretted what she did? A tear trialled down wetting her cheek.

"If I have to do that why would I wait this long?" She asked him glaring at him with her misty eyes. He did not let her tears bother him.

"Because it's the best time for revenge. You wanted me and you have me, where you wanted" he grit his teeth, hitting her where it hurts even more.

Want him? 

Did he only think her emotions dwell on want?

"Oh! Is it really difficult for you to understand that she ran away from you?" She said coldly. If she is going to get hurt, she will hurt him too.

"Shut up" He slammed his hand beside her head. His eyes flash with madness. He pushed his leg between her. She was forced to open her legs. He gripped her chin tilting her head towards him. She did not back down and glare back at him. His cold eyes look over her features and the similarity is astonishing. A cruel smirk formed his lips. 

"Did not I said I will make you regret it. You know what's the best way to hurt you" she felt her heart skip a beat. He will not do anything like that. She pushed him. Tears stung her eyes falling slowly. 

"For me, You are always a bloody replacement, which you just proved today by marrying me in her place" She choked. This is bad because she is losing control over her emotions.

"You are still calling me her replacement. You know what that means?" She forced a smirk as her red eyes stared into his unfathomable eyes.

"You know that I am not her"the moment she said the words he felt his breath ragging. He gripped her chin in a bruising hold.

"You think I can't," he grits his teeth. He will not let her have that.

"You asked for it" he smirked, she felt shivered. He left her face and crashed his lips on her mouth, kissing her roughly. His tongue invades her mouth forcefully. She struggled to try to push him off.

He grabbed her hand, totally cutting off her movement.

His other hand reached behind her, pulling the chain holding her dress. She froze her body stiff. He traced her naked back with his fingertip. He pushed the dress revealing her shoulder.

He held her hand on both sides so that it would not get in his way. He moves forward pressing a kiss on her shoulder. His lips kissed her neck trailing down to her collar bone. She breathes in and out maintaining her composure.

"Let go of me" She screamed. He stopped his exploring and looked at her as she blankly stared at him.

"Why? I am about to enjoy our wedding night" he nibbled her collarbone, at first he wanted her to stop him but now he was not so sure. His hand explored her skin. She stands there silent, keeping her face as blank as possible. She will never give in. 

"I have no idea you get pleasure from this" she mocked in a serious tone, licking his ear. 

"Aren't you enjoying it?" He smirked. She stilled glare at him.

"Did you forget about Catherine?" She asked him.

"How could I when you are standing right in front of me?" He said continue kissing her neck, biting her skin. She flinched. He pulled her dress down to her abdomen. He touched her waist. She hissed the pain from his earlier grip was still there.

He licked her neck. She stiffens up. His hand dangerously holds her brassiere, she feels her heartbeat speed up. He left her hand. She grabbed his hand.

"Stop this" her voice remains cold.

"What happened? my lovely wife" He hissed before removing her brassiere.

"Do you think she will take you back, after hearing you did something like this to me?" He stilled getting his sense back and shoved her away. She slammed against the door and slid down. He takes a few deep breaths.

"I will do you a favour and get out of your life," She said shakily, stood up and pulled the ring out of her finger and handed it to him.

"My work is to marry you in front of the crowd and I did" she was about to walk out when he grabbed her hand. As much as he wanted to throw her out of his life. He can't, he is a businessman. Now that he is married it affects his business too.

"Who said your work is over?" She looks at his cold grey eyes as he pushes the ring on her finger.

"You will be her replacement" He glared at her, challenging her to deny.

"I have my own work" she snapped at him snatching her hand away.

"You think I am giving you an option" Coltrane mocked her and grabbed her by her hand.  He dragged to a room and flung her inside locking her. She hurt her elbow. He slammed the door closed. She rubbed her sore hand. After a moment when she realized that she was on her own. She finally let her guard sigh and she relaxed on the floor. She shakes as a sob escapes her. The more time she spends alone the more unbearable it becomes.  

*************

After calming down, Cassandra stands up steading herself by the help of the table. She stood there still silent wondering what will happen now, this is her life, not some opera soaps that got dramatic as minutes passed by. She took deep breaths to clear her absurd thoughts trying to focus on the current situation only to smell smoke. The room only has a table and a chair with a cupboard. There was a small drawer. 

