76. Can't Change the Past

Hello again, my dear loyal readers!

I'm sorry for the long wait - I hope it won't happen again <3

I can't change the past, but this free episode is a little gift to you, as an apology :)

Enjoy, and please leave a comment! <3

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76. Can't Change the Past

“There, sweetie.” Aunt Gilda enters the room with a pair of blue gel packs. “They’ll soothe your eyes in seconds.”

Cassie looks at Gilda’s reflection in the mirror. The woman tells her to close her eyes, and she obeys like a mindless little girl, slowly laying her head back. 

How could she? How could Emily force her baby on a man who had no idea it even existed. It’s the lowest thing a woman could ever do to a man.

Gilda places the cold packs onto her eyelids –a useless attempt. Cassie's eyes don't hurt because of the tonic. Her pain comes from the depths of her aching soul.

Cassie is certain that Mathias had no idea about his daughter until Emily informed him. If he’d known, he wouldn’t have left his girlfriend alone with his baby, even if they’d already broken up then.

“Why did you take off the bonnet?” Aunt Gilda’s voice snaps her out of the sea of unpleasant thoughts. But the bitter taste still lingers in her chest.

“I… I have a terrible headache.” She stammers on a lie. The only place she wants to be right now is her bed.

“Oh, no.” Gilda lifts the packs off her eyes. “Do you want a cup of tea, sweetie?”

“No, no.” Cassie sighs, uneasy for making this lovely woman worry. She needs to leave this place and head home. “I think I just need some rest.”

“I knew you hadn't slept last night. The lines under your eyes gave it away when you first came.” Gilda frowns with concern. “Is something upsetting you? Work, or…”

Cassie used to tell Aunt Gilda about the guys she was seeing and always got good advice. This woman is like a life coach for everyone around her.

But this time, she can't say a word. 

“The work… it's just… exhausting lately.” Cassie lies again. “That's why I took today off.”

“Oh.” Aunt Gilda speaks sadly. “Well, if you need to rest, this is the right place, sweetie.” The woman reaches the drawer. “What about a head massage? It’ll take that stress away-”

“No, no. Thank you.” Cassie interrupts, lifting the blue packs off her eyelids. “I just need some sleep.” 

Gilda seems hesitant. “But this is way more effective than-”

“I feel suddenly drained, Aunt Gilda.” Cassie stands up, surprising even herself. She could never say no to this lovely woman so easily before.

“Okay then.” Maybe that’s why Aunt Gilda doesn't insist. “But, we will meet again soon, sweetie. I don’t like this energy in your aura.”

“Sure.” Cassie forces a smile, pretending nothing is wrong while her insides burn. “Thank you for the treatment.”

“No need.” Aunt Gilda waves a hand, brushing it off. “Thank me when I finish a whole session without you running away.” She winks with a warm smile that says she understands Cassie’s not in the mood.

Still, Cassie feels awful for rejecting her kindness, but she can’t breathe right now. After saying goodbye, she leaves the room and drags her feet out of the beauty center. Getting on her bike, Cassie pedals toward home with a pounding headache. 

Her mind races through years of Emily’s behaviour – the woman’s easy virtue around wealthy people, her overly gracious attitude at family gatherings, those extravagant clothes, judgmental glances…

Everything seems so fake now, Cassie can’t believe she never sensed that Emily hadn’t come from elegance.

She pedals faster, thoughts whirling in her head.

But how could Cassie have sensed it? The woman had long since risen above, married to a man like Mathias Raptis – a man whose choices no one dared to question. As cliché as it sounds, it’s only natural that his wife would be expected to match his world, his class.

However, Emilia Vásquez Pérez shattered those clichés years ago, forcing herself into the life of a man far above her.

At least, that’s what Cassie wants to believe. 

Aunt Gilda’s story was built on assumptions and secondhand gossip, but still... Cassie can’t shake the thought that Mathias didn’t know about the baby until it was too late – until he had no choice but to claim it. 

Yes. That must be how it happened.

Gilda also said Emilia waited for months during the pregnancy without no one showing up as the father.

What if they’d broken up, but Mathias kept looking for her? What if Emily had been hurt and refused to see him again?

No. Cassie shakes her head. Emily isn’t the kind of a woman who could risk raising a baby on her own.

What about Mathias? Had he been searching for Emilia during those months, desperate to get back together? And finally, when he found her, was the baby a gift from his beloved girlfriend? 

Cassie’s vision blurs as her eyes burn. She shakes her head harder, anger surging. And this time, the tears stream down her cheeks. 

She can’t wait to get home to calm down.

Changing her route, she pedals left, veering into the park beside the road. Turning onto the narrow path, Cassie reaches a willow tree. Jumping off her bike, she drops to her hands and knees beneath it.

She doesn’t know which is worse – Mathias’s despair or his bliss? Awful scenarios flood Cassie’s mind, each one tightening her chest like a vise.

Mathias watching the crib with blank eyes, shoulders heavy with regret, trapped in a life he never chose… Or him rocking the baby gently, Emily hugging him from behind, both smiling with pure happiness...

Cassie’s heart is racing like crazy, she clutches her chest with one hand, struggling to breathe. The thoughts in her head whirl so violently that her stomach twists. And before she knows it, Cassie vomits into the grass, sobbing between gasps.

Staying like that for a while, she lets the waves of nausea and emotion pass. Then she slowly pushes herself up, leaning against the truck of the willow. Her breaths become steadier, a shard of focus returning.

Cassie can’t change the past and she can’t undo what Emily did. But, she can stop that woman from ruining Mathias’s life any further.

Even if she doesn’t know how or when, Cassie promised herself she would do it one day.

And that day isn’t far.