She goes silent for a while, still eyeing me.
"Cassie, I've never taught you how to be so weak." Her voice is soft but painful to hear at the same time.
"Not only that, but you didn't even think twice before pushing me to marry someone I don't love just for the sake of a fucking business deal," I yell.
However, Morgan acts indifferent. I pant, feeling tears pooling in my eyes.
"Can't we just stop this?" I ask, my voice barely a whisper. "Can't we just go back to those times when things were less complicated? Can't we just live a simple life and be happy?"
Can't I be your daughter again?
But she ignores all my words.
"Cassie, I didn't love your father either when I married him," she says instead, shocking me to the core. "I did that for my own good. I just didn't expect that he would leave us so soon and cause us to struggle alone for a living."
I can't believe what she just said. My heart aches even more.
"You did not just say that about Dad," I say, the agony inside me eating me. Shaking my head in disbelief, I glare at her. "No, I won't let you control my life anymore, Morgan. It's enough. I won't ever listen to you anymore. This is toxic."
To my horror, she raises her hand and gives me a hard slap across my face. My hand shaking, I touch my swollen cheek before snapping my head back toward her.
"How could you say that?" she hisses, her voice laced with venom, angry tears also visible in her eyes. "It's all because of me that you're at this point, Cassie. It's all because of me that you're a superstar now."
And with that said, she turns on her heels and walks out of the room, leaving me dumbfounded.
My lips tremble, I collapse onto my knees. How much more does she need me to overwork myself? Maybe this time, I will indeed get admitted into the hospital.
It's not only my heart that is tired but also my body.
But most importantly, even after all the cruel things she has done to me, I still miss her. I miss the Morgan I knew years ago.
If she weren't my manager, would things change? Would we be able to see each other as mother and daughter again?
But the company wouldn't just let Morgan go, even if I asked them to. After all, Morgan has done so much for them. She's the one who convinced the director about me in the first place before I became a superstar, which now makes him believe everything she says since billions of dollars fall in his lap every time she makes a decision.
Then Lucas Klein's voice echoes back in my ears. “Remember, Cassie. With me, you'll have leverage against Astalis Records, for once.”
I freeze. A deal with Lucas Klein might be able to overthrow Morgan. After all, the company won't be able to resist the opportunity to ally with the most powerful news and media corporation in the country.
Luke will be able to convince them to fire Morgan.
As long as I marry him.
But still, no matter which decision I make, I'll end up in hell.
It's just a matter of which hellI will choose.
5
________
CASSIE
Age ten
That day, I remember holding her hand, wiping my tears away. I watched as Dad was buried in front of me. My heart broke for the thousandth time as I thought that I wouldn't be able to see him anymore.
Here, in the graveyard, people had gathered, most of whom were his business partners. He didn't have any close family or relatives here—he was an immigrant who married Mom.
