Inside the hospital room, Sonia was propped against the headboard, looking, even now, gorgeous. When she saw Cassian, her eyes lit up with excitement before quickly shifting to a wounded puppy-dog look.

“Cass, you actually came,” Sonia said softly, her voice fragile and vulnerable.

Cassian walked over to the bed and gave her a quick once-over. “What the hell happened? How’d you get hurt?”

Sonia dropped her head, sounding totally helpless. “The fans went completely crazy. I got trampled in all the chaos. I didn’t want this turning into some bloody nightmare, so I had Jenny call you.”

Sonia was a hotshot ballerina who’d just returned from a fancy training program in Europe and was about to become the company’s star performer. She was drop-dead gorgeous, had amazing stage presence, and serious connections, so she was even more famous than most A-list celebrities. To build her brand, Sonia had also broken into entertainment—doing high-end commercials, indie films, luxury endorsements, and guest spots on trendy reality shows. Her classy vibe and incredible dance skills had earned her a huge following, making her a crossover sensation in both the arts and entertainment worlds.

Cassian’s brow furrowed slightly, but his tone stayed neutral. “You need to be smarter about security. That’s what bodyguards are for.”

Sonia looked up at him with hopeful eyes. “Cass, you know how crucial my legs are to everything I do. If this injury screws up my dancing career… I… I honestly have no idea what I’d do.”

Cassian’s face didn’t change, his voice staying flat. “The doctor said it’s just a minor sprain. Take a few days off, and you’ll be fine. Stop overthinking.”

Hearing that, something bitter flashed across Sonia’s face. Why was he being such an ice queen toward her? Had Cassian really been totally brainwashed by that other batch?

Right then, Cassian’s phone started buzzing. When he checked the caller ID, his whole face lit up with a genuine smile. His entire energy completely shifted. He picked up immediately and walked over to the window. Sonia couldn’t make out what the caller was saying, but she watched Cassian nod, his voice getting warm and intimate.

“Yeah, sounds good.”

Watching this unfold, Sonia’s hands were gripping the hospital sheets so hard her knuckles went white, her chest burning with awful jealousy. Every woman’s instinct screamed that this call was from another woman, and they were definitely talking about personal, intimate stuff. Was this the mystery woman Yinsen had mentioned?

After hanging up, Cassian turned back around, his expression going stone-cold again. Sonia’s eyes were getting watery as she forced herself to look at him. “Cass, thanks for coming by. If you’ve got stuff to deal with, don’t let me keep you. I’ll be fine on my own.”

“If anything comes up, just call Philips. You’re under contract with the company anyway,” Cassian said dismissively.

Sonia nodded quietly, keeping her head down so he couldn’t see how wrecked she felt. The second Cassian left, Sonia grabbed her pillow and launched it across the room, looking absolutely unhinged.

Jenny rushed over to do damage control. “Honey, what’s gotten into you? Mr. Rhodes dropped everything to come see you the moment…”

Sonia’s lip was trembling as tears started streaming down her cheeks. She angrily wiped them away, her voice cracking. “So fucking what? His heart’s not even here! Did you see what just happened? One phone call and he turned into a completely different person… He’s obsessed with that woman. How could he do this to me?”

Jenny sighed and perched on the edge of the bed, rubbing Sonia’s shoulder. “Sweetie, you’re spiraling. A guy like Mr. Rhodes? Of course, he’s got women in his life—that’s just reality. Why drive yourself crazy over it? Right now you need to focus on getting better so you don’t mess up your upcoming gigs.”

“Gigs? Are you kidding me?” Sonia let out a harsh laugh, her eyes full of self-loathing. “I’ve been busting my ass with work just trying to get closer to him. And what do I have to show for it? He doesn’t even notice I exist!”

Jenny’s expression got serious. “Sonia, don’t you dare trash everything you’ve worked for. You’ve known Mr. Rhodes forever—does he seem like the type to fall for just anybody? The only way you’ll ever have a shot with him is if you keep leveling up and becoming undeniable.”

Sonia went quiet, knowing Jenny wasn’t wrong. But she just couldn’t get a grip on her emotions.