His words are so painful and make me believe each of them. Tears form in my eyes. My chest tightens—I find it hard to breathe.
Luke freezes, as though he can’t believe that he just said that out of anger. His jaw is tight. Now, I can see clearly the pain in his eyes that was vaguer before.
Before he can say anything again, I turn my back on him and walk out of the room. My eyes squeeze shut as I swallow a lump in my throat. My heart swells with pain as I keep thinking about what he said. I’m so angry, I feel like I’m losing my mind. I’m afraid that I’ll break down if I stay in that room with him.
No. His words shouldn’t affect me thismuch. They shouldn’t.
17
________
CASSIE
After what happened with Luke in the afternoon, I don't feel like getting out of my room to eat in the dining room tonight. I still don't want to see Luke. His words hurt me to the core.
And what makes me hate him even more is that he always acts like he owns me. Like I belong to him. He's been dictating it since the first time I saw him.
It contradicts his statement that our marriage is only a one-year contract. What the hell is wrong with him?
Ms. Langston knows that I'm not going to come out to have dinner with Luke and Aiden. In the end, she brings the food for me so that I can eat it in my room.
Even the fact that she addresses me as "Mrs. Klein" annoys me, so I tell her to call me "Cassie" instead. I've been wanting to tell her that from the beginning, though.
I never like it when someone addresses me too formally, especially when we're going to get along.
The next morning, I wake up with a heavy heart. It sucks that whether I like it or not, I still have to face Luke again. Just like now, I'm thinking about coming out of my room to have breakfast with them because I want to see Aiden.
The boy doesn't deserve this uncomfortable silence, and I don't want him to think that I'm edging away. I don't want him to hate me.
So I finally walk out of my room. When I reach the dining room, I'm surprised to find that Luke isn't here with us. Aiden sitsquietly, eating his cereal. He still hasn't noticed that I'm approaching him.
"Good morning," I greet him with a warm smile, taking a seat opposite him.
Aiden immediately looks up from his bowl, and his face brightens. "Cassie!" he squeals. "I thought that you were sick again."
I shake my head. So, that's what Luke told him?
"No, I'm doing well, Aiden." I smile again. "Where's Luke?"
I ask him just because I'm curious.
Aiden's face falls, and I wonder if I asked the wrong question. My heart sinks.
"He went to the office earlier because there's some urgent matter," Aiden says in a small voice filled with disappointment.
Ms. Langston appears with a tray of food for me and arranges it on the table.
"Aiden is sad because Luke has never missed dropping him off at school," she reminds me before turning to Aiden. "It's just one time, Aiden." She gives Aiden a reassuring smile. "You do remember that Luke has to meet his business partner early because the person has to catch a flight to Canada, don't you?"
Aiden just nods in response, but I can still see the sadness in his eyes. An idea pops up in my head.
"I can drop you off, Aiden," I say with a cheerful tone. "If you want me to."
He snaps his head up toward me again. Sudden excitement skates all over his face. "Really?" he exclaims.
I nod. "Of course. I would love to send you to school. Besides, I don't have to work this morning."
Now, Aiden's eyes sparkle with happiness, and I can't help but feel the same joy filling my heart. Ms. Langston shakes her head, watching us with a smile, a sigh leaving her lips.
