Chapter 3 3

CHAPTER THREE

Lena's Pov

I didn't sleep much that night.

New houses always made me restless, but this one felt... different. Too big. Too quiet. Too aware of me. Every creak in the hallway made my nerves jump. And every time I closed my eyes, I saw two things:

Bryce leaning across that fancy restaurant table and Cassian Ward at the foot of the stairs, looking at me like he could see through every lie I'd ever told myself.

By sunrise, I gave up on sleep entirely.

My room was beautiful soft cream walls, a view of the snowy backyard, a massive bed with pillows that could smother a cow. But comfort meant nothing when your heart felt like it was made of cracked glass.

I dragged myself out of bed, brushed my hair into something vaguely human, and headed downstairs.

Voices drifted from the kitchen.

"Lena! Good morning," my mother chirped the moment I stepped in. She was dressed already hair curled, lipstick on, looking like she was ready for a photoshoot.

"Morning," I said, rubbing my eyes.

Senator Ward was reading the newspaper at the breakfast table, coffee steaming beside him. He gave me a warm nod. "Sleep well?"

"As well as I could," I answered truthfully.

Then I saw him.

Cassian stood by the counter, sleeves pushed up, pouring coffee into a mug. The morning light hit him in a way that made him look even more unreal...sharper jawline, tousled hair, quiet tension in his shoulders.

He glanced at me once.

Just once.

But it was enough to send my heartbeat skittering.

"Coffee?" he said, voice low, unreadable.

"Oh...sure," I said.

He slid the mug across the counter toward me without breaking eye contact. Not a smile. Not a frown. Just that intense, steady gaze that made me feel like I was shrinking and expanding at the same time.

My mother, oblivious as always, clapped her hands. "So! Today is decorating day! We're turning this house into a winter wonderland."

Cassian's jaw clenched an entire millimeter.

Senator Ward chuckled. "Don't let him fool you. Cassian loves holidays."

Cassian didn't respond, but he did look away from me long enough to sip his coffee.

Mom pointed to the living room. "We'll need help bringing the boxes down from the attic. Cassian, sweetheart, show Lena where everything is."

Cassian looked like he wanted to argue.

Just a flicker.

But then he sighed and nodded.

"Come on," he said to me.

He moved without waiting for me to follow, all quiet confidence and long strides. I trailed behind him through the corridor, trying not to stare at the muscles shifting under his sweater.

The attic ladder groaned as he pulled it down.

"You don't have to help," he said.

"I want to," I lied.

His brows lifted slightly like he could tell. Of course he could.

I climbed up first, and he followed close behind. The attic was huge, dusty, filled with boxes labeled lights, ornaments, family decorations, and randomly... fragile. I stared at the last one like it was mocking me.

As I knelt beside one of the boxes, Cassian stayed near the ladder, watching me carefully.

"You're quieter today," he said.

"I'm fine."

He exhaled through his nose. "That's not an answer."

I swallowed. "It's been a long week."

"Your boyfriend?" he asked, though his tone made it sound less like a question and more like he was confirming something he already knew.

Ex-boyfriend.

I opened my mouth then closed it again.

He waited. Patient but not gentle.

Finally, the words slipped out. "He cheated on me."

Cassian stilled.

Not shock.

Not pity.

Just a slow tightening of his jaw, like he was wrestling with something sharp behind his eyes.

I expected him to say something comforting. Something soft. Something normal.

Instead, he asked, "Did it hurt?"

I blinked. "What?"

"You looked... destroyed when you got here."

My throat tightened. "Anyone would be destroyed."

"No," he said quietly. "Not everyone loves like that."

Oh.

Oh no.

Heat crept up my cheeks. I turned back to the box to escape his gaze. "It doesn't matter anymore."

"It does," he said simply.

No one had ever said that to me. Not even Bryce. Especially not Bryce.

Before I could respond, a loud laugh echoed from downstairs my mother's voice.

"Cassian! Lena! We need the garlands!"

Cassian took a step closer, close enough that I could feel the warmth radiating off his body.

"We'll talk later," he said.

"About what?"

His eyes dipped to my mouth before lifting again. "About whatever you're trying so hard not to feel."

My breath caught.

But before anything else could be said or felt he grabbed two boxes like they weighed nothing and headed down the ladder.

Decorating with my mother was either a holiday tradition or a hostage situation depending on the year.

Cassian worked silently, stringing lights along the banister with practiced movements. I tried not to stare every time his sweater lifted slightly, revealing a sliver of skin.

"You're so helpful," my mom praised him, touching his arm.

He ignored the touch, eyes flicking to me instead.

Mom beamed. "Cassian could teach you a thing or two about being festive, Lena."

I bit my tongue. Cassian's gaze softened for a split second, like he understood what I wasn't saying.

Then the front door opened.

All three of us turned.

Cassian froze.

Senator Ward paused mid-step.

My mom gasped excitedly.

And my stomach?

It dropped straight to the floor.

Because Bryce Carter my cheating, lying, restaurant-reservation-having ex-boyfriend

was standing in the doorway.

Holding wrapped gifts.

Smiling at my mother.

Like he belonged here.

"Hey, Mrs. Hale!" he said. "Senator Ward asked me to stop by early. Family gathering and all."

Family.

What family?

Then Bryce's eyes landed on me.

His grin slipped into something desperate. "Lena. Baby..."

But another voice cut him off.

A quiet, controlled, unmistakably dangerous one.

"Don't," Cassian said.

His entire body went rigid, jaw sharp, gaze locked onto Bryce with a heat I'd never seen before.

Bryce blinked. "Uh... Cass? What's your problem? I was just..."

Cassian stepped forward, slow and lethal.

"Don't call her that."

My mother looked between them, confused.

"Wait...Cassian, you two know each other?"

Bryce laughed awkwardly. "Know him? He's my cousin."

My heart stopped.

No.

No, no, no..

My ex... is Cassian's cousin?

Cassian's eyes flicked to mine.

And in that moment, everything snapped into place.

The tension.

The way he watched me.

The way he asked about my pain.

The storm brewing behind his silence.

I felt my throat tighten.

Bryce took a step toward me.

Cassian blocked him instantly.

"Not. A step. Closer."

And that was the moment I realized..

This Christmas wasn't going to be peaceful.

Wasn't going to be healing.

Wasn't going to be simple.

It was going to be war.