Neptune

Chapter 43 | The Pain

L U K E

Present

It feels like everything that happened to us seven years ago comes back to me again, as if it just happened yesterday.

With a feeling this strong, I don't know how I'm going to get rid of this fire inside me. My feelings for her burn like an endless flame.

It tortures me, but I have no intention of letting it dim, because it never will.

No matter how much it hurts right now, I'm still going to keep my promise to her.

Cassie saved me. She has helped me through the most difficult times of my life, so even if she lets me die this time—or worse, kills me herself—I will allow her to.

I've been so consumed by our moments in the past while staring at the gerbera daisies in the back garden of my house that time flies until it reaches dinner time.

I know that Aiden will be waiting for us in the dining room, and he will be heartbroken once he finds out that neither of us is there.

But I just can't leave her now, Aiden.

My jaw tightens. Aiden doesn't deserve this atmosphere, this broken home, but I hope that he'll understand that I'm trying to make everything right so that we can live happily together.

I stride toward my bedroom to check on Cassie, but when I arrive, she's no longer here.

So I head to her bedroom. The sound of wheels rolling on the floor makes me snap my head toward the source of the noise, and I find Langston pushing the rolling food tray.

She halts when she sees me, surprised to find me standing in front of the door.

"I'm bringing her dinner to her room," she said, sympathy on her face. "She didn't think that she could join you and Aiden for dinner tonight."

I sigh. "I understand. Let me bring it to her."

Langston looks at me with a sad expression, knowing that we must have had a huge fight from how devastated both of us look.

She passes the rolling tray to me, and I push it, stepping into Cassie's room.

She's sitting on her bed, hugging her knees.

Tears are rolling down her cheeks as she cries softly. My eyes widen as I stare at her broken form.

Cassie startles when she finds me walking in. She straightens up, pushing her back against the headboard.

My heartbeat increases rapidly the closer I get to her. I always have this kind of feeling every time I'm around her, like a lovesick fool.

Despite how many years have passed, she's still the same Cassie who took my breath away. The same girl who almost died just to return my brother's coat, who let me kiss her all night and who broke into tears when I left her.

My whole body is on alert as I see how much she's been crying. Her eyes are filled with pain and disappointment as she looks at me.

That look stabs my heart like a knife.

What have I done to her?

Fuck. I made her cry. I hurt her.

"Cassie." My voice is shaking when I finally realize how much I've hurt her.

"You're just the same as everybody else," she rasps. "You never believe me. In your eyes, I'm still the nation's whore." Her tears keep flowing.

It feels like her words just ripped my heart apart.