A Lovely Gift

After breakfast, Cassandra realized they were out of some groceries, so she went back upstairs to get dressed for her outing. She always felt a sense of relief when leaving the house; the atmosphere outside was so much less suffocating.

“Where are you going?” Lance's voice suddenly halted her just as she was about to exit the front door. Cassandra froze, clutching her faded blue jean purse tightly in her hands, her heart palpitating in her chest as she spoke.

“T-to get some g-groceries,” she stammered, her eyes drifting behind him as she noticed Lena approaching.

“I’ll drive you,” Lance offered, his words sending goosebumps across her exposed skin. The thought of going out with Lance terrified her, and she was about to make up an excuse when Lena suddenly rushed forward.

“Ugh! Brother, why are you always going around with her? It’s like she’s got you all wrapped around her finger,” Lena exclaimed in frustration, her eyes raking over Cassandra with visible disgust.

“Lena, wait… come on… hold on,” Lance called after her as Lena dragged him away. At that moment, Cassandra couldn't have been more grateful to Lena.

Quickly, she turned the doorknob and slipped outside, the fresh air hitting her like a wave of freedom. The nervousness that had been weighing her down began to dissipate, swept away by the wind.

As she wandered through the grocery store, Cassandra strolled along the unevenly arranged shelves of spices and food, the smell of processed products and cleaning agents filling her nose. In just a few minutes, she'd be done shopping, and then she’d have to go back to that dreaded house. She grumbled at the thought; she didn't want to go back.

Reaching the end of the row, she turned sharply toward the vegetable section, lost in thought. Suddenly, she collided with someone, sending a piece of metal skittering across the marble floor.

“Shit!” the man cursed, rushing after the now-broken piece of what appeared to be his phone. Cassandra’s eyes widened as she realized the phone was shattered. The man turned to glare at her with piercing black eyes—beautiful but filled with anger. His form was imposing and majestic, his features both strong and striking.

“I-I’m sorry… I d-didn’t see you coming,” Cassandra stammered, instinctively feeling that this man wasn’t the forgiving type.

“Did—did I—” She was cut off by the loud snap of his fingers, startling her.

“Would you stop stuttering and tell me how you plan to pay for my phone?” he demanded, his long stride bringing him uncomfortably close. Cassandra took a few steps back, trying to create space between herself and this stranger. She trembled under the intensity of his gaze.

“My phone is quite expensive, so?” he pressed, his tone dripping with impatience. Cassandra glanced around, realizing that people had gathered and were watching them. She was at a loss for words. “How will you pay for it?”

She felt helpless because she didn’t have any money. The only money she could spare was her uncle’s, and he would be livid. Even that amount wouldn’t be enough. From the corner of her eye, she could see that they had already attracted quite the crowd.

"I don’t have money," Cassandra whispered, already feeling embarrassed by the commotion she had caused. "I-is there any other way I-I can make up for it?" Tears began to well up in her eyes, the weight of her helplessness pressing down on her. The only person who could help her was Lance, but she knew what he would demand in return, so she would rather not ask for his help.

The man sighed, running his fingers through his ebony black hair, and shook his head. He was undeniably attractive, so much so that Cassandra momentarily found herself at a loss for words.

“You all are the same,” he muttered, his shoulder brushing past hers as he walked away. Cassandra stood frozen for a moment, overwhelmed with guilt. What bothered her the most was that she didn’t understand the reason behind his statement.

She went after him, feeling a bit bothered.

“I can pay in installments but you will have to give me some time,” she said, even though she didn’t have a job. She was sure she could pay him back with the money her uncle gave her if she gathered enough but it would take a great deal of time. The man simply glared down at her as if she were some sort of plague and continued on his way. Yet, she ran after him, feeling strangely drawn to him.

Was it the hollow look in his eyes, as if he were detached from reality? The look resembled her own.

“Please, I don’t wish to just let it go,” she begged. For a moment, the mysterious man fell silent, then his eyes darted to her hands tugging at the end of his coat. He gritted his teeth in frustration.

“Let go…” he whispered, trying to remain calm. He hated it when people—especially women—touched him carelessly. She was probably hoping to charm him, but he was about to prove her wrong.

“What?” she asked innocently.

“I said get your hands off me!” he snapped, pushing her away a little more roughly than he intended. “Don’t go around holding on to the coats of strangers, that’s so unladylike, are you expecting something from me?”

She fell silent, unsure of what to say but she found herself lost in the depths of his eyes, she had never felt so humiliated in her life. All she wanted to do was try to pay for the phone she had damaged, but it seemed the stranger had gotten the wrong impression. Either way, he was in too much of a hurry to leave and didn’t even wait to hear her explanation.

Cassie sighed as she opened the door to the house, the event still vivid in her mind. There had been so many people watching her, and the man made it seem like she was some sort of pervert. She felt her cheeks flush red with embarrassment.

“Where have you been, Cassie?” she heard her uncle’s voice as soon as she entered the house, which was surprising since he was supposed to be at work by now. Her surprise grew when she noticed that her uncle was holding a large plastic bag in his hands.

“I—I went to get groceries,” she replied in a shaky voice, motioning to the bags, but he still looked unconvinced.

“Why didn’t you go with someone? I thought you always went with Lance,” he pressed.

“H-he was busy today, so I—I went by myself,” Cassandra stammered.

Without another word, her uncle extended the shopping bag toward her. “Put this on.”

She stared at him, confused, before hesitantly taking the bag from his outstretched hand. Opening it, she found a dress, a pair of shoes, and a small jewelry pouch. Cassandra’s mind raced. Why was he giving her a dress? He hadn’t bought her anything in five years.

“What is this?” she asked cautiously.

“Since when did you start questioning me?” he snapped, a frown creasing his face.

She knew that look… The fear in Cassandra’s chest flared, and she immediately silenced herself, heading upstairs to change just as she had been ordered. She hesitated before pulling the dress from the bag, running her fingers over the soft silk. It was beautifully made, with intricate embroidery along the hemline, and the deep blue color reminded her of the ocean on a clear day.

It was so beautiful she felt tears in her eyes.

She slipped it on and stood in front of the mirror, confusion and fear in her expression. Why had her uncle given her this dress? He hadn’t told her where they were going or why he suddenly decided to give this to her, but she sensed it was something important.

The dress fit perfectly, accentuating her curves and flowing elegantly to her ankles. For a fleeting moment, she felt glamorous. Maybe, she thought, her uncle had finally realized he was wrong and was trying to make amends. Or maybe he simply wanted her to attend an event with him.

But deep down, Cassandra knew better than to trust such hopeful thoughts. Her uncle was not that kind of person, and he wouldn’t just change overnight.