Chapter 5
“It’s nothing,” Cynthia lied softly, “A friend’s doing a bridal-themed photoshoot and wanted my opinion.”
As she spoke, a sharp pain in her burnt arm made her flinch.
Only then did Alexander notice how disheveled she looked.
“What the hell happened to you?”
Before Cynthia could respond, Morinne strolled in, her voice laced with mock concern. “Alex, do you think Cindy’s just trying to get your attention? Maybe she saw you with me all night and pulled this stunt on purpose.”
She clung to his arm, her expression tight with jealousy.
“-” Cynthia started to explain, but Alexander’s face darkened.
“Cynthia Aquil!” His voice was cold, cutting like a blade. “I thought you’d finally matured-but clearly, you’re still the same.
Haven’t given up, have you?”
His words were ruthless, each one more painful than the last.
“If you keep this up, just move out already!”
That sentence echoed in Cynthia’s mind on a cruel loop. Her heart-long since numb-still managed to ache.
Tears welled up in her eyes. Her lips trembled, and the smile she forced looked worse than crying.
“Don’t worry, Uncle Alex,” she whispered hoarsely. “I will leave as you wish.”
She turned and stumbled upstairs, each step slow, heavy, and labored.
Alexander stood frozen, her words striking deeper than he expected. He stared at her retreating figure, emotions flickering
across his face.
Upstairs, Cynthia changed out of her soaked clothes and stood before the mirror, quietly treating her wounds.
The pain across her body had dulled to a numbing throb. She could hardly tell one ache from another anymore.
As she finished bandaging the burns, a knock sounded at the door.
When she opened it, she found Alexander standing there.
His eyes were dark as midnight, intense and unreadable. He stared at her for a long moment before speaking.
“What did you mean by what you said earlier?”
His hand tightened against the doorframe, knuckles white. Cynthia felt a strange pang in her chest.
If she left, she wouldn’t cling to him anymore. He wouldn’t have to hear anything that made him unhappy. Shouldn’t he be glad?
Then why… why did his expression look so conflicted?
She didn’t understand. So she said nothing, sat in silence.
But he pressed on. “Tell me. What did you mean? Be clearl”
Seeing the storm brewing in his eyes, Cynthia’s heart skipped a beat.
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She couldn’t bring herself to tell him the whole truth.
If even the idea of her leaving had drawn this reaction, what would he do if he knew she was leaving to get married? She didn’t dare imagine it.
Forcing down the rising anxiety, she spoke carefully, “Didn’t you say I didn’t belong here? I thought you wanted me to go.”
Alexander’s expression shifted slightly.
“Who told you that? I said the day I brought you home, I’d take care of you for the rest of my life. Are you trying to make me break that promise?”
“I know you’ve never forgiven me for what happened with Amaris,” he added after a pause. “But Morinne’s moving in soon. She’s allergic-she can’t be around cats. If you really want one, I’ll get you another, but it’ll have to stay in your room. It can’t go near her.”
Cynthia’s lips curled into a bitter smile.
So that was it. He didn’t want to break his promise. That was all.
“No need,” she said softly.
She wasn’t going to get another cat. And she was going to leave-no matter what.
Even if he brought home a kitten that looked exactly like Amaris, it still wouldn’t be her.
And besides, she didn’t have the right to care for another one. Not anymore. What if something similar happened again?
She couldn’t bear it.
“Uncle Alex, I’m not upset. You should go take care of Morinne. I’m tired-I’d like to rest now.”
Without another word, she closed the door in his face.
There was no hesitation. No regret.
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