Chapter 8
+25 BONUS
Hades didn’t show up again after leaving.
Not long after, I saw Olivia post a wedding invitation on her Instagram. Seeing that they were finally married, I sighed in relief.
The pain I had carried from my previous life was behind me. In this new one, I was determined to live well.
However, one night, I received a call from an unknown number. It was Hades.
He was drunk and slurring as he complained, “Cassandra, I just realized you’re the only one who truly treated me well! Did
you know Olivia and I fought today? She called me a useless, disabled piece of shit. She didn’t even stop to consider how I
ended up like this.
“I risked my life to save her and lost my leg in the process. And now, she’s mocking me for being a cripple! How could she
treat me like that?
“Cassandra… you were always so good to me. Even when we argued, you never spoke so harshly. I miss you. I miss the times
when we were together…”
Suddenly, the line crackled with static, and the phone was snatched away.
Then, I heard Olivia’s voice. “Ms. Channing, Hades is drunk and rambling. Don’t take anything he says to heart. He won’t
remember a thing in the morning.
“And let me remind you–Hades is my husband now. I dok s
appreciate other women ogling my man.
“If you keep flirting with him, I won’t hesitate to show up at your workplace and make a scene. Then all your superiors,
colleagues, and students will see you for the slut you are!”
I laughed, completely unfazed.
“Olivia, I hope you and the man I discarded stay together forever. And you’d better keep him on a tight leash. Don’t let him
harass me again.”
Olivia roared from the other end, “You don’t need to worry about that!”
For a long stretch, peace returned. My days became fulfilling. I fell in love with the mountain and with the children I taught.
