Besotted Devotion

prologue

***drafts—not edited. So there will be grammar mistakes or weird wordings. Keep in mind that English is not my first language.

Alexa Demie as Cassandra Lauder and James Marsden (with glasses) as Zachary Lauder

It was yet another sunny day. Jade Lauder had only spent one week on Kildare Island, and not a day passed by without her appreciative loud sigh the moment her skin made contact with the sun's scorching heat—and since Jade had nothing better to do, she had spent those days tanning in her backyard pool with her young stepmother.

Her stepmother, Cassandra, was getting ready for yet another bonding session when she spotted Jade talking to another girl her age. Putting on appearances, she stepped forward and greeted the girl warmly. Jade and the girl turned their heads, watching as Cassandra approached them with her hands full.

Jade carefully took the items off of her hands, placing in on the sun lounger whilst introducing the girl to her stepmother, "Cass, this is Sarah Cameron. We didn't get to meet her last time." Jade watched as Cass hummed in recognition.

The older woman couldn't help but smile widely, showing off her dimples and pearly white teeth. Cass opened her arms and gave her a light hug, "It's great to finally meet you, Sarah. Shame we didn't get to see you last dinner."

The kook princess smiled shyly, not expecting such a sweet woman to greet her. When Ward told her his friend's family would be joining in for dinner, she had expected another snobby family whose sole conversation entertainment is wealth. She deliberately disobeyed her father and skipped the evening, spending her time with her boyfriend instead.

To make up for her actions, Rose had asked Sarah to deliver a container full of cookies to the Lauder resident. Rose was adamant that the cookies should be given to Cassandra, knowing how much she loved them the night of their dinner. Ward had agreed that if she complied with Rose's request, he would no longer be disappointed in her—like a daddy's girl she was, her feet begrudgingly made their way across the street.

Ringing the bell, she waited patiently but there was no answer. Sarah decided to head around the back to find anyone, even a maid, just to get the container off her hands. She grumbled, irritated that she had to make up for her actions, while his brother was out there probably coked out with his friends. It was infuriating that she bore the brunt of their father's disapproval for skipping a dinner, while he had done it more than once without consequence. Sarah was ready to head back to her house when she saw a girl sitting in a sun lounger playing on her phone. She approached and found herself enthralled with the girl, she was bewitched. It didn't take long for Sarah to blurt Jade for a hangout, wanting to be her friend despite only knowing her for a few minutes. There was something about Jade's easy smile that made her want to be friends.

Jade recognized Sarah the moment she magically appeared behind her shoulders, surprised to see the kook princess in the flesh. Jade only saw glimpses of Sarah Cameron when given the tour of the Cameron household a few days ago. Not to mention, she was quite popular among the crowds. Some called her a bitch, while others said she was a sweetheart. Jade was also told that Sarah Cameron was a backstabbing betraying bitch, courtesy of Kiara Carrera— a girl Jade happened to be friends with and had been hanging out with for the past few days.

After a few conversations and Cass expressing her gratitude to Rose for the cookies, Sarah decided it was time to return. Both the girls exchanged numbers, looking forward to their hangout. Jade waved her goodbye before taking a seat next to Cass' sun lounger.

"She's pretty." Cassandra's soft voice complimented whilst nibbling a dark chocolate cookie. "And nice too. You guys would be great friends."

Jade hummed but kept quiet. She liked Sarah, she knew that they would be great friends especially with their fathers being business partners and close friends—but at the same time, she was sceptical because Kie had already filled her in on the reason why their "magical" friendship ended. Jade was on Kildare Island to have a vacation, among some other things, and the last thing she wanted was to be dragged into a teen drama.

"My sweet, try some cookies." Jade turned to see Cass stretching her hand, offering the cookies. Thanking her, Jade found herself moaning at the taste. It was no wonder why Cass loved it so much.