She will never scream and give him any kind of satisfaction. Her eyes looked around for another exit but the only hole in this whole damn room was the exhausting fan. She stares at the floor sitting down on the chair. Her dress was still stuck in her abdomen. She stands up totally removing it. She grips the torn corner of the dress, completely tearing it. A smile fluttered on her face.

Cassandra gathers the pieces of dress in front of the door taking a piece she pushed at the end of the door almost padding it at the door. If this is a smoking room she will find a match stick or anything to start a fire. She looked around too and checked the drawers only to find a match stick box.

"Great" she smirked, lightning up the pad and then pushing the remaining pieces to burn. Thank god that it was made up of chiffon. She held her breath and sat on the chair.

Her eyes follow the dress burning at a higher speed with the satisfaction she cannot describe. She smirked as she waits for her plan to set in.

She didn't wait long as the smoke filled the room triggering the fire alarm. She knows the fire alarm outside the smoking room is sensitive because if by any chance fire caught in this room smoke accumulated over a certain degree it triggers the alarm. She smirked.

Coltrane went back to his room exhausted. He takes a shower before changing into a pajama and a shirt. He went straight to bed, closing his eyes trying to sleep which is far away, that's when he heard the fire.

He rushed to the smoking-room and entered. 

"What the fuck did you do?" He yelled at her. She shrugged her shoulders.

"It was getting cold, so I thought why not start a fire" she rolled her eyes. 

The maids and guards also rushed in. She was standing in her undergarments. She might have blushed but that was the last thing in her mind.

Coltrane grabbed her hand and opened the door of his room, flung her inside as she stumbled down landing on the floor. Her eyes roam around the room. The purple walls and lilac-pink curtains make her feel suffocated. She knows this is the room her sister decorated. She stands up when he locks the door. Her eyes coldly look at him as he glares back at her.

He slowly steadily walked up to her, keeping her in place. She stands rooted not backing down. When he was in front of her, he grabbed her hand in a tight grip pulling her closer. His eyes held hatred. She winched trying to free herself from his grasp.

"How dare you destroy that dress? I will make you regret it" He growled at her. He was trying to control his anger but she seems to think he is joking. He pushed her on the bed. His hand either side of her pinning her down. 

"I have fun watching it burn" she whispered, chuckling, adding fuel to his anger. 

He slammed his lips against her brutally biting on her lower lips. She choked painfully. His tongue roughly brushes against her blood filled her taste. Tears filled her eyes breathing uneven. She struggled to push him away. He leaves her lips. Trailing down her neck.

"Don't start pushing me now love I am continuing from where I left" He glared at her hatred bubbling.

"You should have thought about it before you pulled that stunt" she froze, this time a sudden fear filled her. 

Cassandra rolled her eyes and tried to act nonchalantly. Even though she tried her best to hold back a tear slip through her eyelid. Her first experience was a disaster she will not let history repeat with that thought she struggled. He did not even bulge at her attempt.

He dug his face on her neck licking it then biting forcefully. She whimpered trying to push him away. She grits her teeth holding back her cry. His tongue slides over the bite mark. 

His hand trailed down her neck to her bra cladded breast.  He removes it in one go. He caressed her soft mound and pinch her peak. She stilled for a moment, her body stiffens up unnaturally and her mind went blank. She detached herself from her reality.

She could feel her chest exposed to his eyes. His tongue is run over one peak as his hand plays the other. His finger hooked on her panty pulling it down. She was completely naked in front of him. His finger trailed down opening her legs. Gently traced her opening. He slowly rubbed her before entering her slowly.

She shakes as tears fill her eyes. She came to her senses, struggling to get out of his grip.

He enters his finger slowly without giving heeds to her struggle, she wiggles her hand which he forcefully grips with one hand.

Angry tears stung her eyes of humiliation washed over. She moaned softly as his finger rubbed her sensitive nerve.

"Let go of me," Cassandra said only for him to increase his pace. He rubbed her inside feeling her walls clenched around his finger. Her body violently shook as she felt her orgasm. He was shocked that even after stimulation she is not wet. Tears she was holding back fell from her eyes. She pushed him as forcefully as she could. Her body recoil at what happened just now?

