Chapter 3

I stood on the street as the car quickly vanished from sight, not knowing where to go. I had finally sobered up after everything that had happened, which only made the pain even sharper.

I looked around the city, and even at 2:00 am, the streets remained noisy and crowded. There were people and cars that came and went, while the neon lights shone brighter than the night sky. The noisier everything around me got, the quieter my own world grew.

I had been here for seven years, and I had never grown accustomed to life in this city. I had only forced myself to put up with it because I was by Cassian's side for so long.

I couldn't help but find love to be a terrible thing.

It could make people willingly suffer, give up who they were, and lose themselves completely. It could numb them, even make them blind and deaf to the truth, until they could no longer tell whether the person beside them every day was human or a monster.

I made my way home one step at a time. It took two hours, crossing eight main roads and three major intersections. I had taken Cassian down this route a hundred times before, showing him every sign and building just in case he lost his memory and couldn't find his way home.

Cassian used to ride his bike ahead of me, brushing off my constant nagging. "It's not like I'm stupid. Why wouldn't I know the route?"

I picked up my pace to catch up with him. "It could happen, you know. I mean, even I lose my way once in a while."

Cassian teased me. "You're terrible with directions. You've been living here for years, and you still manage to get lost going to the local supermarket, Maeve."

I really was terrible with directions, but after walking every inch of this route home, I'd memorized it. It was the only road I knew by heart, one I could follow home with my eyes closed.

Cassian had always taken the wrong turn, though. He'd either head east and end up at Nadine's apartment, or head west and go to her company. He had been right all along. He was no fool—he knew the directions just fine. He simply didn't want to return home.

I mused that if that was the case, then I might as well keep my distance. I stopped and took out my phone—watching the screen light up and go dark again—before I finally made up my mind and booked a flight for the following evening. I then hailed a cab to go home.

Cassian was still awake, even though it was already this late. He stood on the balcony, on a video call with Nadine. They talked about everything imaginable, from their plans for tomorrow to the trips they wanted to take next year.

Nadine said, "You should just fake amnesia at tomorrow's party so that Maeve won't bother you again. We can make an excuse to leave early and go set off fireworks by the river together, Cassian."

Cassian smiled in agreement.

Nadine continued, "You and I should go away for a long trip over the holiday this year! I really want to spend the next few months traveling!"

Cassian hesitated for a moment. "I don't think that'll work. Maeve's birthday and our wedding anniversary both fall around then, so I need to spend those days with her. In addition, if I keep up the amnesia act for too long, she'll get suspicious, Nadine."

Nadine whined. "Oh, come on! I really want to go, so please just come with me, Cassian!"

Cassian couldn't resist her constant whining. "Just this once, then."

I opened the balcony door. He immediately hid his phone behind his back and eyed me warily. I acted as if I hadn't noticed and started taking my clothes off the drying rack. I then asked casually, "Haven't you gone to bed yet?"

Cassian was likely acting out of guilt. He blinked in mock confusion, slipped back into his "amnesia" state, and took a step back, asking, "Who are you?"

I replied, "I'm the live-in housekeeper. I handle the cleaning and tidying here."

I carried the pile of clothes into the living room and began packing my suitcase right in front of Cassian.

Cassian didn't say much. He gave me a serious warning just before he went into the bedroom, saying, "I'm a light sleeper, so don't knock on my door unless it's necessary."

"I won't disturb you," I said, nodding my head. I would never interfere with his life again from that moment onward.