Chapter 80 Chapter 0080
•CASSANDRA•
"I didn't see you yesterday during lunch, did you go somewhere?" Dante asked when he found me doing my light makeup in the bathroom.
I froze. I didn't know if I should tell him that I went on a date with Mason. He wouldn't understand if I told him that I only went there because I didn't want him to think I was Cassandra.
I was grateful that no one had told him my name yet, because he would find it weird that I had the same name as his ex-wife.
"Oh, I—" I cleared my throat as I turned around and looked at him. "Weren't you in surgery the entire afternoon?"
"I had a five-minute break to figure out a way for the patient not to bleed out during the incision," he answered. "And I hoped to see you."
"Oh, I am sorry about that, but I went out to get something from the restaurant across the street," I replied as I finished my makeup.
"That's okay, did you talk with your brother?"
"Damon?" I scoffed. "I am still wondering how he could detect my scent even when it is masked. He wasn't supposed to know who I am. But I will find out what he's doing here."
"You should take it easy on him," he answered. "He would've left if he didn't want to work with you. Perhaps this is your opportunity to talk and sort things out."
"Sort things out?" I scoffed as I folded my arms across my chest and turned to face him. "Damon and I will never sort things out. He betrayed me, Dante. He lied and disowned me as his sister. So, I won't forgive him for that."
"Have you wondered if someone texted him and pretended to be you?" he asked. "Your brother might not be the enemy you think he is."
I looked at him and wondered if he was joking. It was clear that we weren't talking about the same Damon I grew up with.
He was already pushing my buttons because he knew damn well that I wouldn't have texted him to kill Mason. He knew that it didn't even sound like me, but because he wanted whatever Nadia promised him, he went ahead and betrayed me.
"Please let's not talk about my brother if you're going to tell me to forgive him," I said, rolling my eyes. I walked to the door and went back to the bedroom to change.
Dante was already dressed when he followed behind me. "Okay, okay," he sighed. "I am stupid for talking foolishly. Please don't be mad at me."
He grabbed my wrist and I stopped. I rolled my eyes, tilted my head, and looked at him.
"You know I can never be mad at you, but please don't speak to me about my brother," I groaned. "He's the last person I want to talk about, especially this early."
"If he causes trouble for you, I will handle him for you," he answered as he kissed my forehead.
I reached up and pulled him down by the collar and kissed him.
He made a quiet sound against my lips and held me closer, with one hand at the back of my neck.
When I finally pulled away, his eyes were still closed for a second.
"I love you," I muttered.
He opened his eyes and looked at me. "I love you too," he replied. "Now go and see our daughter before she comes looking for you and finds us standing here like this."
I laughed and pressed my hand flat against his chest for a moment before stepping away and picking up my work bag from the chair by the door.
"Don't forget your rounds start at eight," I told him over my shoulder as I walked out.
"Don't forget yours start at seven thirty," he called back.
I was still smiling when I reached Alena's room. I pushed the door open and leaned against the frame.
She was sitting up in bed and looking out the window as if she were in deep thought. I almost laughed because what in the world was going on inside her mind?
"Good morning, baby," I said.
Her head turned immediately. "Mama."
I crossed the room and sat on the edge of her bed, smoothing her hair back from her face.
"Did you sleep well?" I asked.
She nodded before she looked down at her hands on her lap. "Mama," she breathed. "Can I ask for something?"
"Yes, sweetheart?"
She looked up at me. "I want to see my father."
My chest tightened at her words. I thought about Mason's threats to get custody, and it made me so uneasy to have her around him.
I had been delaying their visitations because I didn't want Mason to finally take everything I had like he did when I was banished.
Alena was all I had since Rowan was taken from me.
And then I looked at my daughter's face. "Okay," I muttered. "You can see your father today if you want. He's still around town."
Her eyes brightened. "Really?"
"Really," I replied, reaching into the pocket of my robe where I kept my secondary phone. The one that wasn't registered under any name that connected to Dr. Frost or the hospital.
I found Mason's number and pressed the call button.
It rang twice before Mason answered it.
"Here," I said, and placed the phone gently in her hands.
She took it and pressed it to her ear.
"Daddy! Daddy! When are you coming to see me?"
I stood up from the edge of the bed and walked to the window, putting a few steps between myself and the conversation.
Just yesterday, she could barely form a sentence, and even if I wanted, I was never going to be able to keep her away from Silvercrest.