Chapter 39 39

Chapter 39 39
Easton's POV

I kept staring at Cass's message on my phone. The weight of the words pressed down on me that my hands shook a little as I scrolled through my contact list. Finally I found Cass’s number and looked at it for some time before I dialed it. The phone rang three times before she picked it up.

“Easton,” Cass answered sweetly. “I knew you would call after seeing my message.” Hearing her voice made my stomach turn.

I took a deep breath and tried not to change the tone of my voice.

“Meet me tomorrow in the school garden after classes,” I said ignoring her pretentious sweetness. “We need to talk.”

Cass laughed softly on the other end. “Does that mean you are ready to bend to my wish and come back to me?” she asked. “Are you finally choosing us again?”

I gripped the phone more after hearing what she said. “Enough of your questions, save your breath for tomorrow,” I replied coldly. “Just be there.”

I ended the call before she could say anything else. As I lay back on my bed, my heart was heavy. That night it was hard to fall asleep. I couldn't stop thinking about Riley and how much I had complicated everything.

The next day after school I went straight to the garden. The sun was still high, and the flowers looked bright as usual. Cass was already waiting near the benches. She was standing with her arms crossed with a little smile on her face. When she saw me, her eyes lit up.

“You are here,” she said happily. “Does this mean you are done playing games with that girl?”

I stopped a few steps away from her, my face hard already.

“This has to stop, Cass,” I said firmly. “And I’m here to tell you to leave Riley alone and stop all the threats. Just stop everything.”

Cass’s smile disappeared immediately. She took one step closer to me, her eyes filled with anger and pain.

“You are really choosing her?” she asked. Her voice became sharp. “After everything our families have planned? After all the years we spent together?”

I shook my head, my jaw tightened. “What's everything? Our relationship was never a true love,” I said, my voice firm and sure. “It was just a business alignment for our parents. And in case you have forgotten, you broke up with me first. So why are you doing all this now?”

Cass took another step forward. Her hands clenched at her sides. “Because you were supposed to come back to me,” she said, her voice cracking a little. “Just like I have told you before, I only broke up with you to test you. I wanted to see if you would fight for me. But instead you fell for your sister's chubby babysitter.”

Her words hit me hard. I stared at her blankly. “Yes you told me that, but for what?” I asked, my voice rising. “So is that why you are playing games with me all this time?”

Cass smiled bitterly. She crossed her arms tighter. “Yes,” she replied. “And I will keep playing until you choose me again. Just like I have said before, I will tell your father about Riley and let you see what happens. I will make sure he knows everything that has been going on.”

I felt anger rise in my chest. “You are obsessed, Cass,” I told her. “Let it go. We are done.”

Before I could say more, Riley and Blake walked past the garden. They were talking quietly. Cass’s eyes narrowed when she saw them.

In a blink of an eye, she ran toward Riley and grabbed her hair hard.

“This is all your fault!” Cass shouted loudly. “You ruined my relationship with Easton!”

Riley cried out in pain and tried to pull away. Her face twisted with shock and pain.

Blake stepped in quickly. He violently jerked Cass aside away from Riley. “Don't touch her!” he yelled, hiis voice full of anger. “Get your hands off her now! You have no right to place your hands on her!”

He pushed back again, his body staying protective in front of Riley. “You are the one who needs to stop,” Blake continued harshly. “You are obsessed and crazy. Easton does not want you anymore. Just accept it.”

Cass fell backwards, but she quickly got back on her feet. Her face turned red with rage. “You are both against me now?” she shouted. “This is not over!”

With that, she walked away without looking back. After Cass left, I turned to see if Riley was hurt, only to found Blake checking all over her body in a way that made them seem close.

My blood boiled hot and I couldn't watch it anymore. I stepped forward and shouted, “Get away from her!”

I rushed between them and pushed Blake back hard. My hands shook with anger as I stood in front of Riley.

“I said get away from her right now!” I barked, my voice echoing loudly. Blake stepped closer again after regaining his stance, his chest puffed out.

“Make me,” he said coldly.

Riley stood behind me, she was already breathing fast. The air became thick with tension as we faced each other, ready to explode any second.