Hearing Cassian’s voice, Thalia immediately began to sob.
“I know your mother passed away, and you’re in a terrible state. I was afraid you wouldn’t be able to bear it alone… I just wanted to check on you.”
“Check on me?” I laughed, laughing until tears were forced out. “When you took him from me, were you checking on me like this too?”
She froze for a moment, blinking her wet eyes. “I didn’t take him… it was Cassian who—”
Cassian narrowed his eyes. “Everyone knows you hate her. Stop pretending to be innocent.”
I stared at him, blinked, and forced the tears back, letting out a cold laugh.
“She cries, and suddenly the whole world has wronged her. I so much as frown, and I become the villain? In your eyes, there has only ever been her. You have always only seen her.”
He hesitated, as if wanting to argue, but Thalia behind him grabbed his sleeve.
“Cassian, don’t be like this… it’s really not worth fighting over. It’s my fault. I overreacted. I just wanted to comfort her…”
Innocent. Fragile. Blameless.
Every word she spoke sounded like she was removing herself from responsibility, and at the same time reminding everyone that I was the unreasonable one.
It was that moment.
The fuse was completely lit.
I lifted my head and stared at the two of them, my chest tightening as if someone were squeezing it shut.
My voice was so cold it held no warmth at all.
“You really think I would waste time scheming against her?”
Cassian’s face darkened instantly.
“Enough!”
He shouted, and before I could even react—
Smack.
The slap landed on my face, sharp and clear, like ice cracking in the dead of winter.
My world went silent.
I staggered back from the blow and dropped to my knees on the rough concrete. My palm scraped open, a long gash tearing through skin as bright red blood spilled out.
I froze.
Cassian… hit me?
He really raised his hand against me.
He said nothing. No apology. No guilt.
He did not even look at me.
He turned away and gently pulled Thalia into his arms. That tender movement was like a dull knife, slowly slicing away the last trace of illusion left in my chest.
He protected her as if she were something fragile and priceless.
And I was left there by the roadside.
Like trash.
The car door slammed shut with a heavy bang, the vibration rattling through my bones.
When sound returned to the world, all that remained was my own breathing, ragged and desperate, like I was dying.
Not long after, the phone on the bedside table suddenly vibrated.
My fingers were still trembling, but I opened Instagram anyway.
Thalia’s new post jumped into view.
My breath stopped.
In the photo, they were at Disneyland.
She was wearing Mickey Mouse ears. So was he.
She linked her arm through his. He looked down at her, smiling softly, indulgently.
Like a couple deeply in love.
Like the kind of perfect match everyone believes in.
There were photos of the carousel, fireworks, parades.
Every single one was blindingly bright.
I stared at those pictures, feeling as if my chest had been torn wide open.
I remembered those nights.
Lying in his arms, I had once begged quietly.
“Cassian, can we go too? I want to wear those silly ears and eat Disney cotton candy…”
His answer had always been cold.
“That place is boring and childish.”
But now?
For her, he was willing to try anything.
Even dreams he once mocked, he would help her fulfill.
My fingers tightened around the phone, my knuckles turning white. Even breathing hurt.
So it turned out, everything I ever wanted, he was willing to give.
Just… not to me.
