CASSIE 28 Cold Goodbye
CASSIE 28: Cold Goodbye
“How did you know I was here?” I asked Asher, uncertain whether he had overheard our brief exchange.
“I heard he was in Century City,” he replied. “Then I also discovered you met Roxie in this hotel.” His eyes were fixed on Ronan, filled with quiet rage.
But Ronan wasn’t looking at him. His focus was entirely on me. His gaze was so intense, I felt like I could melt. Now that we were face to face, the pain hit harder than ever.
I missed him, and I hated that I did. What had happened was so fast–and ended just as quickly.
“Cassie, please… I need to talk to you. Babe, just this once. Everything I said last time wasn’t true. Please believe me…” Ronan pleaded, his voice breaking.
I wanted to believe him. But what good would it do now?
Letting myself soften would only reopen wounds I’d worked hard to close. Better to preserve my anger than add more people to the list of those worrying about me. Roxie had already cried for me, I couldn’t let anyone else carry that burden. When Ronan’s fingers lightly brushed against my arm, Asher lunged forward. He seized Ronan’s hand and violently shoved him down onto the carpet.
“Stay away from my girlfriend!”
Ronan slid across the carpet but didn’t get up to fight. He just lay there, looking at me with so much pain in his eyes. Gasps echoed around the restaurant as hotel security and staff rushed toward us.
“Sir, violence is not permitted here…” one guard warned.
“You’re causing a scene in the restaurant,” another staff member reminded.
“Asher, stop it!” I snapped. “Stop acting like some hot–headed high school kid! Grow up and handle things like a real man- throwing punches makes you look weak!”
Asher gritted his teeth, still glaring at Ronan.
“Didn’t you hear her the last time? She said she used you. Stop harassing her, especially now that Cassie and I are getting married!”
Ronan shook his head, his hands balled into fists on the floor as his whole body trembled.
“No! What I said before was all a misunderstanding! If anyone’s the real problem here, it’s you, Asher Reid… I said those things out of anger because what you did was inhumane. You really think I can just forget my sister did that to herself because she couldn’t take what you put her through?”
Asher attempted to defend himself. “It’s not my fault that-”
“Enough!” I interrupted, raising my voice to silence both men. “I will talk to Ronan alone.” I needed to end whatever romantic mess was still hanging between us, finally.
“Cassie, why even bother with him?” Asher muttered, his anger barely contained.
I gave him a pointed look. “Asher Reid, don’t make yourself more ridiculous than you already are! My hatred for you is just
as overwhelming. We’re all trapped in this situation because of you! And please remember, don’t think for a moment I’ve forgotten what you did to me last time!”
He bit his lower lip, unable to meet my gaze.
I turned to Roxie, giving her a stern reminder. “Please ensure you accompany Mr. Reid.”
Roxie nodded, looking a little unsure, worry clear on her face. Asher stood motionless, his fists clenched so tightly.
I walked out of the restaurant, heading straight for the garden area where I could speak with Ronan.
“Cassie…” he said softly when we reached the secluded garden space.
He began to explain. “I was so stupid not to understand what you were going through. What I said that night was meant to wound Asher, not you… Cassie, please believe me. What I feel for you is real. I’ve felt this way long before Asher and Elena became involved.”
My lips pressed into a thin line as his words sank in, a sharp pain tightening in my chest. I knew… The paintings, the signatures, the dates. But if I accepted Ronan now, what would follow?
“Ronan, it’s easier to harbor anger toward someone than to love them…” My voice trembled as the tears began streaming down my face.
The pain was unbearable. I had been struggling with it for so long.
I took a shaky breath and continued, “I’ve gotten used to forgiving the person I love. I’ve forgiven Asher countless times
throughout our relationship, to the point that I didn’t even recognize who I was anymore. Why does it always have to be me,
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CASSIE 20 Cold Goodbye
Ronan? Why do I always have to be the one to suffer?”
Tears flowed freely down my cheeks, followed by a deep, wrenching sob.
“It’s easier to be angry with you…” I whispered, my heart aching.
“Why, Cassie?” His voice cracked with confusion. “All I ever did was love you. Why choose anger toward me rather than allowing me to care for you?”
I knew he didn’t understand.
“Because loving you causes me greater pain!” I shouted at him. “As I’ve said before, it’s easier to hold onto hate than to keep loving someone… Don’t you get it? You’ve already hurt me so much… and I know you’re hurting yourself by loving me, Ronan. There’s still so much anger inside you… If I accept you, we’ll live in uncertainty, in guilt…”
Tears welled up in his eyes. “How could you be this cruel, Cassie? I wanted to love you more… I know what you’re going through, and I want to be there for you… How can you say things like this?”
My voice softened, though the pain still lingered. “And I’m thankful for your love, Ronan… You’ve shown me a kind of love I never thought I’d feel, especially in such a short time… But please, respect my decision and everything I’ve been through. If you truly love me, you’ll leave me in peace because I must protect what remains of my heart.”
My chest constricted with an almost unbearable ache.
“Why?” he whispered.
“Ronan… find someone who truly deserves your affection. I want you to feel love again, because I’m sure it can’t be with me.”
“A–are you going to marry Asher Reid? Is that the reason?” His voice trembled with disbelief.
“Yes,” I said firmly, my heart heavy with the finality of it. “So please, don’t bother me again.”
But deep down, there was one thing I knew for sure: I’d rather face death than marry Asher, the man who once made my heart soar only to tear it apart beyond repair.
Ronan leaned against the wall, his eyes still full of pain, but I walked away, leaving him standing there.
I went to the women’s room to compose myself. If I gave in to Ronan, my parents would see the pain I was hiding.
I just wanted to find some peace in my last moments because love is not just about being in a relationship or depending on someone else.
If I accepted Ronan, I’d be condemning myself to a lie, drowning in guilt, and maybe even suffocating in my own torment.
I wanted to be free from it all. I wanted to accept myself first, just being Cassie, a friend and a daughter.
When I returned to where Asher and Roxie waited, my ex immediately seized my arm and forcefully guided me to his car. The jealousy and rage practically radiated off him.
He drove recklessly, the car lurching and speeding until he abruptly stopped in the middle of the deserted road. I remained emotionally detached as he unleashed his frustration in a torrent of screams!
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