I stared out of the window of Mayor’s office, my gaze fixed on the lively scene in the plaza below. I couldn't help but imagine myself there, capturing the moment with my camera. However, my daydreaming was abruptly interrupted when Mayor Montalvo placed file boxes on my table, just a few steps away."Sort these files by date and place them back on my desk when you're done," he instructed before retreating to his seat.I reached for the files stored in the organizer, my mind still half lost in my daydream. There were three files, and I couldn't deny the weariness that settled upon me. It seemed that whenever Julius didn't have appointments in town, he would keep me occupied with an endless stream of work.Resting my feet on the cold floor, I felt a slight relief from the pain that had been plaguing me. I began sorting the files, arranging them in chronological order from the latest date to the oldest. Every so often, I glanced at Julius, who was engrossed in his laptop, typing away. I
"Stop staring at me, Cassa, and finish your work," he grunted, his displeasure evident in his tone. His words struck me, causing a wave of embarrassment to wash over me. I quickly straightened up, my face turning red for the second time that day.Leaning my head against the cool glass of the window, I fought against the heavy drowsiness that had settled in. It was already late in the evening, and he had made it clear that we wouldn't be leaving until I completed my tasks. The growl of my empty stomach served as a reminder that I hadn't eaten anything all day.I couldn't help but wonder where we were headed. We had already passed the turnoff to his house, and the car continued to speed along. I sat up a little straighter, realizing that we were heading somewhere specific. Thankfully, the pain in my feet from wearing those uncomfortable heels had subsided after spending most of the day sitting."Should we go for a walk this time?" I tentatively asked the person sitting next to me, his h
Cassa's POVMy eyes wandered around the empty space as I waited for the food, the mayor having left without waiting to eat. I let out a sigh, feeling the growl of hunger in my stomach and the weight of exhaustion consuming me. The heaviness of my eyelids was becoming unbearable, and I couldn't help but yawn.My gaze landed on the door behind me, the one Mayor Montalvo had disappeared through. Alone on this floor? Was he testing me to see if I could be trusted? It seemed likely.The area was silent, but I couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching me from somewhere. That someone the mayor had mentioned earlier.My attention shifted as the waiter approached, a friendly smile on his face as he placed a tray of food on the table. It wasn't my choice of food, but rather what the mayor had ordered.The dish looked delicious, and the aroma of the stewed beef made my hunger intensify."Enjoy your meal, Ma'am," the waiter said before pushing the cart carrying the food tray away.I st
Cassa's POVJulius remained silent, causing me to glance at him. The moonlight streamed through the glass window, casting a gentle glow in the dimly lit room. I had forgotten to close the curtains that morning, allowing the moon's light to illuminate the space. Julius looked at me as if seeing me for the first time, and a crease formed on my forehead."Did I say something wrong?" I asked, a hint of worry in my voice."No, nothing. I was just lost in thought," he replied, averting his gaze from me. "But how could your grandfather help me?"A smile spread across my face as I tightened my grip on my hand, resting it on my lap. I looked at the shadow of the window dancing on the floor. "If I ask for his favor, my grandpa will do anything, trust me. He has ways that you wouldn't expect.""But you know..." he trailed off, letting out a sigh. "If I had any other option, I wouldn't be foolish enough to share this with you." An annoyance laced his voice."Are you calling yourself foolish for s
Cassa's POV Julius took the phone from my hand and locked the door behind him. I could hear muffled voices coming from inside the room. I let out a breath and walked away, my mind filled with questions. As I descended the stairs, I noticed Julius wearing his walking clothes, taking long strides. The seriousness on his face and the stormy look in his eyes caught my attention. "Is everything alright?" I couldn't help but ask, concern lacing my voice. He passed by without even glancing at me, but then he stopped abruptly. "I'll be away for two days, and you stay here," he stated before continuing on his way. I wondered what had happened, why he was leaving so suddenly. I bit my lower lip, wanting to know more. Julius walked away, and I remained where I was until he disappeared from my sight. The next morning, a knock on my door pulled me out of my thoughts. I stood up from my seat at the study table and opened the door. An unfamiliar woman stood before me, her eyes scanning me up an
Cassa's POV "Fine, you need to explain this," Evalyn muttered, walking away."You wait here until I sort it out," he said before closing the door. I heard his footsteps receding.I gripped the windowsill, feeling my strength waver, supporting myself to prevent myself from collapsing to the floor. I closed my eyes, trying to process what had just happened. The thought of Julius's sister tearing me apart sent shivers down my spine. Could it be true? And seeing the anger in her face made her words seem all the more real. What on earth had happened? It was as if I couldn't believe the situation I was facing, and I was now caught in the fury of his sister.I had been waiting for an hour, growing increasingly anxious about the conversation between the siblings. Were they arguing? Or something worse? I fidgeted in my seat, my impatience growing as I stared out the window. My mind wandered, contemplating the possibilities of what might be happening between them.My hand drummed on the surfac
Julius POVIt was not a typical day for me, and it had been five years since I last saw him, sitting across the table on the first day of August. The weather was pleasant, with the warm morning sun casting its golden rays upon us. People chattered around, their voices blending into a symphony of background noise as they passed by the café's outdoor seating area.I clutched my cup and took a sip of coffee, wondering why he wanted to talk to me. Allious only sought me out when he needed something or when he found himself in trouble. "What a surprise!" I began, breaking the silence that had settled between us.Allious looked at me over his cup, a smile playing at the corners of his lips before he placed it back on the table. His cognac eyes sparkled with amusement, and I couldn't quite decipher the reason behind his reaction or the mischievous glint in his gaze."You never change, the same Julius Montalvo I know," Allious muttered, leaning forward with his arms resting on the table. "Wha
Julius POVBut Allious wasn't convinced. He leaned back in his seat and explained, "Keeping her in your own home will ruin her reputation once it slips from anyone's mouth. Just because you trust your werewolf being, does that mean betrayal is unlikely to happen."His words struck a chord within me. He was right, but there was a vow I had taken, a secret I couldn't share with Allious. I knew he would lecture me if he knew the truth.I knew Kyle wouldn't do anything unless she was kept under his control, as long as she stayed by my side."I know, and of course, he won't do anything unless I let my guard down," I replied, my voice filled with determination.But Allious wasn't satisfied. He continued to study me, his delicate eyebrows furrowing as he tried to uncover the truth. "You are hiding something, Liu," he said, his gaze piercing. "That's what I'm trying to figure out here. The consequences it might bear in the long run."I remained tight-lipped, refusing to reveal the vow I had t