Chapter 2
“Yeah.”
I closed my eyes, my voice flat as hell.
Cassian’s hand jerked away like I’d slapped him. My coldness clearly caught him off guard.
“Cassian… do you actually love me?”
He didn’t even hesitate.
“Of course I do.”
Right on cue, his phone started buzzing.
I could hear her crying through the speaker.
“Cassian, I had that nightmare again where you abandon me. I’m so scared. Please don’t marry her, don’t leave me, please…”
His voice turned all soft and urgent.
“Hey, hey, Melody, it’s okay. That’s never gonna happen. I’m coming over right now.”
After he hung up, he glanced back at me.
“Aurora, quit the drama. I told you I’d marry you, and I meant it. Just take care of yourself and the baby.”
Maybe dumping me in the mountains was finally eating at him, because suddenly he was pretending to give a shit about me.
Then he was out the door, running to her like always.
To him, I’d never be anything more than Melody’s cheap stand–in.
I got up and looked at all our old photos around the room.
Funny thing–ever since Melody came back, we hadn’t taken a single picture together.
At 3 AM, Melody posted on Instagram.
Chapter 2
Photos of Cassian driving all over the city at midnight hunting for her favorite macarons.
A video of him making her pasta from scratch in her kitchen.
Shit he’d never done for me. Not once in ten years.
Cassian always told me to “be more understanding.”
And I never asked for anything.
Turns out he didn’t want someone understanding–he just didn’t want me.
I grabbed every photo of us and ripped them to shreds, cutting up my hands in the process.
Just like all the little wounds Cassian thought didn’t count.
Next morning, I ripped down every wedding decoration in the house.
Keys jingled in the lock.
Melody walked in like she owned the place.
“God, Aurora, look at you. What makes you think you can compete with me?”
Straight to the point. I had to give her that.
But I’m not surprised at her here at all. “What do you want, Melody?”
My voice was ice.
“Aw honey, if it bothers you, I won’t move in. I just thought you could use some help. Cassian’s worried sick about you.”
Suddenly she was all sweet and concerned.
Which meant Cassian was about to show up.
Her sharp nails dug right into my belly.
I pushed her hands away, protecting my baby on instinct.
Melody let out this dramatic scream and threw herself backward, slamming her head into the corner of the coffee table.
23:30
Chapter 2
Blood started trickling down her face.
“Melody!”
Cassian dropped his suitcases and rushed to her side.
“I’m fine, Cassian. Aurora’s just… pregnancy hormones, you know? Don’t be mad at her–I shouldn’t have surprised her like that.”
Her eyes filled with tears, blood and mascara running down her cheeks.
“What the fuck, Aurora? You keep attacking Melody for no goddamn reason. What is your problem?”
Cassian pointed at me like I was some kind of monster.
“Cassian, don’t blame Aurora, okay? I’m sure she didn’t mean it. Let’s just be thankful she’s safe.”
Melody tugged on his sleeve, playing the perfect victim.
“Please, stop with the constant doubts. If I really did hook up with Melody, do you honestly think you could compete with her? Look at yourself–Jesus, fat as hell.”
23:50
