Cassandra
Meet Cassandra Economos Hardwick, Main Female Character in The Rock Star's Wife Series
Cassandra Economos is the main character in The Rock Star’s Wife series. She describes her life in intimate detail in a series of diaries.
Born in March 1979 in Sterling, IL, she’s part of a strict, bilingual Greek family who, at times, can be overbearing, if not dysfunctional. She is the youngest child of Daria and Demetrios Economos and the sister of Chris, Greg and Vanessa.
High School Years
Cassie loves music more than most people, and her favorite band is Nirvana. She has a crush on Kurt Cobain and wears grunge and band t-shirts almost daily.
Her greatest dream is to move to Chicago, much to her family’s chagrin as they want her to get a degree and work at Costas’ Place, the family restaurant.
Everything Cassie knows about sex she learned from health class and erotica books. The books give her unrealistic expectations about sex and relationships, but they also create a new hobby for her — writing dirty little stories.
Her parents don’t allow her to date, but Cassie defies this rule and sneaks out. Her high school boyfriends are Keith, Todd (her favorite), Travis and Jason.
Cassie often hangs out with her friends Shawna, Jen, Jenny, Jennifer and Tiffany.
After graduation, she and Jen pierce their bellybuttons.
College Years
After becoming Sterling High School salutatorian, Cassie attends the University of Illinois on a full-ride scholarship, rooming with Kelly. The goal is to work in HR and move to Chicago after obtaining her degree.
While in college, Cassie works a series of retail jobs before landing a position in an office.
She begins the search for Mr. Right, dating Jesse, Lars, Troy, and Corey. She and Corey fall in love, but their opposing future goals and plans eventually tear them apart.
Her college friends are Kelly, Dawn, Leah, Sarah and April.
Cassie graduates with a bachelor’s degree and accepts an assistant manager of human resources position at Jordan Dairy Farms in Vienna-on-the-Lake.
Meeting Nat
After the breakup with Corey, Cassie does not date for a year. In 2002, she accepts an invitation to a Fourth of July gathering hosted by an acquaintance, Nadine Bergstrom. There, Cassie meets Nadine’s younger brother, Nathaniel, whom Cassie initially claims is not her type. After all, he has brown hair and eyes. However, after spending some time together, the pair hit it off and begin dating.
Cassie and Nat move in together a few months later and marry in November 2003 (a civil ceremony) and May 2024 (a formal ceremony).
They have four children together, Megan, Joshua, Sophia and Matthew.
Fateful DNA Test
Shawna never met her birth family. As ancestry testing became available, Cassie encouraged Shawna to take a DNA test. Shawna is hesitant, so in a move of solidarity, Cassie takes a test as well in 2018. She believes she’ll uncover no more than a few distant relatives. Instead, she uncovers a family secret.
Cassie’s father cheated on her mother for years, and there are four half siblings — Muriel, Eric, Bradley and Jacqueline. Along with all her siblings, she confronts Dad a year later.
The discovery is the source of much family drama and guilt. However, Cassie becomes especially close with Muriel and has a good relationship with her other half siblings.
In 2023, the siblings discover there is a ninth member — Destiny.