Neptune

Chapter 25 | The Sunshine

After what happened with Luke in the afternoon, I don't feel like getting out of my room to eat in the dining room tonight. I still don't want to see Luke. His words hurt me to the core.

And what makes me hate him even more is that he always acts like he owns me. Like I belong to him. He's been dictating it since the first time I saw him.

It contradicts his statement that our marriage is only a one-year contract. What the hell is wrong with him?

Ms. Langston knows that I'm not going to come out to have dinner with Luke and Aiden. In the end, she brings the food for me so that I can eat it in my room.

Even the fact that she addresses me as "Mrs. Klein" annoys me, so I tell her to call me "Cassie" instead. I've been wanting to tell her that from the beginning, though.

I never like it when someone addresses me too formally, especially when we're going to get along.

The next morning, I wake up with a heavy heart. It sucks that whether I like it or not, I still have to face Luke again. Just like now, I'm thinking about coming out of my room to have breakfast with them because I want to see Aiden.

The boy doesn't deserve this uncomfortable silence, and I don't want him to think that I'm edging away. I don't want him to hate me.

So I finally walk out of my room. When I reach the dining room, I'm surprised to find that Luke isn't here with us. Aiden sits quietly, eating his cereal. He still hasn't noticed that I'm approaching him.

"Good morning," I greet him with a warm smile, taking a seat opposite him.

Aiden immediately looks up from his bowl, and his face brightens. "Cassie!" he squeals. "I thought that you were sick again."

I shake my head. So, that's what Luke told him?

"No, I'm doing well, Aiden." I smile again. "Where's Luke?"

I ask him just because I'm curious.

Aiden's face falls, and I wonder if I asked the wrong question. My heart sinks.

"He went to the office earlier because there's some urgent matter," Aiden says in a small voice filled with disappointment.

Ms. Langston appears with a tray of food for me and arranges it on the table.

"Aiden is sad because Luke has never missed dropping him off at school," she reminds me before turning to Aiden. "It's just one time, Aiden." She gives Aiden a reassuring smile. "You do remember that Luke has to meet his business partner early because the person has to catch a flight to Canada, don't you?"

Aiden just nods in response, but I can still see the sadness in his eyes. An idea pops up in my head.

"I can drop you off, Aiden," I say with a cheerful tone. "If you want me to."

He snaps his head up toward me again. Sudden excitement skates all over his face. "Really?" he exclaims.

I nod. "Of course. I would love to send you to school. Besides, I don't have to work this morning."

Now, Aiden's eyes sparkle with happiness, and I can't help but feel the same joy filling my heart. Ms. Langston shakes her head, watching us with a smile, a sigh leaving her lips.

*

When the idea of sending Aiden to school struck my mind, I'd expected that it would be us sitting in the back seat of a car occupied by a driver.

It's not like I have my own car here. And even if I did, it's not like Luke would allow me to drive Aiden anywhere. Based on what the house security guards informed me earlier, Luke has assigned a dedicated driver for Aiden.

Said driver is the only person he trusts to drop Aiden at school, using only the same car.

Aiden sits beside me as the car passes various buildings in New York. He looks extremely happy, the smile on his face never fading.

Holding the straps of his backpack, he giggles. That sight warms my heart even more—I never thought that such a small kindness would change his mood significantly.

"I'm so happy that you want to send me off to school," he says for the fifth time already since we got into the car.

I laugh a little, shaking my head in disbelief. Ruffling his hair, I pull him into a hug, and he hugs me back.

When we pull away, my heart almost stops as I find his eyes glistening with happy tears.

Am I that special to him?

This little boy makes me tear up as well. He's so pure. He makes me forget all the problems that the world has shoved to me.

We finally reach his school, and I look out the car window to find what seems to be the most prestigious elementary school in New York.

It must be filled with kids of the richest.

"Enjoy your day, Aiden." I smile and hug him one last time. He nods enthusiastically.

Aiden steps out of the car, and I open the window. We wave at each other, a big grin on his face, before he turns on his heels, walking toward the gate of his school.

I continue to watch him go, but halfway to the gate, Aiden turns around and flashes me a smile again. A smile that's so big from ear to ear it could brighten up the whole world.

He waves his hand again. "Bye, Cassie!"

And I laugh again, waving back at him, not taking my eyes off him until he fully disappears from my sight.

A sigh escapes from my lips. Why does his presence make me so happy? So contented? What have I done to deserve such a precious little light like him?

And at this very moment, I'm more than sure that I've never felt so grateful in my life.