Coltrane slowly opened his shirt covering her. He rubbed his head as a headache built up. He sits silently on the bed, guilty weighed on his conscience. It was never his intention to go this far. He was angry at her but that does not justify his actions. He closed his eyes hearing her sobs. He knows this was wrong. 

"I... I am sorry" He told her,  silently staring at her wanting her to say something or anything.

She curled up on the corner of the bed, she felt violated, crying turned into hot rage. She pulled her head up glaring at him with contempt. She makes her way up to him clutching his shirt with one hand and she slapped him.

Once

Twice

Thrice

She hit him and he let her, taking it all. She stopped tired of hitting him. The sound echoed in the empty room.

"I regret the day I met you" Cassandra glared at him, those words laced with bitterness. This snapped something in him. He grabs her hand which slapped him bending it behind her back. His other hand grabbed her cheek forcing her to meet his eyes which she did without hesitation.

He painfully squeezes her hand. 

"Regret?" He grits his teeth, his hand tightening around her as he pushed her on the bed. A cold laughed bubble his eyes held hatred, contempt and disgust promising a never-ending hell. 

She shrieks for some reason she felt fear pickling her skin, sweat bead formed behind her neck. Coltrane held her down by the shoulder as she squirmed trying to get away from him.

"How dare you talk about regret?" He snapped breathing down her neck, his eyes becoming colder than before.

His grip tightens his breath ragged. Cassandra knows he could lose control and do something horribly unforgivable. A mixed emotion of hurt, anger, hatred and betrayal is not something to take lightly. 

"Yes I did regret" her voice was not above a whisper. His grip was so painful that she feels like she can lose her consciousness at any time.

**************

The ceremony ended. Jeremy was there till the end. 

"Hey, Jeremy" he turns to look at the lady.

"Yes?" He asked coldly.

"Are you free tonight?" She asked him slowly, pulling her hair behind and smiled at him. He stared at her blond hair and blues eyes confused. He has seen her before but did not remember.

"No," he said coldly, flat out refusing her. He turns to leave. That was Sabrina. He remembered what she was doing here? He hailed a car and returned back to his reserved hotel. He sighed sitting on the bed idly. He ordered room service. He will go back tomorrow morning. This has nothing to do with him.

Even though he should not but a part of him still cared for her. This is bad.

"Room service" Someone ring the bell.

"Come in" she pulled the tray with food. And went back. He slowly stands up grabbing the bottle of wine. He did not bother to use glass. He gulped down in one go, trying to forget everything. He was welcoming the burning sensation. That did not lessen the pain. He throws the bottle watching it shattered. He falls down closing his eyes.

Past 

Jeremy waited for Cassandra to return but she didn't, even when the class ended. He tried to find her but she was nowhere to be found. He sighed and went back to his classroom. 

The last class ended. He went straight to Coltrane's room who was coming out of the class with Catherine trailing behind. 

"Can I talk to her?" He asked Coltrane, who gave him a confused look before nodding his head. 

"Then I will be going ahead," Coltrane waved at her. Catherine looked uncomfortable when Coltrane stopped. 

"Do you want me to wait?" He asked Jeremy. 

"No, Rick will be here to drop off the bike" Coltrane gives a brief nod before walking away. 

"Hey, Jeremy" A girl suddenly approached them. This is her chance to run away. 

"Hey, Where do you think you are going?" He halts her movement. Catherine froze, popular guys always caused trouble. 

"I need to do something. Please excuse me" Jeremy politely replied to her, grabbing Catherine's hand before she could protest. They went straight to the parking lot. He let her go. She blinked staring at anywhere but him. 

"Cassandra did not return. Where is she?" Catherine looked up shocked. Did their father again forced her? 

"I don't know I was in the class all this time," she said looking away. 

"Why do I feel like you are lying?" She flinched at his tone. 

"I... I am not" she protested. Jeremy sighed it was easy to tell she was lying. 

"Well, well if it is not Catherine" a voice mocked. He turns to see him. 

