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“Why?” she challenged, tilting her head to gaze at him. “Yes, we’re getting married, but under very unusual circumstances. And we barely know each other. What has you so ready to give up everything for me without a second thought? Your life included.”

Instead of answering, Cassius lowered his head, kissing her deeply. The breathlessness she’d experienced from her dream had nothing on how Cassius immediately robbed her of oxygen the moment their lips collided.

Turning to face him, Aella melted into his body, only for him to tenderly push her away before things could go too far. Easily reading the questioning look she gave him, Cassius smiled. “Don’t get in your head. It’s just not the right time. I’m an experience, not a distraction.”

Aella couldn’t help but laugh despite the sting of his rejection. “No, you’re an arrogant asshole.”

“Whom you have the pleasure of spending the rest of your life with. Aren’t you blessed?”

“Cassius shut the hell up.”

Disappointment settled in deeply upon peeling open her eyes the next morning to find Cassius’ side of the bed empty. Huffing, she sat up, stretching her arms wide to release the stiff muscles. As she pushed the covers back, preparing to climb out of bed, her eyes landed on a note resting on the edge of the nightstand close to her. Tentatively reaching for it, she smiled upon reading the single sentence scribbled in surprisingly neat handwriting.

Went to grab breakfast. Be back in a few.

So, he hadn’t left her for dead.

Knowing that filled her with a relief she couldn’t make sense of. Refusing to overthink it, Aella continued pulling herself out of bed and heading into the bathroom. The corners of her mouth turned up when she noticed a fresh set of toiletries on the counter awaiting her.

“This man,” she tittered, shaking her head.

After freshening up, Aella planned to raid the kitchen to see what she could contribute to their morning. If he was handling breakfast, having coffee or tea made when he returned was the least she could do, though she didn't know if he liked either.

Making a mental note to craft a list of questions to ask to get to know him better, Aella poked her head in the fridge. She was in the beginning stages of her search when the front door opened and closed, signaling someone’s arrival.

“Well, damn,” she called. “I was trying to be helpful and make⁠—”

Aella stopped talking upon turning and finding one of the most heartbreakingly beautiful women she’d ever seen standing in the kitchen doorway, wearing a murderous expression. Her heart thundered, wondering who the woman could be.

Nova growled menacingly from behind the gate, separating the back half of Cassius’ home from the living room, making her presence known.

“I’m sorry, I don’t believe we’ve met. I’m Zelina, and you are?” the stranger demanded, planting her hands on her hips.

“I’m assuming you’re here for Cassius?” Aella avoided the question, opening her phone’s messaging app to compose a message to Smoke. Her thoughts were all over the place, but the one thing she knew without a doubt was that this was the woman Cassius had told her about. The one he’d supposedly ended things with.

The confidence she exuded while glaring at Aella, however, said otherwise. That could only mean one of two things: either he was lying, or Zelina was delusional. Either way, Aella didn’t plan on sticking around to find out.

“I am,” Zelina confirmed. “And I didn’t catch your name.”

“That’s because I didn’t give it,” Aella replied coolly, breezing past her without further comment. Heading back upstairs, she gathered her few belongings, chastising herself along the way. How could she have been foolish enough to believe they had even the slightest chance at having a normal relationship? He clearly wasn’t ready to give up his lifestyle, and she had no interest in giving her heart to a man who wouldn’t return the gesture.

As far as she was concerned, their connection went as deeply as the papers they’d need to sign. Beyond that, he could go his way, and she could go hers.

Nearly ten minutes passed before she returned downstairs, at the same time as Cassius’ return.

“Hey, baby,” Zelina cooed, nearly floating his way.

Aella’s stomach clenched, but she refused to give Zelina the satisfaction of knowing she’d gotten under her skin.

Cassius brushed her arms away as she attempted to hug him. “What the hell are you doing here, Z?”

Her lips morphed into a pout. “We need to talk. I’ve been trying to get a hold of you for days.”

Walking the bags into the living room, he placed them on an end table. “Was me not answering my phone not evidence enough that I didn’t want to talk? I said everything I had to say.”

“But I didn’t,” Zelina argued. “And after all these years, I don’t think it’s fair for you to⁠—”

“Where are you going?” Cassius interrupted, his full attention on Aella.