Neptune

Chapter 33 | The Shattered Heart

I'm shaking when Luke storms at us, fire in his eyes. The next thing I know, he pulls Jude by the collar and punches him in the face, making him fall to the ground, while a small scream leaves my mouth.

Jude groans in pain, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth as he tries to sit up. His manager won't like that. Jude is a celebrity, and a bruise on his face has so many consequences.

Luke pants, his fist shaking because of his anger. "Fucking bastard." There's so much venom in his voice.

To my horror, Jude scoffs, shooting Luke a glare, and that's when Luke lunges at him again. But before everything can get worse-and more importantly, before anybody can barge inside to see all this mess and turn it into the next headline-I grab Luke's arm.

"Luke, stop," I cry.

Luke snaps his head toward me, and I feel my heart stop. There's so much fury and pain in his eyes, piercing right through me.

His jaw tightens before he walks out of the room. I don't even spare a glance back at Jude as we stride toward the exit of the studio, passing some staff who stare at us with wonder.

Quickly, I compose myself and throw them a half-smile. I pray to God that everything will be fine. This magazine company has been maintaining a good relationship with both Jude's and my record labels, so even if they figure out what happened just now, I hope that they will think twice before spreading it.

When we step out of the building, the night has fallen. I see Mike sitting on a bench with a cup of coffee in his hand.

He spots us, and his expression turns alert. He strides toward us, but I signal him to stop.

"It's okay, Mike," I say.

The cool night air blows against my skin, soothing, but I don't think that anything can calm my heart now, except Luke.

The car is already waiting for us at the back of the building. After we get inside, the driver starts the journey back home. Uncomfortable silence falls between us.

Throughout the journey, Luke doesn't even spare me a glance. He throws his gaze out of the window, and it's breaking my heart.

"It's not what you think, "I say, my voice shaking.

But he cares not.

Once we arrive at our house, Luke heads to his room with full strides, and I follow him, trying to keep up with his pace. When we step into his room, and after I close the door behind me, he finally snaps his body around, making my breath catch in my throat at his painfully cold stare.

"Reuniting with your old fucking flame, huh?" His tone is unbearably harsh, cutting me.

I stare at him in disbelief. "What are you talking about?"

He scoffs, but it isn't anywhere near playful. The sarcasm he's throwing at me is killing me. "Goddammit, Cassie, you know damn well what I mean."

"No, I don't," I say defiantly. "I don't understand at all why you're making such a stupid accusation."

Luke's jaw tightens, and I know that I just made his blood boil even more.