Cassy POV“Let’s talk,” I told her and saw the color drain from Tory’s face.“Cassy…”“Don’t Cassy me. I had been trying to keep my distance, respecting your privacy. I can not force you to share your secrets with me, but I could see you hurting. I have to step in.”Tory looked down. I can not pin her with my gaze. But before she concealed her face from me, I was able to see the swirling emotions in her eyes.Her body stiffened, and it was like she was erecting a wall to surround her – shielding her from my hawk-like eyes.I gazed at the top of her head, trying to get into her.Tory had to snap out of that perfect shell she surrounded herself with. She had to cry.“You are my best friend, Tory, and seeing you hurting wanted me to scratch Tony’s eyes. I knew he was the reason for the pain you were carrying over your shoulder for years, and I want you to let it out.“I won’t judge. I won’t criticize. I am only here to listen, and if you need to cry, then you can use my shoulder.” I t
Cassy POV“So, I tried tracking her down. My father put her up for adoption. Even when I was still pregnant with her, my father kept harping about her existence tarnishing his name. He wanted me to abort the baby.“He said he was giving me a clean slate to start over with my life.A baby would only complicate my life.How can I take care of the baby when I was just a child myself?“But I could not do it. That is my baby.“I told him I aborted the baby and went somewhere far away. But my father tracked me down. I was due to give birth when he found out.“When I gave birth, they induced me to sleep. And when I woke up, my father said the baby died a few minutes after it was born. He then presented me with a lifeless child, but I did not believe him. My child was not dead. It couldn’t be dead.”Tory stared off into space.My heart went out to her.She looked lifeless.I remembered that night eight years ago, and something clicked in my brain. “When was her birthday?”“Third of November
Cassy POVCaleb winced. He noted the venom in my eyes and took my hand.“I am not your enemy. Why are you shooting me down?”It was my turn to look contrite. “I am sorry.” I turned my head to the second-floor landing and saw Tony standing there, hands in his front pockets, staring at me.“Why you!”I marched up to him, hands clenched into fists.Stopping short when I got near him, I raised my fists to pommel into his chest.I was so enraged.“You good-for-nothing a*sh*le! You’re selfish! Ruthless!” I hurled every derogatory w
Tony POV“I knew I would find you here.” I looked up from the glass of vodka I was sipping from to find the owner of that voice.I snorted when I found him standing behind me.“Did your sister send you?”Adam nodded before taking the bar stool next to me. “Yeah. She told me about what happened this morning.”“Your sister hates me.” I groaned and took another swig from my glass.Adam signaled the bartender to serve him the same drink, and while waiting, his eyes pierced me with a thoughtful gaze.“Are you really more concerned about my sister’s feelings, or are you still in denial?”My forehead creased.I put the glass down on the table to turn sideways and face Adam.“What am I going to deny? Cassy has always been special to me. I have loved her since she was a kid.”Adam snorted. “Such devotion.” The sarcasm was not lost on me.I glared at him. “You knew me. For years, it has always been Cassy. I never looked at any girl except her.”“Yeah, but you b*nged her best friend.”That l
Tony POV"You are almost thirty, yet you are acting like a child. If you do not want her, why get her pregnant the second time?”“You could have used protection. You were no longer nineteen. You are twenty-nine. You should have grown some sense by now.”“But what did you do?“Don't come running to me if one day when some man snaps Tory up and makes her his queen because she deserves it and more.”It was the first time my best friend talked about Tory that way. I never thought he would notice Tory's attractiveness because Adam had always been hung up on one girl. But now, something in the way he said her name caused an alarm.“Tory is beautiful, intelligent and successful. She's hot, and she can have any man she wants.”The knowledge shook me. The fact that my best friend could talk about Tor
Cassy POVAfter Tony left, I went back to the master’s bedroom and closed the door behind me.I padded to the bed and just watched my best friend. Tory was frowning in her sleep. She had a disturbed sleep.Without any other thought, I climbed into bed and wrapped my arms around her. She turned to me, and I could hear her soft whimpers.Even in her sleep, she was crying.I want to make Tony grovel. Beating him was not enough.But when he requested to see her, I could not say no. Something in his eyes told me he was hurting, too.I called my brother to check on him and maybe talk some sense into him. Then, I drifted off to sleep.It was a few hours later when my phone rang. It was Caleb.“Hello, sweetheart. How are you and Tory?”Coming from sleep, I was dazed when I sat up and leaned on the board to talk to him.I checked on Tory. “She’s still asleep. She must have been too tired.”“Do you want me to send you dinner, or are you joining us?”I decided to join them so I could check o
Cassy POVAfter I left Caleb with the kids, I returned to our bedroom and did my nightly ritual.I peeked at Tory’s face to check on her. She was now sleeping soundly.I looked at the time.She already missed dinner, but I did not have the heart to wake her up. She needed sleep more than anything. I lay on the bed beside her, and that was when I started to miss Caleb. Still, I do not want to leave Tory alone in our room. Her emotional state bothered me. It felt to me like yesterday her dam burst, and it was the first time she let herself cry so much.I tossed and turned on my bed, finding it hard to get to sleep.I yanked the pillow from under my head and pulled it to my nose to take a whiff. My nose twitched, searching for the manly scent that I had been used to.But it did not comfort me like his presence would.Unable to control my yearning for my husband, I crept out of bed, careful not to disturb Tory.On tiptoe, I walked to the door.The lock loosened, and I stepped out eager
Cassy POVOne look at my brother, and I knew he was not having the best times.He kissed my cheeks, his eyes landed on Tory, and he smiled. “How’s my second favorite girl doing?” He asked.He approached Tory and buzzed her cheek.Tory pursed her lips. “I am fine Adam.”My brother shook his head at Tory's unlively response. “You don’t look like it. Honest? You look like h*ll."Tory's puffy eyes were a dead giveaway."But don’t worry, I already fixed the guy for you. I gave him two powerful punches tonight. Consider it as having your grievances avenged.”Adam sounded flippant, but I knew it was not easy.Tony must have broken the last shred of control my brother has to arrive at that point. Adam is the most patient and understanding man I know.He never judges and would choose to maintain the peace rather than sow discord.He saw the food laid out on the table and went to the drawers to get a plate and cutlery for himself.Then, he sat beside Tory.He ladled the soup, put it into