CASSIE 4: Vanishing Strength
Knowing about the issues unfolding in my family, I couldn’t help but wonder if Asher
was aware of it; was that why he kept betraying me? He must have known I couldn’t
do anything about it, that I would continue playing the role of the perfect, dutiful fiancée, smiling through the pain, because my family’s future relied on him.
As a businesswoman, I understood the weight of our situation.
In the end, my parents and I just exchanged hollow pleasantries, pretending as if nothing had changed.
***
His parents asked Asher and me to attend a gathering in London hosted by one of their business partners. The timing worked well since I needed to handle something in England for my upcoming project, and my brother Evan had to visit our company’s
main branch there.
As usual, I flashed my smile to the public, took selfies with various personalities, mingled, and chatted with people as though everything was fine. After a couple of hours, however, the constant camera flashes and the pressing crowd began to make me dizzy.
“Are you okay?” Asher asked, noticing my discomfort as I retreated to a corner of the grand hall.
I silently thanked my red lipstick for concealing how pale my lips had become.
“I’m fine. I’m just “I explained that I wanted to leave when we were interrupted.
“Asher!” A woman’s voice called out. We turned toward her, who seemed vaguely familiar. But it was the woman standing behind her who truly caught my attention. If I remember correctly, she was Vanessa Ashford–Asher’s first girlfriend from high
school.
“It’s been a while!” said the woman at the front before glancing at me. “Is she Evan’s
sister? Cassie Monroe?”
ངོ་ངོ༧༦ ཤ་༡ ར་ས་ནས་གང་སྒོ་
“Yes,” Asher replied. “My parents asked us to attend since we both have business engagements in the city.”
Vanessa, standing behind her cousin, spoke softly. “Let’s not disturb them… L–let’s get going…”
The corners of her eyes reddened, suggesting painful memories as she looked at
Asher.
Her cousin intervened. “Vanessa, you’ve been waiting to see Asher again. Here’s your chance. Tell him what you’ve been feeling.”
Vanessa bit her lower lip, visibly fighting back tears.
CASSIE 4: Vanishing Strength
After a long pause, she swallowed hard before speaking again. “I won’t beat around
the bush anymore, Asher Reid… C–can I talk to you?” She glanced at me before adding, “ privately?”
Asher shot me a glance and agreed to go with Vanessa without missing a beat. She clearly had something serious to say.
The cousin lingered by my side and asked, “How’s your brother? I haven’t seen Evan in ages.”
“He’s busy with the business,” I answered simply.
She attempted to engage me in conversation, seemingly trying to distract me. “What a small world! I never thought I’d run into Asher here. I hope he listens to Vanessa. Even after all these years, my cousin still loves him deeply. She only left because of urgent family matters and health concerns…”
Her voice gradually faded into a distant echo, as if traveling from the bottom of a deep
well.
This was likely deliberate–an effort to divert my attention from Asher’s whereabouts while giving Vanessa sufficient time to express her feelings. Unfortunately, my increasing dizziness made it impossible to comprehend her words fully. My stomach twisted painfully.
1 recalled having to drink wine throughout the evening as a gesture of respect to the various guests I’d met.
“Excuse me… I–I need to use the bathroom,” I interrupted whatever Vanessa’s cousin was saying and began to move away from her.
“Where do you think you’re going?” She yanked my arm with unexpected force.
In my weakened state, I felt as light as a fallen leaf. The sudden movement caused my hip to crash into a nearby corner, and the sharp pain that followed was intense and overwhelming.
The impact of the collision, along with how bad I was feeling, made me collapse onto the perfectly smooth marble floor. My vision started to blur.
“Ahhh…” I squeezed my eyes shut and cradled my throbbing hip.
The woman glanced around/nervously, fearing someone might have seen us in that secluded corner.
“Cut the act! I know you’re just trying to make a scene to keep Asher and Vanessa from talking!” she snapped, arms crossed and eyes narrowed. “I know you’ve been obsessed with Asher for years! It’s not going to work, woman!”
Our situation attracted the attention of nearby guests. Asher returned to where I was lying, accompanied by Vanessa, whose reddened eyes clearly indicated she had been crying during their private conversation.
CASSIE 4: Vanishing Strength
“What’s going on here?” Asher asked, surveying the scene with confusion.
I looked up at him, my heart aching.
“Asher… p–please… take me to the hospital. It hurts so much!” I pleaded–words that had perhaps become all too familiar between us. In this moment of vulnerability, he was the only person I knew at the gathering whom I could turn to.
“Asher, I didn’t do anything wrong,” the woman hastily explained. “I merely prevented her from interrupting your conversation with Vanessa.”
By now, numerous attendees were watching our unfolding drama with undisguised interest. I could see in Asher’s expression that he believed I was embarrassing him yet
again.
“Stop this theatrics, Cassie! Get up!” His voice was laced with irritation and impatience.
The sting of his words cut deeper than I could have imagined. The pain in my chest was so intense it almost felt like the physical pain in my hips had faded entirely.
Tears began streaming down my face without restraint.
But before I could collapse, Vanessa did. She crumpled to the ground in front of me. “Asher! Oh my god! She’s suffering from Autoimmune Disease! Quick!” her cousin cried out in alarm.
Hearing that, Asher immediately scooped her up.
“We’ll talk later, Cassie!” he said, his words distant as he carried her away.
I watched as his figure grew smaller and more distant, disappearing through the doorway without a single backward glance in my direction. His complete lack of concern for my condition was painfully evident.
I couldn’t hold back my emotional and physical pain any longer. I kept crying until I had no strength left.
The last thing I saw before everything went black were the green irises of a stranger, watching me from somewhere beyond my reach.
