LOGINPresent:
They returned home. Hailey went to change her clothes, and Cassian silently observed her every move. When she returned, she settled at the dining table. Cassian followed and joined her for dinner, but they ate in silence. Noticing that Hailey hadn't eaten much, Cassian finished his meal with a deep breath.
He entered the room with a glass of milk and found Hailey lying on the bed on her side, clutching a pillow. He set the glass down on the side table a
Cassian, Caleb, and Alex quietly exited the room after ensuring Hailey had fallen back asleep. As they reached the hall, their tension was palpable."What just happened?" Caleb asked, still reeling from the shock of the scene they had witnessed.Cassian, who had been silently contemplating the situation, turned to Caleb and said, "Call Aunt Sophia."Caleb frowned, confused for a moment. "Mom?" he asked. Sophia Grant, Caleb's mother, was a renowned psychiatrist, and though she often helped his father, Henry, with their business, she had an extensive background in mental health.Cassian nodded firmly, and Caleb, realizing the urgency, immediately dialed his mother's number, putting the call on speaker. After a few rings, a familiar sarcastic voice filled the room."How come my brat decided to call me today at this hour of night?" Sophia quipped on the other end of the line.Caleb sheepishly responded, "Mom, uh, I'll come soon. For now, I'm cal
The room was dimly lit, filled with an ethereal ambiance as soft music played in the background. Hailey and Cassian stood facing each other, both wearing elegant masks that obscured their identities yet enhanced the mystique of the evening. The moment was charged with sensual energy, their bodies swaying in perfect harmony as they danced together, lost in their world.Hailey felt the warmth radiating from Cassian as he drew her closer, their bodies brushing against one another. He moved with a confident grace, leading her effortlessly across the floor. The mask over his eyes gave him an enigmatic allure, and Hailey couldn't help but feel a rush of excitement coursing through her veins.As the music swelled, Cassian leaned in, his lips just grazing her ear. "You're beautiful tonight," he whispered, his breath sending a shiver down her spine. In response, Hailey leaned into him, losing herself in the moment, her heart racing in time with the music.In a slow, into
As the car rolled smoothly down the road, Caleb, who had been silently contemplating the earlier conversation, suddenly turned his attention to Hailey with a playful grin. "Angry Bird, you asked Cassian about the girlfriend thing. So, haveyouever had a boyfriend?" he teased, raising an eyebrow.Cassian, who had been absentmindedly playing with Hailey's hair, perked up at Caleb's question, his gaze now filled with curiosity. "Yeah, Sweetie," Alex chimed in from the front. "You were only 15 when I left. So how many boys have been brave enough to approach you?"Hailey chuckled softly but didn't answer immediately. She glanced at Cassian, locking eyes with him for a brief second before turning her gaze toward the window, staring out into the night. "Cassian was my first kiss," she admitted quietly, her voice steady yet thoughtful. "It's not that I wasn't approached. Plenty of boys used to send me proposals or ask me out, either directly or through thei
"Shall we head back?" Alex asked, looking at Hailey with a smile."Yup," Hailey nodded, still a little flushed from the excitement of the race.They made their way out of the park toward the car, the night air cool and refreshing. Hailey walked beside Cassian, her hand comfortably tucked into his. Suddenly, she tugged him down, catching him by surprise, and pressed a firm, playful kiss on his cheek.Cassian chuckled, tilting his head toward her. "What was that for?"Hailey smiled innocently. "Nothing just felt like it."He shook his head, a soft smile playing on his lips as he pulled her closer, wrapping an arm around her in a side embrace. They continued walking toward the car, her small bursts of affection warming his heart.Unbeknownst to them, a car parked a little way off had been watching them closely. The window slowly rolled down, revealing Maxwell Lockhood inside. His eyes were dark, filled with growing jealousy as he watched the co
"Dessert?" Caleb asked."We'll get ice cream from the nearby parlor, it's within walking distance," Hailey suggested, and everyone agreed. After paying the bill, they headed out, walking toward the ice cream parlor."Rose, wear your jacket," Cassian exclaimed and made her wear the jacket."Park?" Hailey exclaimed, pointing toward a nearby park."Sure," Cassian replied, and the group made their way there while enjoying their ice creams.Cassian and Alex walked behind, while Caleb and Hailey were ahead of them. Hailey, grinning widely, climbed up onto a small sidewall and began walking along it."Now you can say you're taller than us," Caleb teased.Hailey stuck her tongue out at him as she finished her ice cream. Caleb held her hand lightly to keep her from losing balance.Meanwhile, behind them, Alex spoke in a low tone to Cassian. "Things are getting messier. I've got a feeling Zuri's planning something big."Cassian, k
Meanwhile, outside, Caleb turned back to face Mark and Oliver. His usual playful demeanor had hardened slightly, but he kept things casual."You two really should back off," he began, keeping his tone light. "She's not the type to entertain your kind."Mark and Oliver exchanged a glance before Mark smirked. "Come on, man, we're just having a little fun. We could show her a good time, maybe even spend the night."Oliver chuckled in agreement, making Caleb's jaw tighten. But instead of snapping, he leaned in closer, his voice dangerously calm."If you love your lives," Caleb said, his voice dropping low, "you'll step back. Because I promise, even your parents won't know where you disappeared to if you keep this up."Mark and Oliver blinked in surprise, clearly not expecting the intensity behind Caleb's words. But instead of showing fear, they forced a laugh, trying to brush it off."Alright, alright," Mark said, waving a hand dismissively. "No
Engagement Dress Shopping:The two arrived at a high-end boutique filled with gorgeous gowns. Hailey's eyes sparkled as she admired the elegant dresses on display, unaware that she'd soon be selecting her engagement outfit."Help me choose something, Hailey," Kate s
"Rose," Cassian called her softly. Hailey, brushing her hair, turned around to look at him. They had just come upstairs after spending some time with Alex."So, what were you saying downstairs regarding our engagement?" Cassian asked with a raised eyebrow, his voice curious yet firm.
Without warning, Cassian's lips crashed onto hers with a rough, aggressive force. The kiss was wild, driven by a mix of possessiveness and desperation. He held her face in his hands, his grip firm but not painful, as if he were trying to imprint his claim on her with every touch. His tongue explo
"Alex, we're leaving," Cassian said into the phone before hanging up and dragging Hailey out of the café. Hailey stayed silent, noticing his tense expression.Cassian's mind was flooded with Evan's taunting words, and then Zuri's voice echoed in his head: "Do you think she'll stay with you forever?







