Chapter 6
Cassidy’s eyes widened in disbelief. He’s covered in blood, yet he’s still coming after me! Is he out of his mind?‘ she thought, gritting her teeth “Nathan, are you insane?”
Nathan bent over, squeezing her delicate face tightly. As she grimaced in pain, he declared coldly. “Yes, I’m insane, but not insane enough! You’re the one who drove me to madness. Cassidy! You deserve to die!”
“I deserve to die?” Cassidy sneered as if she had just heard an absurd joke. Defiantly, she lifted her face, her lips curling into a sarcastic smile. “If that’s how you see it, come and kill me!” She glared at Nathan, tears of sorrow welling in her eyes.
“Very well, as you wish.” Nathan was briefly surprised before a smirk crept across his face. He grabbed the collar of her robe. and forcefully pulled her towards the bed, then fastened her restless hands to the bedpost with a belt.
Cassidy glared at him in disbelief. “What are you doing?”
Nathan stayed quiet, his expression unreadable as he casually unbuttoned his shirt. The next moment, his well–defined shoulders and neck, along with the bleeding wound on his shoulder, came into view as he tossed his clothes aside.
Cassidy trembled uncontrollably. “Nathan, please calm down. Let’s talk things out!”
“Talk about what?” He bent down, gripping her chin. His handsome face loomed closer, and he bit down hard on her neck. “About how you schemed and deceived me for five years?”
Cassidy fell silent.
“Five years, Cassidy. How could you!” he yelled.
“How could you be so cruel? Do you even realize what the past five years have been like for me? Nathan seethed inwardly. burning in his chest.
rage
“Nathan, I’m warning you. Don’t touch me. Josiah and I are about to get engaged… Cassidy intended to caution him, but her words only seemed to enrage him further.
“Get engaged? You’re threatening me.” Nathan sneered.
“I’m not.” Cassidy denied.
“You know me best. Threats never work on me.” After saying that, Nathan proceeded with his advances without hesitation.
Cassidy’s mind went blank. All she heard was Nathan’s alluring voice. “Cassidy, you’re mine. Whether you’re alive or dead, you’ll always be mine.”
Darkness descended, tension thickened in the air, and desire overtook all else.
When Cassidy finally came to, she felt as if her bones had been shattered and pieced back together. She struggled to open her eyes, propped herself up in bed, and surveyed the room–a medicine box had been taken out and placed at the head of the bed, in the trash bin, bloodied cotton balls lay discarded; her torn bathrobe lay crumpled in a corner.
“You’re finally awake.” A cold voice startled her from behind.
Cassidy spun around and spotted Nathan on the balcony, his back to the window. He was backlit, making it hard to see him clearly, but she could make out the faint glow of a cigarette between his fingertips.
She pulled the quilt tighter around herself. “Are you done? Can you leave now?”
Nathan stubbed out his cigarette in silence, then strode into the room and sat on the edge of the bed/A heavy stillness setiled
over them.
Watching his back, Cassidy felt an overwhelming urge to cry. She never imagined something like this would happen when they met again after five years. She rubbed her stiff facial muscles and spoke weakly. “Nathan, let me go. We should move on with our lives separately now.”
“Move on with our lives?” Nathan seemed entertained by her words. His lips twitched slightly, but no sound escaped.
“You have Meredith and Jayden. You’re almost getting engaged to her, so you need to distance yourself from me, Cassidy insisted.
12:18 PM
Chapters
‘Distance myself from you? Nathan snapped, “You have no right to ask me to do anything!”
Cassidy was startled by his outburst.
“You have no right, he repeated.
Cassidy scoffed. “Nathan, enough of this. What use am I to you? Or do you think I’ll let you use me like you did five years ago?”
Nathan lifted his gaze coldly, meeting her cautious eyes.
In the dimness, a drowsy voice wafted in from outside. “Mommy.”
Cassidy jerked slightly, turning towards the door. “Paisley?”
“Mommy” Paisley seemed not to hear Cassidy and wandered into the living
Cassidy shot Nathan a wary glance as she slipped out of bed, grabbed her pajamas from the closet, and quickly dressed. “Your mustn’t make any noise, understand?”
Nathan arched an eyebrow. “Are you bossing me around now?”
“I don’t want Paisley to see you. I’m dead serious, Nathan. When it comes to Paisley, I won’t budge. If you make a sound, you’ll regret it,” she warned.
Nathan kept quiet, and Cassidy took it as an agreement to cooperate. She quickly finished dressing and hurried out, the door clicking shut behind her.
Paisley had scoured the living room for Cassidy to no avail and was now standing there, bewildered.
Cassidy approached her and whispered, “Paisley? What are you doing up, sweetheart?”
Paisley spun around and threw herself into Cassidy’s embrace. “Mommy, I couldn’t find you when I woke up.”
Cassidy smiled warmly, squatting down to pick her up and carry her back to her room. “Why did you wake up?”
Paisley rubbed her eyes and emitted a drowsy hum as she nestled in Cassidy’s arms, at ease.
Entering the room, Cassidy locked the door and tucked Paisley in bed. “Sleep tight, okay?”
“Mommy, aren’t you sleeping” Paisley asked, her voice heavy with sleep.
Cassidy lay down beside her, pinching her cheek affectionately. “Mommy’s right here.”
“Mm…” Paisley yawned, wrapping her arm around Cassidy’s waist and nuzzling her face into her shoulder, drifting off to sleep in no time.
Cassidy held her daughter close, reluctant to let go. Gazing at Paisley’s tender, lovely face, she leaned down and placed at tender kiss on her forehead. When she pulled away, tears fell. “Paisley, I’ll always protect you.”
I will never let anyone take Paisley from me!‘ she swore inwardly.
Just then, Nathan’s footsteps echoed from outside the door, making Cassidy’s heart clench with anxiety.
