Chapter 7
Back at the house.
Briar begged Cassian to draw with her.
She handed him crayons and pointed at her new picture–a happy little family under a blue sky, with balloons, fireworks, and a big pink cake.]
Cassian blinked, eyes stinging.
Then he got up and walked straight out the door.
At the old house, his heart sank]
Everything–every photo, every toy, every trace of me and Lumi–was gone.
He searched room by room, drawer by drawer.]
Nothing.
He called me over and over again.[]
Only to hear the same thing each time: “The number you have dialed is no longer in service.“]
That’s when he knew-
I’d blocked him.]
He sat down on the empty floor, staring at the walls.]
The love he’d thrown away.]
Was finally gone.
He whispered the only words left in him:[]
“Lumi. Daddy’s sorry. I’m so sorry…”
The next day, Cassian dragged himself back to the house.
Just as he reached the porch, he heard voices inside.]
Vesper didn’t sound sweet like usual.
She sounded annoyed.]
“Honey, how many times do I have to tell you?“]
“You have to behave if you want Cassian to love you and come home more, okay?“]
Briar’s voice was high–pitched and frustrated:[]
“I have been good!”
“But he doesn’t play with me anymore.”
“He barely even talks to me.”
There was a pause.
Then Vesper laughed–low and smug
“That’s because his daughter died. He’s just sad, baby.”
“If you keep making him happy, once Mommy marries him, he’ll only love you from now on.”
Chapter 7
Briar went quiet for a moment.
Then:
“Mommy, I know about Cassian’s daughter.”
“I saw her at the hospital, remember?“]
Both Vesper and Cassian froze.]
Briar kept talking, like it was nothing: “She used to follow us around when we were there.“]
“Like, sneaky, like a little thief or something.”
“Sometimes I’d catch her wiping her eyes. Crying.“]]
She scoffed.
“Whatever.”
She cried all the time and wasn’t even cute.”
“No wonder Cassian didn’t like her.“]
Outside the door, Cassian felt like lightning had hit him square in the chest.]]
That’s why her eyes were always red when he came home.]
That’s why she grew so distant.]
He’d blamed Elara for turning Lumi against him.[]
But it wasn’t her.
It was him.
Inside, Vesper ruffled Briar’s hair, her voice sickeningly proud:[]
“You’re doing great, sweetie.”
“Now it’s Mommy’s turn.”
Briar tilted her head, curious:
“So once you marry Cassian, I won’t have to fake being sick anymore, right?“[]
“I hate the medicine.”
Vesper giggled
“Of course not, baby.”
“You were never really sick to begin with.”
Cassian stood frozen
Trembling
They’d hed
He gave up his real family for this?]]
All those nights ignoring Lumi’s calls.]
He remembered his screen lighting up over and over
He could’ve picked up
Chapter 7
He should’ve picked up.
But he didn’t
All because Briar kept calling him “Daddy.“]}]
He had never hated himself more.[]
Silent tears streamed down his face.
Then the dam broke.
He stormed into the house, grabbed Vesper and Briar, and shoved them out the front door.
No matter how they pleaded, he didn’t say a word.
The cleaning service arrived an hour later.
Every single thing that belonged to them–every toy, every piece of clothing, every memory–was thrown out.]
Even anything they touched.]
Gone.
The house was back to how it used to be.
Except this time-
There was no me.]
No Lumi
And never would be again.
