Neptune

Chapter 20 | The Husband

My insecurity consumes me. Morgan's voice messages have ended, but her words keep echoing in my ears.

I'm nothing without her. I'm just trash.

My heart beats fast as I stare again at my phone, now lying on the bed. No, it isn't true, is it? I shouldn't let her words get through to me. The world sees me because I've shown them that I'm worth it, not because of her.

Sighing, I decide to check my phone again to catch up with work so that I can get my mind off her. I haven't read people's responses about my latest paid partnership deals, and that makes me drawn to Instagram.

I log into my account and tap my latest picture. There, I see tons and tons of comments. Some of them say really good things, but I don't know why I keep scrolling down, as if I'm trying to find something else.

And just as I expected, some other comments are liked by many people too, but there's nothing good about what they say.

So my favorite brand of shoes now uses a slut to promote their products??

She's not even pretty. Disgusting.

Meh. After seeing this picture, I won't buy their products anymore.

I'm here for these comments. LOL. It's true. Cassie = temporary. Even men know that.

I take a deep breath, but it feels like the air in my lungs is being sucked. My chest heaves up and down.

No, Cassie. Stay sane. Remember what Oscar said. Haters are gonna hate.

This isn't real. Remember what Paul said.

Those are just empty words. They're not real. Once you put your phone down, they're gone.

Still, I can't put my phone down, my eyes drinking every word, because deep down in my heart, I believe them.

The nausea I'm feeling gets worse. All the horrible feelings stir inside me, and I feel something kick up my stomach to the point that I have to throw up.

I shoot my hand to cover my mouth and run to the bathroom. I can't even wait until I reach the toilet so I throw up in the sink instead.

*

For the rest of the day, I stay in my room. The idea of making new music or playing with Aidan has vanished into thin air.

I didn't take my lunch, and right now, as I glance at the clock, it has passed dinner time. Ms. Langston has visited my room countless times today to remind me to eat, but I decline her offer every time she comes here. She has placed the food on my nightstand instead, which I haven't touched at all.

Based on what she said earlier, Luke works overtime today and he still hasn't come back from his office. She said that he would be very much pissed with this situation.

It seems like Ms. Langston has run out of ideas to force me to eat because I caught her calling Luke after she left my room.

The night goes by, and I'm still glued on my bed, curled into a ball. I've skipped two meals, not to mention that I threw up my breakfast. I'm doing this again. I don't eat every time Morgan lashes out at me, every time I feel worthless.

And when Luke barges into my room suddenly, still in his office suit, I startle. Just like Ms. Langston predicted, he looks very angry. He pants, like he just hurried here. I see the fire in his eyes as he stands in my doorway.

"What the hell are you doing?" he bites out.

The tone of his voice ticks me to fight back, but I just don't have any more energy to argue with him—I'm too weak to do so.