At first, Tatiana thought he was drunk, but she didn’t perceive any scent of alcohol from him. Maybe she was hearing things.
The same room with Cassius? She would go crazy!
Just the feel of his hands around her was already making her heart race, and now he wanted her to stay in the same room.
“It’s fine if you say no,” he whispered, breaking the hug. “I just don’t want to be alone, that’s all.”
Those eyes of his made it hard for her to resist staying. The subtle plea in his eyes caused her lips to move on their own.
“Yes.”
His lips curled up slightly, and his eyes crinkled on one side. Tatiana realized what she had said-a word she couldn’t take back.
“How’s your head?” he asked lightly as his hand reached for the hair that covered the wound and lifted it up.
Tatiana’s heart skipped a beat when his hand brushed her skin. She felt a jolt of electricity run through her body and couldn’t believe how sensitive she felt around him recently.
“I’m fine,” she forced herself to respond.
“Let’s get some rest; you’re probably tired,” he whispered and turned to lie on the bed while she froze like a statue, unsure of what to do.
“C’mon,” he patted the bed beside him. Is he serious right now?
“I’ll sleep on the couch or the floor,” she retorted.
The man tilted his head to one side. “What a naughty little rebel. Don’t worry, I promise not to do whatever you’re thinking,” he said with a small smirk on his face.
Even in the dark room, Cassius could see how Tatiana’s cheeks flushed hard.
Tatiana lay at the far edge of the bed with her back facing him. The bed was big enough to fit seven grown men, so there was quite a distance between them. Her mouth remained sealed.
Cassius, whose eyes were on her the entire time, wished he had a smaller bed. But her presence was enough for him.
Never had he allowed someone into his room except the cleaner who cleaned the place, and they weren’t allowed to take more than two hours.
But now, he was about to let a woman spend the night on the same bed. The same thing had happened years ago when he claimed her.
That night lingered in his head as he stared at her back. He was devastated by his mom’s accident, and the person behind the accident turned out to be a close friend who committed suicide after Cassius challenged him.
Meeting Tatiana that night woke something buried inside him, which is why he searched for her.
___
Tatiana woke up the next morning, blinking the remnants of sleep from her eyes. Her gaze met with something unfamiliar, and as she tried to move, she felt her arms against a hard chest.
Her brow creased as she immediately looked up. She gasped upon seeing Cassius’s face and immediately wanted to pull away, but his strong hold around her waist stopped her.
She froze and slowly looked up. His eyes were still closed. She tried to move out of his hold, gentler this time, but his arm pulled her closer than before.
“Where do you think you’re going?” he asked without opening his eyes.
“I… want to sleep… properly,” she stuttered in a low voice.
“You were the one who clung to me in the middle of the night. That’s your proper way of sleeping. And now you’re running away from it?”
She clung to him? Tatiana’s face reddened. She loved holding onto something while sleeping. It was either her teddy bear, pillow, or Dylan. That must be why her body acted on its own.
“I… I didn’t mean to,” she stuttered and made to move again, but he pulled her closer. So close that her head was glued to his chest.
“I’m not complaining, little rebel. Stay still. Just for a little longer,” he demanded in a low voice that made her heart flutter.
His amazing scent invaded her nose, and she let herself inhale more of it. She felt safe in his arms, and the familiar tingle coursed through her. It was amazing.
“Cassius?” she called lightly after a while of silence.
“Cash,” he corrected, and she let out a secret smile. He was allowing her to call him by his nickname.
“Cash.”
“Hm.”
“How are you feeling now?” she asked.
“Thanks to you, I’m good.”
After a while of silence, she asked again, “Did Zero mention who killed my sister?”
“Not yet,” he responded lightly.
A light knock interrupted them, and Cassius let out a low groan.
“Master, you have a visitor,” Butler Conrad informed from the other side. Cassius released Tatiana and sat up.
“I’ll also be leaving,” Tatiana said, standing up.
“You don’t have any schedule. Stay,” his words left no room for argument as he left the room.
“Stay? Why is he always bossy? Hey, Cassius… I mean Cash,” she ran after him but halted when she saw who the visitor was.
Hudson and Indigo. She immediately turned to run back, but Hudson’s voice stopped her.
“Idol!”
Tatiana stopped in her tracks. She slowly turned and met their gaze. Hudson stared at her with amusement, while Indigo was in shock.
Indigo’s eyes went from Cassius to her and back again. Anger and disappointment flashed in her eyes.
“Good morning,” Tatiana greeted awkwardly.
“What’s she doing here?” Indigo couldn’t help but ask.
“And why does it matter?” Cassius asked.
“I never knew you two were into each other. Has this been going on before you cut off our engagement? What kind of woman are you?…”
“Dee,” Hudson called lightly.
“You knew what you had with Cassius, and yet you accepted to be my friend? Was that night with him accidental? Were you sent?…”
“Indigo!” Cassius glared, his voice icy. “Watch the way you speak. She owes you no explanation. If you have something important to tell me, then speak.”
“Cash, why are you doing this? You can’t just let her come between us…”
“I’m not in between anyone, Indigo. Stop overreacting,” Tatiana finally spoke. She descended the stairs. “Especially when you knew something like this would happen. I’m not the cause of all of this. That night wasn’t my fault either. Fate played its role. And if you insult me for it, I won’t sit back and watch.”
She halted before Indigo, their gazes locked on each other. Tatiana was calm; she understood Indigo’s position and knew how it felt.
“You purposely approached me that night, didn’t you? You only wanted to be my friend because you found out I was the woman from that night,” Tatiana asked, and Indigo’s expression changed. Tatiana immediately knew she was right.
“You don’t know what you’re saying. You don’t know me,” Indigo retorted.
“Well, I know you’re a good person,” Tatiana responded, and Indigo felt her words hit her.
Indigo looked back at Cassius and sighed. “I’ve got a contract from Melbourne. The award night is tomorrow, and I’m here to request your presence. It’ll mean a lot.”
“Alright,” Cassius responded, and she smiled.
Indigo faced Tatiana. “You’re invited too.”
Tatiana nodded. “I’ll be there.”
___
“Please, sir, you can’t do this. It’ll ruin the whole hospital,” the manager of the hospital where Paisley was admitted begged Nathan for mercy.
“If I had lost my wife, do you think I’d accept an apology?”
“I’ll do anything… anything at all. Just name it, and it’ll be done. I promise,” the man pleaded desperately.
“Anything?” Nathan raised a brow, and he nodded.
“Anything.”
“Pronounce my wife dead,” Nathan demanded, and the manager’s eyes widened.