Chapter 153: The Campus Core
Aveline's POV
The morning tour of the University of Minnesota Twin Cities was nothing like our high school campus back in Connecticut. Instead of a closed-off campus with fences, we were walking right through the busy city streets where the college was. College students were reading on the grass lawns, playing music near the steps, and drinking iced coffees while they talked.
The school felt like a place where I could finally be myself again. It felt completely safe, from my past, the constant panic of the athletic board, and the heavy lie I had been carrying.
Out here, nobody knew the name Asher Carter. Nobody was looking at me to see if my heart was failing or if my chest was bound too tight. I was just a regular person walking down a clean, bright sidewalk.
As the tour guide led the class toward the engineering building, the group spread out across the wide walkway. Kieran stopped to answer one of Milo's questions, giving Daphne and me a few quiet moments at the back of the group.
I slowed down near a large stone archway, watching a group of students laughing on the lawn. I glanced toward Kieran. He was talking to Milo, but every now and then I caught him looking in my direction. When our eyes met, he looked away and continued walking.
I pulled out my phone and took a photo of the old library building instead of taking a photo of our friends. When a student ambassador waved at us, a small smile touched my face.
I adjusted the strap of my bag, leaning against the stone wall. I looked down the path where Cassian was walking far ahead with Landon. I decided to poke at Daphne a little bit. "So... are you going to tell me what happened with Cassian at the diner?
I expected her to blush or smile, but Daphne did not. Her smile vanished instantly. She looked at me, her face turning serious and quiet.
"He came to my house later that night, Asher," Daphne said, her voice dropping into a low whisper. "He tried to explain himself.
My body went completely tense. My breath caught in my throat
"What did he tell you?" I forced my voice deep, my heart knocking against my ribs.
"The night you were beaten up so badly," Daphne said, looking right into my eyes. She looked really sad for me. That night that Cassian claimed you were the one who was responsible for what happened to Oliver." Cassian saw you. He watched it happen, and he didn't do anything to stop it. He just walked away."
I stared at her, my mind spinning fast. I was still trying to catch up to what she was saying. "Cassian saw... wait. Did he tell you who was hitting me?"
"It was Silas," Daphne whispered. "Silas was the one who attacked you. Do not lie to me about that."
The words hit me like a physical punch. All the air left my lungs. Now I had finally found out the truth about why my brother was all bruised up at the hospital.
It wasn't a random bully as I thought.
Silas had done it. And Cassian had stood there and watched it happen because of his anger over Oliver.
My brother's bruises were caused by Silas only because he was helpless to defend himself.
I didn't care to know the reason, but the thought made my chest ache with a hollow pain. He had died while everyone still thought he was the monster.
"I'm so sorry, Asher," Daphne whispered, touching my arm gently. "Whenever Cassian is ready to accept you were innocent, the guilt of walking away that night will always stay with him.
It all makes sense now. That's why Silas has been acting so crazy." I couldn't even answer her. My head was roaring with the name Silas, my hands clenching tight inside my jacket pockets as Kieran called out from ahead, telling us to hurry up before the tour left without us.