Chapter 2

What happens when two people who forged their love in a storm of blood and bullets find that passion eroded by years of quiet days?

I asked him that question when he proposed.

He was quiet for a moment, then he took my hand and kissed it gently.

"I don't think we'll ever fall out of love," he said. "And if we do, it'll be you getting tired of me."

"Scarlett, you're the only light in my goddamn dark life."

"Without you, there's no Cassius."

"I'll be true to you for the rest of my life."

In his old life, there was only the mother who sold him for cash, a cold father with countless bastards, and brothers who wanted him dead.

He was weak and alone, forced to lick his wounds in the shadows whenever he got hurt.

Until I found him on the street one day, bruised and battered. I handed him some ointment. "You okay?"

He looked so pathetic, it broke my heart. I started seeking him out.

The more I did, the more I saw him getting pushed around. Some stupid, heroic part of me made me stand in front of him, even though I couldn't fight worth a damn back then.

"Why are you helping me?" Cassius once asked, his voice laced with confusion.

I gave him a hopelessly romantic answer. "Because it's fate."

"Cassius, do you believe in fate?"

"No," he said quietly. "But if fate is what brought you to me, then I'm grateful for it."

When Cassius got home, I was on the balcony, smoking.

The smoke swirled around me. He frowned, snatched the cigarette from my fingers, and crushed it under his shoe.

"Why are you smoking?"

His jaw was tight. "Scarlett. Talk to me."

"I was thinking about that maid of yours."

I asked him, "Cassius, can you get her out of the manor?"

"Why?" He looked stunned, but there was something else hidden in his eyes that I couldn't be bothered to decipher. "She's a decent worker…"

"I don't like her," I repeated. "Cassius, get rid of her. I don't want to see her near you again."

Cassius stared at me for a long moment, then a slow chuckle escaped him. "Jealous?"

"Fine. I'll have her removed. We'll get a new one. Happy now?"

He tapped my forehead with his knuckles, his voice laced with exasperated fondness.

"We're not kids anymore. Our kids are five years old, Scarlett. Are you really getting jealous over some maid? Come on."

I smiled but didn't answer.

Later, in bed, we talked about the children for a minute, and then… silence. Nothing left to say.

As I was drifting off, I heard him whisper.

"Scarlett… this life… it's pretty damn boring, isn't it?"

The room was silent for the rest of the night.

Cassius kept his promise. Lily was gone the next day.

He started coming home earlier, too. He was constantly around me, teasing me for being too sensitive, like a moody cat.

Life seemed to be getting back on track.

I was swamped with the Family's legitimate businesses and quickly pushed the incident to the back of my mind.

Until our daughter's riding lesson.

I called Cassius. It was noisy on his end. I asked what was wrong. He sounded tired. "It's nothing."

"Something's come up. I can't make it. Take the guards with you. I'll bring you back a gift."

"Okay. Be safe."

I hung up.

That afternoon, I went to our private hospital to pick up my check-up results.

At the end of the hall, I saw her. The maid he'd fired.

She was nursing a twisted ankle, wincing with every step, and Cassius himself was at her side, helping her walk.

She looked at him with total dependence, murmuring, "Thank God for you, Mr. Vance. I know I shouldn't be a bother, but I don't have any other family or friends in New York. I didn't know who else to call…"

Cassius was not a patient man, but his expression was incredibly gentle. "It's fine. You're not a bother."

Lily blushed even deeper.

I stood there, watching from a distance. I didn't go over.

After they left, I had one of my bodyguards follow them.

The guard didn't report back until that night.

He said Cassius took Lily to the supermarket and bought her groceries.

He said Cassius held her arm the whole time to steady her. She tried to get closer, but Cassius always sidestepped her attempts.

I looked at the photos of them walking side-by-side, their occasional glances, and I was silent for a very long time.