"Who is he? Another one of those idiots who fall for your innocent charms?" Her eyes widened as she instinctively grabbed Jeremy's hand, shaking a bit. 

The boy's eyes turned ice-cold, "come here" he ordered her. She shakes her head, tears filled her eyes. 

"Are you refusing me?"  

"Who are you?" Jeremy asked coldly, almost shocked at her behaviour. 

"I am Nikolas Cruz. She is my girlfriend" Catherine's grip tightened around his hand. 

"I am not your girlfriend," she said. 

"What did you just say?" Nikolas glared at her, moving forward to grab her when Jeremy intervened. 

"You heard her," He said coldly stepping between them. 

"Who the hell do you think you are?" Nikolas yelled, she flinched.  Jeremy grabbed his hand in a crushing grip. 

"Get out of here and don't bother her or I will make sure you don't have a hand to use" he let go. Nikolas run yelling, " You will pay for it" 

Jeremy turns to her, she takes a step back blushing at the fact that she was still holding his hand. 

"How could you attract this kind of trouble?" She looked away. 

"It's not like I want to," she mumbled. He sighed. 

"So what happened?" He asked. 

"Do you actually want to know?" She asked, almost hopeful. 

"It's not like I want to, but you seem shaken so let it out," Jeremy said, giving her a boring look. She felt anger rise up. 

"I don't want to share anything with you" Catherine turns her face away. 

"Okay" He shrugged his shoulders. 

"Oh! If it happens again don't start shaking, punch him. If he hit back you know where to find me" He said walking away. She looked at him and tears filled her eyes. 

"Those girls who came to our table during lunch always bullied me since middle school. They told me they will bully Cassandra too. If I wanted to stop them I would have to date Nikolas. I..  I said yes" she shakes. 

"He was trying to touch me and forcing me to do something I don't want to," She choked. Jeremy froze turning to her. 

"Why don't you tell your parents?" He asked. 

"I can't "  Catherine whispered. She can't if her mother gets to know this she will force her to date Nikolas after all he belongs from high-class society. That will be a disaster. He sighed, rubbing her tears off. Feeling his warm finger, she hugged him, sobbing. 

"It's okay don't be scared. Where was Coltrane all that time?" Jeremy said patting her head. He was awkward with crying ladies. 

"Most of our classes are different," she said after her tears stopped. She flushed at her behaviour. 

"I am sorry" her face turned bright red as she looked at his wet shirt. 

"I need to go," Catherine said awkwardly before rushing out, her face still flushed. He stares at her. 

Present.

Jeremy blinked his eyes, trying to sleep was a bad idea. Why is he all of a sudden thinking about her?

If seeing her is the only way to stop his emotions from going hearsay. Then he will do that. He thought bitterly. 

Where should he start? He has no idea how to tackle the situation. Everything was a mess and he was cut off from everyone for the last 4 years. He sighed.

He knows Cassandra very well in the past but now something seems particularly off about her. He couldn't shake that feeling either.

Jeremy sighed picking up his cellphone and he dialled a particular number.

"Hello, sir. How can I help you?"  the person asked from the other side.

"Where are you?" The first thing he said, not bothering to be polite when the person on the other side picked up the call.

"Can you find Catherine Walmart?" He asked the man on the line.

"What?" Jeremy jumped up rushing out of his room. He runs down the stairs calling for the concierge to book a car. He listened to the other side.

"What happened?" He asked as he gave the driver directions. Many questions arose but all went blank hearing the words from the other side.

**************

Here you go to another chapter which I rewrite. It's almost 4k words. So enjoy.

Thank you for reading dear readers. 

Do share your thoughts and comment.

There is something I would like to share. When I was rewriting this chapter I was wondering whether I should keep the fire alarm part or not. After giving it thought I decided to keep it as a momentous reminder of my old writing. Especially for my current readers.

Those who are reading this story for the first time might not know it but I decided to write about Jeremy's side of the story later on in the older version of the story. Because of that, there was no description or Character development in the case for Jeremy and Catherine. I wanted to write it separately but as the story progressed it became inevitable to know their part to have a better insight into the story. So, this time I will do it properly.

Thank you for reading my rant.

Until next time...