Chapter 141 Love Is Not Accomplishment
Under Cassidy's expectant gaze, Sawyer lowered his head in shame and only managed to tell Anthony, "Cassie is kind and innocent. Treat her well. Whatever misunderstandings you have, just talk them through. Please don't hurt her anymore."
Cassidy's eyes went wide with disbelief.
Anthony's lips curved slightly in a sinister smile. "Looks like Mr. Tucker has come to his senses. But matters between husband and wife don't require your concern."
He turned to the officers. "Forget it. We're all friends here—no need to make things ugly. I found my wife, that's what matters. I reserve the right to press charges, but for now, I won't pursue his responsibility."
The police felt sympathetic toward him. What was every man's worst fear? A cheating wife. And she'd secretly run off to live with another man...
Since Anthony wasn't pressing charges, they were relieved too. Anything involving both the Watson and Tucker families—if this blew up, they'd be caught in the crossfire with nothing to gain.
Cassidy stared miserably in Sawyer's direction as Anthony dragged her away, step by step.
Sawyer was devastated. After the police left, his legs gave out and he collapsed to the floor.
He knew that starting today, he'd permanently lost the person he loved most. Faced with choosing between family and lover, he'd abandoned his lover.
He couldn't forget Cassidy's final look. She must be... so disappointed in him.
He covered his face and broke down sobbing.
After an unknown amount of time, his phone rang. His father calling. He answered numbly. Richard's voice came through. "Did you send her away?"
Sawyer's voice was hoarse. "...Yes."
Richard heard something wrong in his tone and sighed. "Your grandfather just got back. We've managed to suppress this for now—it won't leak out. Consider it all a dream. That woman, no matter how much you like her, you absolutely cannot touch. Sawyer, our family now... isn't what it used to be. After your grandfather retired, too many people are watching us. We can't make a single mistake, or we're finished. Do you understand?"
Sawyer raised his head numbly, eyes bloodshot but flashing with resolve.
"Dad, I know... I'll always remember our family's principles."
"Grandfather lived his whole life with integrity. I won't tarnish his reputation even slightly."
After forcing out those agonizing words, he hung up.
Since ancient times, loyalty and righteousness couldn't coexist. He'd chosen filial duty, which meant he had to fail Cassie.
He sat on the floor for a long time, sighing with exhaustion.
Downstairs at the apartment building, Anthony held Cassidy's hand, putting on a show of marital harmony as he said goodbye to the officers. After the police car drove off, he smiled at the woman beside him, his voice so tender it practically dripped sweetness. "Cassie, let's go. I'm taking you home."
Looking at his smiling face, Cassidy felt no warmth—only eeriness and terror.
When he'd locked her in that pitch-black room and whipped her, he'd worn this same smile—gentle and affectionate, as if gazing at the world's most precious treasure. Then in the next breath, he'd viciously torture her nearly to death!
She flinched instinctively. Seeing this, Anthony's smile deepened. He gazed at her with unsettling calm. "Are you afraid of me?"
Cassidy quickly shook her head. "No... of course not. How could I be afraid of you? The person I love... love most is you."
She stammered out the words, using every ounce of strength to force herself to relax and smile at him.
But that smile looked stiff no matter how you looked at it.
Anthony seemed unconcerned by her answer, his voice even. "Then let's go. Home."
Cassidy had no choice but to follow him into the car.
Everything in the car remained eerily calm. She'd expected Anthony to attack her once they got in, but he didn't. After getting in, he just sat there with his eyes half-closed, lost in thought.
She sat beside him trembling, the atmosphere feeling terrifyingly bizarre.
Time crawled by second by second. Cassidy could hear her own heartbeat accelerating. Her palms broke out in cold sweat. Suddenly, Anthony looked up at her. She couldn't help shuddering, forcing a smile as she asked, "Tony, what... what is it?"
Anthony's smile was loaded with meaning as he reminded her, "We've arrived."
Only then did Cassidy realize... the car had stopped in front of a mansion at some point.
She forced down her panic, pretending nonchalance. "Is this a new house you bought? I... I haven't seen it before."
Anthony's lips curved as he looked at her with significance. "I've owned it for some years now. Just rarely came here before. Today I'm bringing you to see it."
