The wrong bed

Cassian’s POV

​The Virelli family gathered around the long dining table to host a welcome-home dinner for Liora, and as the evening went on, I noticed how Elaris remained unusually quiet in her seat near the end of the table while Liora sat beside me looking fragile, timid, and innocent.

​"Liora, try a bit more of this roast," my mother said gently, passing a plate across the table while smiling down at her with a soft expression on her face. "You look so thin after being away from home for two years, so you need to eat as much as you can tonight."

​"Thank you, Mrs. Virelli," Liora replied in a sweet, quiet voice, looking around the table at everyone before giving me a shy smile. "Everyone in this house is being so kind to me, and I missed all of you so much while I was away."

​"We are just glad you are back home safe," my father chimed in, taking a sip from his glass while looking toward the end of the table. "Elaris, why are you barely touching your food tonight? You have not said a single word to anyone since we sat down."

​"I am just listening, Father," Elaris answered simply, setting her fork down on her plate without adding anything else to the conversation.

​"She is probably feeling guilty about the past," Liora whispered softly beside me, leaning in close so only I could hear her words. "Please do not be too harsh on her, Cassian, because I do not want to create any problems between you two while I am staying here."

​"You do not need to worry about her," I told Liora, taking the glass of juice that a maid had placed beside my plate and drinking it down in one long gulp without thinking twice about it.

​Within an hour of finishing that drink, my head began to feel incredibly heavy, my vision blurred around the edges, and my memories of the rest of the night became completely scrambled and faded as I struggled to stay awake at the table.

​"Are you feeling alright, Cassian?" my mother asked, noticing me rubbing my temples as the dinner came to an end. "You look exhausted all of a sudden."

​"I just need to lie down," I mumbled, pushing my chair back from the table, stepping away from the dining room, and making my way upstairs toward my bedroom in the west wing.

​The next morning, the bright sunlight streaming through the large window woke me up, and as my eyes slowly adjusted to the light, I felt a sharp, pounding pain behind my forehead while I tried to sit up in my bed.

​I turned my head to the side and felt my heart drop into my stomach when I saw Liora lying beside me under the sheets, clutching the blanket tightly around her shoulders while tears silently rolled down her cheeks.

​"Liora?" I gasped out, pulling back immediately while staring at her in complete shock. "What happened last night? Why are you in my room?"

​"Cassian, I am so sorry," Liora sobbed, sitting up while pulling the sheet around her chest, and I could clearly see red marks and dark bruises scattered across her bare shoulders and arms. "It was all a terrible mistake, and I never meant for any of this to happen between us."

​"Did I... did I touch you last night?" I asked, my voice shaking as I rubbed my face, trying desperately to remember anything after the dinner ended down in the dining room.

​"You came into my room late last night and you were so confused," Liora wept, hiding her face in her hands while her body trembled with heavy sobs. "You kept calling me your savior, you pulled me into your bedroom, and I tried to stop you, but you were so strong and I did not want to make noise and wake up the whole house."

​"Dammit," I muttered, slamming my fist down on the mattress as immense guilt washed over me completely. "I do not remember anything from last night, Liora, I swear to you I don't."

​"Please do not blame Elaris for this," Liora begged, reaching out with a trembling hand to touch my arm while tears kept falling from her eyes. "She saw me coming out of your room early this morning, and she must be so hurt, so please do not argue with her because of my mistake."

​"You are still trying to protect everyone else even after what happened," I said, looking at her bruises with a heavy chest because I was convinced she had sacrificed her own reputation just to deal with my terrible mistake. "You saved my life two years ago, and now I have ruined your honor like this, so I am not going to let you suffer anymore."

​"What are you going to do now?" she asked softly, wiping her cheeks with the edge of the sheet as she looked up at me with wide, frightened eyes.

​"I am going to fix this right now," I told her firmly, stepping out of the bed, putting on my clothes, and walking out of the room to find my attorney who was waiting in the study downstairs with the final paperwork.

​When I entered the study, my lawyer was standing near the desk, holding a clear file with several printed documents inside.

​"Are these ready to be signed?" I asked, stepping up to the desk and reaching out my hand for the pen.

​"Yes, Mr. Virelli," the lawyer replied, placing the papers down on the surface. "Everything has been prepared according to your instructions, so once both parties sign, the divorce will be finalized."

​I picked up the pen, signed my name at the bottom of the page without any hesitation, and took the thick folder from my attorney's hands.

​"Thank you," I said, turning around and walking out of the study, heading straight up the grand staircase toward the east wing of the mansion where Elaris stayed.

​I walked down the long, silent corridor until I reached her door, adjusting my hold on the papers in my hand while taking a deep breath to settle my nerves.

​I stood outside Elaris' bedroom, the signed divorce agreement clutched tightly in my hand. Taking a slow breath, I knocked on the door.