Chapter 13

The next morning, I woke up with a splitting headache. A lukewarm bottle of ginger ale sat on the bedside table.

I wandered around the house barefoot. Jason and Pudgy were nowhere to be found. I figured Jason was probably out walking the dog.

The sky was a pale gray, and the lawn a deep forest green. Dad always liked taking Adrian and me to visit Mom on misty days like this.

As I entered the cemetery, my steps turned heavy. Four years had passed since Dad's death, and for all four years, I had avoided this place entirely.

I remembered asking Dad when I was little why there was an empty space next to Mom's.

I could no longer recall his expression then, but I remembered him holding my hand and telling me gently that that was his spot.

"Your mom is someone who gets lonely," he'd said. "When you grow up, I'm going to go and keep her company."

Back then, I lifted my head naively and said cold-heartedly, "Hurry up and go then, Dad. Adrian can stay with me."

Now, I knelt in front of them both. Dad's smile was warm and gentle in his photograph, but I dared not look at him directly. I allowed my tears to blur my vision instead.

"I'm sorry it took me so long to come see you," I managed to choke out, my voice barely audible.

"I've been working to clear Adrian's name, and Jason is helping me. I've consulted the lawyers repeatedly, and they think our chances of winning are strong.

"There's so much I still want to do. I want to reclaim Price Corporation and our home, but I'm so useless. I can't seem to do anything right."

Dad continued gazing at me from the photograph, his smile unchanged. I knew I could never receive his response or forgiveness again. My heart spasmed painfully, and I braced myself against the ground with my arms.

"I know you must both be so angry with me. Adrian is as well. I'm selfish and stupid. I deserve everything that's ever happened to me. But I'm so tired. I can't outplay Sean. I can't even drag him down with me when I die."

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

I'm so sorry.

The rain seemed to be pouring harder now. At that moment, I felt like a wandering ghost with no home to return to.

"When I join you in the afterlife, don't shy away from me, okay? Please don't reject me. I know… I was wrong."

After walking in a daze for what felt like forever, I finally got home. Before I could open the front door, I saw the warm yellow light spilling through the gap under the door.

When I opened the door, Pudgy immediately bounded over to my side. I looked down at the wet, muddy doormat beneath my feet. A pair of gray slippers appeared in front of me.

Jason draped a towel over my head. "I was just about to call the police," he said from above me.

His movements were gentle, but I detected a faint tremble in his voice when he spoke. On the coffee table, I could see his phone and the few bottles of medication I'd kept in my bag.

I raised an arm and caught his wrist as he dried my hair. "Jason," I said through the towel. "Take the dog back, will you?"

Jason remained silent. Pudgy wriggled around our feet, darting between our legs.

"I won't be able to take care of him for long," I continued. My eyes stung with heat, making his outline blurry.

"I'm dying."

Jason froze. I tried to lift my head, but he pressed me down and held me still. His voice was hoarse beyond recognition when he spoke.

"You should take a shower first. You'll catch a cold," he said.

My thoughts were foggy, and my mind was a mess. I nearly fell asleep in the tub until a knock on the door snapped me back to my senses.

I dried myself off reluctantly, then put on some clothes. When I opened the door, I found Jason leaning against it. His lips were pressed together, his eyes hidden behind his bangs. He didn't speak. Instead, he ruffled my wet hair and turned on the hair dryer.

I knelt on the bed while he dried my hair. When the room became quiet, I began drifting off to sleep again. Jason wrapped his arms around me.

His scent was incredibly comforting. I nuzzled against him subconsciously, which only made him hold me tighter. His head was buried in my shoulder, and I couldn't see his face. I was completely engulfed in his embrace.

My head was heavy, but Jason seemed utterly heartbroken. I patted his back and sighed. "I wasn't planning on telling you this so soon," I said.

"Cassie, we can treat this," Jason said.

I couldn't see his expression. All I could hear was his hoarse voice, like a cornered animal refusing to give in.

"Trust me."

I stared blankly ahead, saying nothing.

I wanted to tell him that I knew all that. I didn't have an incurable disease. But the thing that was really killing me had long seeped into my bones and poisoned my marrow. It tore me apart day after day, rotting me to my core.

I was already ruined. No one could save me now.

I should have died when I was 20.