Dread crawled through Cassidy's gut. Her instincts screamed that something was very wrong here, but facing Anthony's smile, she didn't dare say a word. Finally, he half-dragged her toward the mansion entrance.
Before going in, Anthony smiled at her. "Welcome. This is the first time this mansion has had a visitor."
Cassidy's sense of foreboding intensified. Her legs nearly gave out at the doorstep. As she entered, she instinctively grabbed the door handle. Meeting Anthony's gaze, she didn't want to take another step forward, even if it meant revealing her terror. She couldn't maintain the act anymore.
She couldn't keep pretending.
Anthony looked at her gently. "Why'd you stop?"
Without waiting for Cassidy's response, he lowered his head, grabbed her hand, and peeled her fingers off one by one.
His movements were so tender, yet they made Cassidy's blood run cold.
She stared at the smile on his lips, nearly screaming. Anthony seized her hand and dragged her into the mansion. This time, he dropped all pretense. No matter how Cassidy struggled or begged, he remained unmoved, his eyes icy enough to form frost.
Cassidy was ultimately pulled inside.
At the same time, Daisy was crouched by Arabella's hospital bed, dramatically recounting her day's ordeal.
"That Ethan is seriously inhuman! You know what he said when I asked the director for time off? He said I was unprofessional! Said actresses like me should be replaced! Fuck—I spend 360 out of 365 days a year on set. I locked myself in my room for three days straight studying a character. And he dares lump me in with women who sleep their way to the top? Screw him—"
Listening made Arabella's heart ache too, and she felt guilty. "It's all my fault. If I hadn't asked you to pick up Becky, they wouldn't be targeting you like this."
What Arabella imagined her best friend was going through: director harassment, cast ostracism, poor thing isolated and helpless on set.
Reality for Daisy: mentioned needing time off and the director immediately approved it, even adjusted the shooting schedule around her. Ethan had cursed at her three times, she'd cursed back thirty times, and still hadn't vented her frustration.
Seeing Arabella's genuine guilt, Daisy felt even guiltier and quickly waved it off. "Why are we being formal with each other? Taking care of Becky is the least I can do!"
Becky, who'd been facing away doing homework, turned around and gave Daisy a cheerful thumbs up before returning to her work.
Arabella asked with some curiosity, "This Ethan you mentioned—he's an actor in your production? He sounds pretty dedicated. Why do you hate him so much? If he misunderstood you, couldn't you just explain?"
Daisy huffed indignantly. "The guy's petty and stubborn as hell! He's convinced I have a sugar daddy, convinced I only got the female lead role because of some man. I'd explain if he'd actually listen! You didn't see how arrogant he was. What a piece of work!"
Arabella looked at her sympathetically. "Having a coworker like that must be rough."
Daisy adopted a noble expression. "Well, with great talent comes great responsibility. I can handle it."
Arabella burst out laughing.
Since Daisy had taken several days off, she decided not to go back tonight. The hospital room only had two beds, and she felt bad crowding an injured person, so she shamelessly squeezed in with Becky.
Fortunately, the bed was six feet wide—enough room for both of them.
While they enjoyed their peaceful evening, on the other side of Majestic City, Roy was nervously reporting to Alexander with his heart in his throat.
After confessing all his mistakes in detail, he realized the other end of the line had gone silent. Terror seized him as he tentatively called out, "Mr. FitzRoy..."
Alexander's cold voice finally responded. "In the three days I've been gone, I gave you exactly two tasks. First, protect my wife. Second, pick up and drop off Becky. But you forgot to pick up Becky, which forced my wife to run around handling it herself and even encounter Gloria. Roy, you've done well."
Roy didn't dare take that as actual praise. Trembling, he said, "I know I messed up, Mr. FitzRoy. I'm willing to accept whatever punishment—"
Alexander's voice was emotionless and cold. "Then transfer back overseas. Three-level demotion. Two years' worth of bonuses forfeited. I'll review your performance in one year."
Hearing this, Roy's heart turned to ash, though this was actually the best possible outcome. He'd expected Mr. FitzRoy to fire him outright.
He hung up on the verge of tears, constantly reassuring himself: it's only one year. If he performed well, he could definitely work his way back to Mr. FitzRoy's side!
