Chapter 1314: Don’t leave me tonight

"Because I feel lost, Finn."

Deep lines formed between Finn’s brows as he glanced at Cassandra before returning his eyes to the road. "Lost? Why?"

"I don’t know." Cassandra shrugged, a wry smile tugging at her lips. "Or maybe I just know too much. Sometimes, I wish I didn’t."

She pressed her lips together, keeping her gaze fixed on the window. Slowly, she closed her eyes and sighed. After a moment, his quiet voice broke the silence again.

"Is it because of Jonathan?" Finn asked. When she didn’t respond, he added, "Is it my fault?"

"Should I blame you?" she countered, immediately understanding what he meant. Turning her head slightly toward him, she studied his profile. "Would you feel bad if I said yes?"

Finn gave no reaction. His focus remained on the road.

At first, Cassandra had been happy with Jonathan. She even found amusement in teasing Finn about his relationship with Nina. After all, she knew that even if Finn married someone else, the marriage was doomed to fail.

A man like him... would never know how to protect his marriage. Unless, of course, he saw it as necessary for his own gain. In their world, it had always been that way — just like her and Finn’s arranged engagement. There was always something to gain in such unions.

But then Finn had to warn her about Jonathan.

And suddenly, everything she had turned a blind eye to came back to bite her. Hard.

That warning, combined with Finn’s change toward Nina, left her reeling. Finn had always been the same — until the accident. And she had been the one to drive him to that reunion, the one that rekindled things between him and Nina.

So while Cassandra was forced to sit across from Jonathan, smiling while he lied to her, Finn and Nina’s relationship flourished. The irony of it all.

Was she angry? Of course. Though she wasn’t sure what angered her the most.

Was she bitter? No doubt about it.

"It’s not fair," she whispered, her gaze lingering on his side profile. "Just not fair, Finn."

She peeled her eyes away from him and fixed them on the windshield ahead. There was so much she wanted to say, but she kept her mouth shut.

Finn, on the other hand, remained silent, knowing that saying anything would only lead to a long, exhausting argument. He understood that his warning had affected her — but he didn’t fully realize just how much. He had no idea that his own shift in feelings toward Nina had also hurt Cassandra in a way he never intended.

"I’m sorry," he said quietly after a long pause. "I want to say I was just looking out for you, but I know that won’t change anything."

Even so, he didn’t regret warning her. His only goal had been to plant a seed of doubt in her heart. Cassandra was smart. Jonathan could only deceive her for so long. And when she finally saw the truth, Finn knew she would be strong enough to walk away from whatever scheme Jonathan had woven.

Cassandra was smart and a strong woman. She would never cling to a man. Wasn’t that the reason her relationship with Jonathan hadn’t had any label until recently?

Besides, the last thing Finn wanted was for Cassandra to enter the Pierson family. No matter what, that family was treacherous. Always had been. Always would be.

Once again, silence settled between them.

After what felt like an eternity, Cassandra’s eyes flickered up at the sparkling lights of a nearby hotel.

"You’re taking me to a hotel?" she murmured, unsurprised by his choice. "You could’ve taken me to your parents’ house. I heard they’re there."

"I know. But I’m getting married, Cass," he replied casually. "I don’t want any misunderstandings."

"Why would it be a misunderstanding?" She cast him a glance. "Is your fiancée threatened?"

Finn let out a shallow laugh. "Sometimes, I almost wish she was. Just to get more of her attention." He shook his head. "But no. She has no reason to be. I’m simply doing this because I wouldn’t want her taking an ex-lover home, even with a logical explanation."

A faint smile played on his lips as he pulled into the hotel driveway.

Meanwhile, Cassandra stared at his profile, jaw tightening as she pressed a hand to her chest. Her heart felt bitter, and the taste of it sat heavy on her tongue.

******

After checking in, Finn helped Cassandra settle into the room he had booked for her. She was still weak, and he didn’t want her ending up in someone else’s room. It was the least a decent person could do for a vulnerable woman.

Once she was on the bed, Finn straightened and looked down at her. "I’ll call someone from your home to bring some of your things first thing in the morning."

"Mhm." She nodded, humming softly.

"Are you sure you’ll be okay here?"

"Mhm." Another hum was heard from her. Then she looked up at him. "Water. Please."

Finn smiled and nodded. "Fine. I’ll get it."

He stepped out to grab a bottle of water from the mini-fridge. Knowing she preferred drinking from a glass, he poured some and carried it back to the bedroom.

But as soon as he stepped inside, he stopped.

Cassandra was standing by the bed, her clothes pooled at her feet, wearing nothing but a lace thong.

Her back was facing him, but that didn’t change the fact that he could see everything.

"I’m still here," he said, looking away as he set the glass on the TV stand. "Your water’s here. I’m going home now."

Just as he turned, avoiding her gaze and her body, Cassandra slowly faced him.

With effortless confidence, she ran her fingers through her hair, pushing it back, giving him an unobstructed view of everything beneath the elegant clothes she usually wore.

"Don’t go," she whispered, stepping closer until she was right behind him. Her hand reached for his arm, fingers barely clutching him.

Pursing her lips, she gazed up at him and breathed out, "Don’t leave me tonight, Finn. Please."