Natalie smirked. "Life's a long journey. How do I know you won't trade me in for a new wife someday?" Cassian pulled her against him. "Come on. There's no one out there who could catch my eye the way you do. What's wrong? Are you doubting yourself?" She shot him a sharp look. "I just don't trust men." He held her gaze. "Then let me put it this way. Who needs to be a man when I can be your partner? That line cracked her up. Only Cassian could throw out something that ridiculous to make her laugh. He'd say anything if it meant she'd stop worrying. She hadn't even meant her words seriously. Telling him was already proof that she'd chosen to trust him. After sharing the secret of her storage space, the unease that used to weigh her down had vanished. Cassian knew she trusted him, but he still wanted to give her more. "Nattie, those warehouse I told you about? Put them in the storage too." She blinked. "What?" He grinned. "I know your biggest secret now. Aren't you gonna use it to keep me in check?" He laced his fingers with hers. "If I ever stray, grab the supplies and run. Make me pay for being a jerk." Natalie stared at him, baffled. Cassian spoke so casually, as if losing everything meant nothing. She blurted, "Those warehouses are your entire fortune." He was just handing them over, without a second thought?Even she hadn't gone that far. She'd shared her secret about the storage space, but she wasn't about to dump all her assets on him like some lovesick fool. "Cassian, what if I'm the one who runs off with your stuff?" He leaned back against the couch, still holding her hand. "Then that's on me. Falling for you was worth the price." Now that's what a real man sounds like. She couldn't stop looking at his face. Her heart fluttered all over again. "There's one thing I'm sure of," he added. "What is it?" she asked. "You'll never find someone better than me," Cassian replied. She rolled her eyes. "Unbelievable. You're actually that full of yourself." He chuckled at her lighter mood. "Think of it as me letting you guard my things. No pressure." Natalie hesitated, then said softly, "Cassian, if I die before you, the storage space dies with me. Everything insidei will vanish forever." He didn't even blind. "If that happens, I won't want them anyway." "Why not?" He looked at her and smiled. "You really want another cheesy line?" Natalie realized what he meant and cut him off. "Please don't. I already know." He was probably about to say something dramatic. Stuff like, "If you died, I'd have no reason to live." It was best that she heard less of it. Lately his mood had been rubbing off on her. She had started acting a little love-struck. Cassian laughed quietly, but then his brow furrowed. "Nattie, how do you know the storage space disappears when you die?" Natalie remained silent. After a moment, she answered, "Because I've died once before." Today was all about coming clean. She'd confessed about the storage space. Hiding the truth about her second life didn't make sense anymore. So she laid out her past, piece by piece, and told him the whole story. Cassian listened in silence. When she finished, he pulled her into his arms and held her tight. "Braxton and Tiffany are monsters. And Jacob, he doesn't deserve to be called a father." He remembered the last homeowners' meeting, when he'd chosen to let Jacob off. Back then, he told himself that no matter how rotten Jacob was, he was still Natalie's father. He couldn't just put a bullet in him. But now? Jacob had stood by and let Natalie starve to death. What kind of father did that. Cassian couldn't even picture it. Natalie facing such a cruel death in her past life. The pain, the sorrow, the despair she must have felt. Sensing his anguish, Natalie brushed her hand across his back and whispered, "It's over now. I've already taken my revenge." His voice trembled. "And me?" She blinked. "What do you mean?" "Where was I in that other life?"Why wasn't he there to protect her? Natalie's reply was soft. "I don't know. We never met back then." Cassian exhaled hard. "Then that version of me had no luck at all." Natalie didn't get it. "Who are you talking about?" "The me from before," he said. She chuckled. "True. He wasn't half as lucky as you." They lingered in conversation, trading soft words until the heaviness between them eased. With time still left before the half hour was up, Natalie led Cassian through the villa. Upstairs, they stepped into the study. Cassian's lips tugged into a crooked smile. "This place feels similar." The shelves lined with books, the desk with its coffee mug, the old paintings and antiques. It was all exactly as he remembered.