Before bed, Arabella received a call from Alexander.
Her lips unconsciously curved upward as she held the phone with her uninjured hand, asking softly, "All settled in?"
Alexander's warm voice confirmed, "Arrived around eight. Just finished unpacking at the hotel."
After a pause, he asked, "What about you? Everything okay?"
Arabella didn't want to worry him, so she didn't mention Becky's near-disappearance. The child had been found anyway—telling him would just make him anxious for no reason.
"I'm fine," she said with a light laugh. "Pretty good, actually."
On the other end, Alexander gripped his phone, words on the tip of his tongue. But ultimately, he didn't bring up Becky either.
If she didn't want him to worry, he'd pretend not to know. As long as it gave her peace of mind.
"Alex," Arabella asked with curiosity, "what's Riverland like? Is it beautiful?"
Alexander chuckled softly. "It is."
He told her about the sparse population, the gorgeous flowers, the thriving harbor.
How people spoke Riverlandic, which resembled English.
How windmills dotted the landscape everywhere, and wooden clogs were a local specialty.
Arabella listened intently, occasionally asking questions that Alexander patiently answered. The two of them spoke in low, gentle voices from opposite ends of the line, as if merging with the quiet night.
Finally, he said, "If we get the chance, we should go together sometime."
Before they knew it, the call had lasted over an hour. When Arabella checked the time, she started in surprise. "We should stop—Becky's asleep and I'm afraid we'll wake her. She has school tomorrow."
Alexander reluctantly said goodbye. "Alright then. Good night."
A strange feeling rose in Arabella's chest. She pushed it down and replied softly, "Yeah. Good night."
After hanging up, Daisy rolled over to stare at her with a deadpan expression. "And you two call this... a friendly check-in?"
Arabella set her phone on the table and lay down, thinking for a long moment. "It's weird, right? I find it pretty unbelievable too. But maybe because he's gay, this kind of interaction between us is perfectly fine."
In the darkness, Daisy's eyes nearly rolled back into her head. "Oh really? Philip's gay too. How come he doesn't call us and sweet-talk for over an hour?"
Arabella frowned. "Gay guys aren't all the same."
Fine. Whatever.
Daisy figured she'd never encounter a more baffling relationship dynamic in her entire life.
She asked with confusion, "Don't you like him? Doesn't it bother you that he just keeps treating you like a friend? Aren't you frustrated?"
Arabella was silent for a moment before saying, "Liking someone is about possession. Loving someone is about letting them be happy."
"Ha! Bullshit!" Daisy shot back without hesitation. "Love isn't about letting someone go. Loving someone means doing whatever it takes to have them. Otherwise, how can you even call it love?"
But these two were both impossibly dense. Watching them as an outsider was exhausting.
Why was this paper-thin barrier between them so damn hard to break?
The next morning, Daisy got up early, bought breakfast for Arabella, then hurried off with Becky to school.
On the road, they hit traffic. Worse, Daisy hadn't kept proper distance from the car ahead. One hard brake and she rear-ended them.
Someone quickly got out of the other car and pounded on her window. Daisy had felt guilty at first, but this aggressive behavior fired up her temper. She opened the door and flipped the guy off. "Fuck you! So I rear-ended you—big deal! I'll apologize and pay for damages, okay? Is this necessary? Were you trying to smash my window?"
The guy was a burly, rough-looking man who'd been furious at first. But when the window came down and he saw a pretty young woman, his whole demeanor changed. Instantly all smiles, he said, "Hey, gorgeous, give me your number. I'll hit you up later about compensation."
Daisy handed over her number with disgust. After he added her contact and gave her a suggestive eyebrow wiggle before sauntering back to his car, Daisy nearly gagged. She tossed her phone aside carelessly. "Live long enough and you meet all kinds of revolting creeps."
If it weren't for Becky sitting right there—she didn't want to set a bad example for the kid—she would've spat in that pig's face three times at least.
Just then, in the lane beside them, a car window suddenly rolled down, revealing a strikingly handsome face. But however good-looking this man was, his mouth was twice as venomous. "The F-word and the finger—where's your ladylike behavior? Think you'll ever get married acting like that? Oh wait, my bad—you don't need to get married. Just keep your sugar daddy happy and you'll have everything you want, right?"