Chapter 2
I didn’t say a word.]]
Caspian’s voice turned anxious:]
“Posey, what’s wrong? Are you upset about something?“|||
Tell me where you are–I’ll come get you right now!”
He was still so attentive, so good at reading my moods and knowing exactly how to make me feel secure.
“I’m at home. Don’t feel like going to the park tonight.“[
Caspian paused for a beat, then continued in that soothing tone:[]
“Okay, I’ll come home to you instead.”
He didn’t question why I’d stood him up.]]
Not because he loved me enough to tolerate my flakiness.]
But because he’d already gotten what he wanted–a successful proposal to his real love in that carefully orchestrated setting.[]
I was just his backup plan if things went south.
When Caspian walked in, I was just stepping out of the bathroom.
Seeing Ruelle right behind him made me frown instinctively:
“Why did you bring her here?”
Was he really this desperate to rub it in my face?]]
Caspian touched his nose sheepishly:[]
“Posey, I ran into Ruelle downstairs and found out she lives in our complex. When she heard you were back, she insisted on coming up to apologize…”
I watched him perform with cold eyes.[]
e forgive us?”
“Posey, Mom and I went way too far back then. I’m apologizing for both of us–can you please forgive
My voice shook as I asked Casplan
“So you think I should forgive her?”
The pain of a ruptured eardrum, the agony of switches beating my legs numb, watching Mom’s belongings burn to ash in the fire pit…
I didn
humiliate myself by asking why he’d fallen for Ruelle.]
That would’ve made me look pathetic.]
As I stubbornly waited for his answer, Caspian’s guilt evaporated.[]
“Posey, Ruelle was just a kid back then–how could she know right from wrong? She’s felt terrible about it for years, and she’s apologizing now. Why are you still hung up on ancient history?“]
So, in his eyes, my torture that had dragged me into hell was just a “ancient history“?||
My refusal to forgive Ruelle was being “hung up“?
He was the one who’d rushed me to the hospital back then. He knew better than anyone how much I despised my stepmother and stepsister.]
But he’d fallen for Ruelle anyway, putting himself squarely on the other side.
How ridiculous.
Caspian tried to grab my hand and force me to shake hands with Ruelle.
I slapped his hand away and snarled:
“What gives you the right to tell me to forgive them?“]
Abusing me behind Dad’s back, manipulating Dad into resenting me, then not even bothering with his funeral after he died…]
Why should I forgive her?]
Caspian stared at his reddened hand, his face twisting with confusion and irritation:
“Posey, I’m trying to help you. You don’t have any family left–Ruelle and her mom are the closest thing to relatives you’ve got. Why torture yourself by clinging to the past?”
“You need to move forward, don’t you think?”
Caspian’s words sounded sincere, but his calm expression carried impatience.
Gone was the heartbreak and concern I used to know
v so well []
I felt my already shredded heart crumble to dust.]
The pain nearly stole my voice.]
Meanwhile, Ruelle’s teary eyes held the same smugness and defiance I remembered from childhood.[]
“Posey, if you can’t forgive me, that’s okay. I’ll keep feeling guilty and making amends until you accept me as family.“]
“Tuck off!“}
