Chapter 3 3

When he said that, I didn't say a word and just walked past him, getting inside the elevator. Christian followed suit, his brow furrowed. He looked at Aaron, scrutinizing him. He pressed the elevator button so it wouldn't close. Damn.

"WHAT IS IT!" I screamed. He just stood there, looking at Christian. "Is he your boyfriend? Just a piece of advice. Your girlfriend had a guy with her last night. Tsk. Seems like you're not making her happy, so she's looking elsewhere." Then he turned and walked down the hallway like a king.

I pressed the close button. Christian gave me a confused look as the elevator doors closed. "What the hell was that?! Who was that jerk?" He asked, annoyed. I shook my head, signaling that I didn't want to talk about it. He sighed and gave me a brotherly hug.

"It's okay. Whoever he is, he's an ass." I nodded, holding back my tears. He let go and led me outside the building. "Will you be okay?"

"Yeah." I was relieved that my voice didn't falter. "Okay, take care." I got into my car and drove home. Shit. I felt like trash. I entered the mansion and was relieved to find out my stepfather was at the company. At least my bad mood won't get worse. Sheesh.

I went straight to my room and stayed there for hours. I didn't bother eating or checking my phone. It was already ten o'clock when I decided to stop letting it get to me. Clubbing alone would be really perfect right now.

As usual, I picked a sexy dress that would accentuate my curves. I wore my 'fuck me' heels and felt satisfied. I grabbed my phone from the bedside table. Theia had called. I didn't call her back because she's probably with Christian right now and I don't want to interfere with a budding romance.

I drove towards Andromeda. The bouncer gave me a creepy smile, but I decided to just shrug it off. I sat at the bar counter and ordered tequila. My eyebrow shot up when I saw someone approaching.

He was looking at me in a dirty way, as if figuring out which position would be suitable if we were to have sex. Wow, such a brazen-faced guy. He gave me a lopsided smile. "Hello."

"You're ogling. Stop it." I blurted out when we were face to face. He laughed. The sound grated on me. I just wanted to drink alone tonight. No flirting.

"You're too vocal, don't you think?" He asked while also ordering a drink. I shrugged and drank the last drop of my tequila. "I've been told," I answered without enthusiasm.

"You look sad," he commented. My eyebrow instantly shot up. What's it to him? Annoyed, I stood up and left the bar. It's a good thing that pervert didn't follow.

I went back to my car and took a cigarette. I lit it and puffed. I don't always smoke, only when I'm feeling troubled. And right now, I just can't get Aaron out of my fucking head.

I was halfway through finishing my cigarette when a familiar voice echoed. "So you smoke now, too. It's gonna damage your lungs, so you should stop."

I turned to him, raising an eyebrow. And who is he to meddle in my affairs? After all those rude things he's done, he's still going to bother me? This guy is really pushing it! It still hurt to hear him call me a slut!

And what he did earlier? Psh, still not forgiven. I glared at him and took another drag. "I said stop Cassidy! You're putting your health at risk!" He snatched the cigarette and hastily threw it to the ground. He stepped on it and shot me a death stare.

Fine! I'll just go get another one! I reached for the pack of cigarettes in my car and took one stick. But he snatched it before I could even put it in my mouth. My temper skyrocketed. "Bullshit! What is it?! Will you just mind your own business Aaron?! Don't bother me! Get the hell out of my face!"

He gave me a stern look. "You are my business."

"Damn you!" I wanted to give him the middle finger, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it. I settled for kicking my own car. It created loud honking sounds.

"What happened to you? You've changed so much. I can't see the sweet Cassidy I once loved in you anymore." He said, looking into my eyes. I turned away. The sweet Cassidy is gone. She will never come back.

It felt like he cut my heart with his words. The sweet Cassidy he once loved? Loved. Past tense. I suddenly felt a rush of pity for myself. I almost wanted to laugh at myself right now. It's like my knees went weak. "You've changed so much. I can't even imagine that you'd end up like this, messed up." I squeezed my eyes shut.

I clenched my fists to keep them from trembling. This is too much. This is just too much. But I can't retaliate, because I know he has a reason to be angry with me. He was right. I left him. I left him behind.

I opened my eyes and looked at him. "I also never imagined I'd turn out like this. I've always been nice and timid. But I guess I've unlocked the true me. Maybe this is really who I am. I feel so free. So... alive."

Alive wasn't the right word to describe me. Yes, I'm breathing, but that doesn't make me alive. I just exist. That's all. Free? I felt free... and sad, and alone. I've lived with this sadness ever since I let him go.

I learned to cope with it every single day of my fucking life. I felt like an empty shell. Good-looking on the outside, hollow on the inside.

His eyes seemed to be boring into my soul, unraveling my thoughts. I cleared my throat and tried to look nonchalant. "I heard you have your own company in New York. Wow, that's your dream, isn't it?" I gave him a sidelong glance.

He leaned against my car. "Yeah. Thanks for that." I frowned. "What for?"

He sniggered. "For leaving me. If you hadn't, I wouldn't have achieved this. So, thank you." Sarcasm dripped from his voice.

That's why I had to go. Because I was the obstacle. I thought sadly.

I had to bite my lip to prevent any sound from escaping. He's doing it again. He's hurting me.

I stifled a sob and tried to maintain a composed face. "I'm s-sorry. I know you're angry." I wanted to tell him that I never really left. I was there in New York, watching his progress. I was watching from afar.

"Angry? Wow, no. I'm not angry. I even thanked you, right? Why would I be angry at you? It's not like what you did was angering, right? The kind where you're falling so hard, and then you're suddenly left. The kind where you can't imagine your life without them, and then they tell you they're done. That they love someone else. No Cassidy, I'm not angry at you. In fact, I'm even happy."

I lowered my head, this time unable to stop my tears. "Sorry."

"BULLSHIT!" He shouted angrily. He forcefully turned me to face him. "SORRY?! Is that all you have to say?! Is your sorry enough for all the pain?! Your sorry can't fix what you've done to me! You turned me into a coldhearted monster!"

I choked on my sobs. I kept repeating that word. It seemed to only enrage him further. He was right; I couldn't erase his pain. "Damn it Cassidy. If you only knew how much it hurt when you left me."

I wanted to tell him that I did know. Because I experienced it too. I hurt too. But I kept my mouth shut.

"I wondered if you were feeling sad and hurt too, like me. But then I realized, of course not. You already have someone else."

I didn't have anyone else. I said those things so you wouldn't chase after me. But you did. And I admired you even more. I loved you even more.

But the timing wasn't right. I had to set you free. I had to let you go so you could pursue your dreams, hoping that when you achieved them, you'd come back and we could pick up where we left off.

But I was foolish to believe that. I was really, really foolish. Because as I looked at him now,

All I could see was anger.