LOGINCassian’s POVI didn’t want to turn around. Maybe that’s Candy’s new tactic to trap me further…to make me think something serious happened and prevent me from leaving. But when I heard her scream and hurried footsteps, I couldn’t stop it. I turned around so fast.Abby was on the floor. Unconscious, blood running from her nose like she was hit in the head.For fuck’s sake…what is going on this time?!I moved in a blink. Candy was already there, cradling her like she’d planned this whole scene, shouting…cursing me…saying it was my fault, that I hadn’t listened, that the doctors warned her Abby had a weak heart and now look what I’d done. She pounded my chest with one hand.I seized the wrist and pushed it away, cold as a blade.“Don’t ever try that again,” I growled, prying Abby from her with one hard pull. The little girl was limp in my hands, her hands dangling by the side as I propped her onto my chest.“What are you doing?” Candy screamed, panic laced with fake outrage.“It’s high
Cassian’s POV“What do you mean Leon is not with my fiancée anymore?” I asked again, voice tight with rage.Before Lucas could speak, I heard a tiny sound behind me.“Daddy?”It was barely a whisper. Small. Broken. I didn’t turn. I didn’t look. I couldn’t afford to right now…not with my temper hanging by a thread.“Let’s go, Abby,” Candy said sharply behind me. “Your father clearly doesn’t want you anymore. He wants another family.”My jaw clenched so hard something cracked in my neck. Rage shot through my veins like a fucking bullet, but I didn’t move. I stared at the door. Willed them to leave.A small sob broke the air.“Another family? Daddy doesn’t love me anymore?” Abigail’s voice cracked, and I felt something sharp pierce through my ribs. That one sentence dug at my heart, twisting it. She sounded lost. Hurt.But I stayed still.No. I can’t break now. I can’t fall apart over this. Reina. I need to get her back first. I need to clean this mess I dragged her into. Then…only the
Cassian’s POVI was dead.Not in the drop-in-a-coffin-buried kind of way. No. This was worse. This was the kind of death that eats you alive piece by piece, quiet, slow, and merciless. The kind that crawls under your ribs and camps in your chest until your sanity cracks.After I cancelled the plan to bring Reina home, the days turned into weeks. And what filled those weeks? Abigail, my daughter. My blood. My unexpected second chance at fatherhood. She laughed like her mother but had my eyes. Sweet kid. Smart. Too innocent for the shit surrounding her.But even when she was smiling at me, even when she was falling asleep on my chest… my head was somewhere else. My fucking soul was somewhere else.With Reina.I tried to bury thoughts of her. Tried to go cold…shut down everything until it was time to move. But every night she clawed her way back into my head. I dreamt of her voice. Her messy hair. The way she stared at me like I mattered…like I was her monster.And then I remembered t
Rena’s POVLeon’s eyes fluttered open, weak but still sharp enough to cut through the chaos. He winced, blood staining his teeth as he tried to speak. “Why… why the hell is Andre here?”“Leon,” I cried, clutching his hand. “That’s what you’re worried about right now?”“Yes,” he muttered hoarsely, his voice barely above a rasp. “It’s important.”I let out a shaky breath, half laughing, half sobbing. “You’re bleeding out, and that’s what matters to you?”“Yeah,” he croaked, smirking faintly even as pain twisted his face. “That son of a bastard got me real good… from behind. I’m gonna enjoy chopping him in pieces when I…”“Shut up!” I snapped, pressing the scarf harder against his wound. “Just stop talking, Leon! Please! Don’t make it worse!”He tried to laugh but coughed instead…harsh, wet, and awful. Blood spattered his lips, and I froze in horror.God please. I don’t want him to die.“Leon, please!” I begged, tears streaming down my cheeks. “You’re going to be okay, just hold on. They
Reina’s POVMy fingers clenched around Leon’s shirt before I could even think. My heart pounded hard in my chest as I locked eyes with that same figure again…him. The smirk, the stance, the way he leaned casually against the café window like he was just waiting for me.“Are you okay?” Leon’s voice cut through the noise, his brows furrowing in concern.“Over there,” I muttered, barely breathing. “By the small café.”He turned his head to look, and panic shot through me.“Wait…don’t let him know that you’re…”But Leon didn’t wait. Didn’t hide. Didn’t even try to be discreet.“Motherfucker,” he muttered under his breath, and before I could stop him, he lunged forward.“Leon!” I called after him, but he was already moving fast, cutting through the stream of travelers like a predator locked on his prey.People turned to stare, a few whispering as I stood there frozen, caught between shock and anger. I forced a nervous smile at a passing couple who gave me a weird look, then looked away qui
Reina’s POV My heart was still thudding from that stupid dream when I saw the name that flashed on my screen. Joshua. I blinked, rubbing my eyes and sitting up straight. Great. Just great. I’d been dreaming about Cassian and now, someone I owe big time is calling me in real life. I cleared my throat and hit the return call button. “Hey,” I said as soon as the line connected. “Hey, Reina,” Joshua’s familiar voice came through, easy and casual as ever. “For a minute there, I thought you ignored my call on purpose.” I straightened, quickly refuting the thought. “Oh no, why would you say that? I was…sleeping.” Not having hot dream sex about a man I’m trying so hard to forget. Just sleeping. He chuckled softly. “Thank God. You almost gave me a mini heart attack.” There was a small pause, and then he said, “So… are you still coming for my wedding?” I froze, eyes widening as my brain short-circuited. Oh my God. The wedding. Stupid Reina! I face-palmed myself so hard my forehead a