Cassandra smiled watching Jade happily munching on the sweet treats. It was hard for Jade to accept when her father, Zachary Lauder, told her that they would be moving to the outer banks. Jade had just finished high school, ready to taste the freedom, to find out that she would be departing from her home and away from her friends was devastating. She didn't want to spend her gap year making new friends. Jade begged them to let her stay behind and not to be dragged into their business, but Zachary would be damned if he left his baby girl behind all alone. After weeks of trying to convince Jade, she finally gave in—it was a semi-vacation to the Outer Banks, a stunning stretch of coastline where sandy beaches sprawled for miles and, with any luck, plenty of cute boys to flirt with and make out with.

"I think I just came," Jade mumbled, eyeing the remaining cookie in between her fingers. Cass couldn't help but snicker, which caught Jade's attention. "What? You know these cookies are irresistible!" Jade defended, a playful smile creeping onto her face.

Cass leaned back in her chair, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "I know, but you sound like you just discovered the meaning of life in that cookie." Their playful banter was a testament to the comfortable relationship they had developed over the years. Jade had always hoped to bond well with her stepmother, and Cass's warm nature and genuine care exceeded her expectations. From the moment they met, Jade felt a spark of affection for her—a feeling she had longed for since her mother had died giving birth to her.

When Zachary introduced Cassandra during Jade's 12th birthday party, she was more shocked than angry. After twelve years of watching her dad work tirelessly while raising her on his own, Jade had never seen him even glance at another woman. Not even when the eager mothers flirted while waiting to pick up their kids from school.

Yet, on that day, Jade found herself genuinely happy and hugged Cassandra instead of shaking her hand. She had longed for her father to find someone special so she could finally understand and relate to the feeling of being showered with motherly affection. It wasn't hard for Cassandra to win Jade over; she was a sweetheart who treated Jade like her best friend.

It was no secret among Cass' inner circle that she was barren. She had spent her early adulthood grappling with depression while others chased their dreams and climbed the career ladder. All Cassandra wanted was a family of her own. She had met a man who promised he didn't care about her inability to have children and married her with vows of unwavering support. But those promises vanished in an instant, leaving her heartbroken and divorced.

Cassandra met Zachary Lauder while working as a waitress at a quaint café. He was a regular customer who came in during school hours, often leaving early to pick Jade up. For months, Zachary hadn't even noticed Cassandra—not that she minded; she was busy battling her demons. But one quiet day, everything changed. The café was nearly empty, and Zachary sat in his usual corner, his coffee cold and untouched. Noticing, Cassandra decided to brew him a fresh cup, complimenting his hard work and telling him he deserved it. Captivated by her warm smile and sparkling eyes, Zachary stuttered as he shared his studies with her. Cassandra was enthralled, captivated by the passion he exuded for a subject that should have been long forgotten. As he spoke, a smile spread across his face, and Cassandra realized how easy it was to connect with him.

The next day, as Zachary returned to his usual spot, he fumbled through a greeting. Cassandra laughed, her heart fluttering at his embarrassment, but he didn't mind. Looking back, he thought making a fool of himself in front of her was worth every moment.

Months passed, and Cassandra had never felt happier. She was falling for Zachary, hard. Yet, doubts clouded her mind whenever he hinted at a future together. Memories of her past relationship haunted her, making her terrified of reliving that pain. When Zach finally told her he didn't mind her inability to have children and that he had a daughter, her fears began to fade, replaced by excitement. Jade quickly became Cassandra's joy. Zachary would often joke that Cassandra had married him just to have Jade, and she never denied it.

Cassandra was everything to Jade, and nothing could get in their way. Jade had truly loved her as a mother, heck Cass might even be Jade's bestest friend in the world. Sure, there are times when Cass would scold the living heck out of Jade—her sharp squinted stare would bring people to her knees. But hey, that's what mothers are for right? They worry about your well-being 24/7, and even if it might seem selfish at times—they're only doing it because they love you. After years of yearning, Jade finally feels complete. Her heart would always be at home as long as she was with Cass and Zach, and she would do anything for them.

Anything at all.