Chapter 5
Cassian stared at the divorce papers, completely frozen.
I tossed the pen into his lap–just like he used to toss his credit cards at me like I was some kind of afterthought.]
He panicked, shoved the papers aside, grabbed my shoulders and shook me.]
“Elara, no. Tell me you’re lying.“[]
“Our daughter…. she’s alive. She has to be.“]
He locked eyes with me, desperate to find anything in them that said this wasn’t real.]
But after a long, heavy silence, he looked away.]
His eyes turned red.]
I curled my lips into something that wasn’t quite a smile.
“Cassian…. do you even remember what happened on her birthday?“]
He took a shaky step back, and his face went pale like all the blood had drained out of him.]
That day.
I begged him not to leave.
Told him over and over that Lumi was dying of leukemia.
He heard her crying behind him, screaming “Daddy” through tears, chasing after him.[]
But he still pushed her away and chose to go play happy family with Vesper and her kid.[]
The wind picked up, blowing ash from the firepit high into the sky like gray snowflakes.[]
Cassian stood there, staring at the smoke like it hypnotized him.
His eyes filled with tears.]
“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?” he whispered.[]
I scoffed, the sound bitter in my throat.
“You were too busy. Busy throwing a birthday party for Briar.“]]
“Busy watching fireworks with Vesper. Busy playing house.“[]
“If Vesper hadn’t posted that video today, I wouldn’t have even known that the great Mr. Cassian–who doesn’t even wash his own dishes–could cook like a damn chef.”
Cassian opened his mouth like he wanted to argue, but nothing came out.]
He just stood there, humiliated.
I shot him a sideways look, then let out a slow, cruel smile.
That thirty minute call showed me who he really was.]]
The man who claimed to hate kitchen smells?
There he was, cooking dinner for them.]
Mr. Too Good for Everything? []
Chapter S
Now peeling shrimp for Vesper like it was nothing.
And every drop of love he could have given to Lumi–he poured it into Briar.[]
He told her to chew slowly.
To eat her veggies.]]
He even cooled her soup and fed it to her spoon by spoon.[]
Every little thing–those were the pieces of everyday life Lumi and I once had.]
Now?
They were dreams we didn’t dare dream anymore.
Every second of that video was another slice through my heart.[]
It felt like being dragged across a bed of nails, over and over, until there was nothing left to feel.
Cassian clenched his fists. His voice cracked.[]
Elara… I’m sorry… I didn’t know… I didn’t know it was this bad.“[]
I stared straight into him, not even trying to hide the hate anymore.]]
You always said she was faking it.“[]
“But what about the needle marks?“[]
The clumps of hair falling out?“]]
“The way her body wasted away?“]]
“She was dying, Cassian.”
“And you still chose Vesper.“]
“You didn’t even notice your own daughter slipping away.”
“You know how much it hurt when she called for you during chemo?”
“Cried for her dad? And you never showed. Not even once.”
“This is the kind of dad you turned out to be.“]
Cassian shut his eyes tight, but it didn’t stop the tears from breaking free.
“No, that’s not. I didn’t mean….“]
But Lumi understood things even if she was just a kid.]
She saw my pain. And she tried to comfort me.
Even at the end, she lay in my arms, wiping away my tears.
“Don’t cry, Mommy.”
“Lami doesn’t want Daddy anymore.”
“Just don’t cry, okay?”
The memory stole the breath from my lungs.
I had to force myself to breathe
I picked up the divorce papers again and pressed them into his hands.
Chapter 5
“Let go, Cassian.”
“Lumi’s gone.”
“And there’s no ‘us‘ left anymore.“[]
