Chapter 137

Chapter 137

She's My Sister

I took a deep breath, my heart pounding painfully. “Let’s go…” I said, my voice faint.

Nikolas nodded and held my hand.

We turned and started walking toward the door. Behind me, I could still hear Bruno calling.

“Cassy!! Cassandra!! Please!! Don’t leave me like this!!”

I didn’t look back. I couldn’t.

When we reached the hallway, I felt Nikolas stop beside me. “You did what you had to do,” he said softly.

I didn’t reply. My chest hurt too much.

He reached out, brushing his thumb under my eye to wipe a tear. “You were brave.”

“I don’t feel brave,” I said quietly. “I feel… empty.”

He sighed, pulling me closer until my head rested on his chest. “That’s because you cared too much. That’s not weakness, Cassy. That’s heart.”

I closed my eyes. “He looked so broken…”

I swallowed hard, the image of Bruno’s face stuck in my mind. “He said you killed his daughter…”

Nikolas went silent for a few seconds. “He’s wrong. You know he is.”

“I know,” I said, even though a small ache lingered. “But hearing it again… it just hurts.”

“I know,” he said, his voice soft and calm. “But you have me. I’ll keep you safe from every ghost of the past, alright?”

I looked up at him, and for the first time that day, I smiled faintly. “I know you will.”

He kissed my forehead lightly. “Come on, let’s go home.”

We walked out of the prison slowly.

I stopped for a moment, taking in the air, trying to breathe again.

Nikolas turned to me. “You okay?”

I nodded. “I will be.”

We got into the car again. I stared out the window as we drove off, the building fading behind us.

”Today wasn’t supposed to be sorrowful…” Nikolas said as the car drove quietly down the long street.

I didn’t say a word. My eyes were on the window, but my mind wasn’t there.

It was still stuck in that cold room, that heavy silence between me and Bruno.

Nikolas reached out and held my hand gently. His hand was warm, firm, like he was trying to pull me back to reality.

“Uhm…” I said slowly, not even sure what to say next. I looked away, blinking fast, pretending to look at the passing trees.

“I know how hard this is…” he said again softly, watching me.

“You shouldn’t say it…” I cut him short with a faint smile, trying to sound calm but my voice cracked a bit. I didn’t want him to pity me. I didn’t want to break again.

He looked at me for a second, nodded slowly, and said nothing again.

The car became quiet, only the sound of the tires rolling on the road.

Soon, the mansion appeared in view. The tall black gates opened slowly like it always did, the guards bowing slightly as the car entered.

I felt that small wave of comfort seeing home again.

Simeon parked the car neatly, and Nikolas came down first. He walked to my side and opened the door for me, stretching his hand.

“Thank you…” I said, holding his hand as I stepped out.

Katy was already waiting near the entrance. The moment she saw me, her face lit up like she had been waiting all day just to see me.

“Welcome home, ma’am,” she said with a soft smile as she walked over to hold my bag.

She looked down at my hand and gasped softly. Her eyes widened when she saw the ring shining properly on my finger.

“Congratulations, Mrs. DeSanto…” she whispered close to my ear, smiling like she was the one who got married.

I laughed softly and gave her a playful push on her shoulder. “Stop it…”

She giggled. “I can’t help it, Cassy. It looks so beautiful on you.”

We started walking inside together, and Nikolas followed behind us, his two hands in his pocket, quiet but his eyes never left me.

The moment we got to the main hall, I stretched my arms and sighed. “Damn… I feel hungry,” I said rubbing my stomach slowly.

Katy looked at me surprised. “Uh? I thought Mr. DeSanto gave you a treat earlier?” she asked, raising one brow.

I looked around and leaned closer to her, whispering quietly. “He got me a car…”

Katy’s eyes widened immediately, her mouth fell open. “What? A car?! Are you serious?!” she almost shouted but I quickly covered her mouth with my hand.

“Shhh! Not so loud!” I whispered laughing.

She muffled behind my hand, “You’re kidding right?!”

I smiled shaking my head. “Nope. He really did. The latest one too…”

Katy gasped and started fanning her face dramatically. “Oh my goodness, Mrs. DeSanto!!”

I held her again laughing softly. “Stop calling me that!”

“But you are!” she said smiling wide. “And you have a car now! I can’t even believe it!”

I chuckled, but then my smile faded a little. “But I don’t feel happy still…” I said quietly.

Katy’s face changed instantly. She stopped smiling and looked at me carefully. “Cassy… it’s because of earlier right?”

I nodded slowly. “Yeah… it’s just… too much.”

She sighed. “You’ll be fine. You just need to eat something and rest, okay?”

Before I could say anything else, Mandy walked past us holding a tray. But immediately she saw me, she stopped. Her face froze.

She bent her head instantly. “Mrs… DeSanto,” she stammered.

I looked at her for a moment. Her tone sounded shaky, like she wasn’t sure if she should even speak.

“Mandy, please… don’t bow,” I said softly, smiling a little.

But before she could lift her head, Simeon walked in from behind, hands behind his back as usual.

“She should bow, Mrs. DeSanto…” he said calmly but respectfully, bowing slightly himself. “It’s the least we can do.”

I laughed lightly. “Simeon, stop. You’ll make me shy.”

He smiled faintly.

I looked back at Mandy again and said softly, “Could you get me something? I’m starving.”

But before she could move, Katy stepped forward immediately. “No, I’ll get it,” she said firmly.

I blinked, surprised. “C’mon Katy, you ain’t my maid anymore,” I said smiling.

She looked at me stubbornly. “I know. But you’re tired. And I don’t trust Mandy to get it right anyway,” she said crossing her arms.

Mandy frowned slightly but didn’t speak.

I sighed, still smiling. “You’re impossible.”

Katy grinned. “I know. But I’ll do it.”

I raised my hands in surrender. “Alright fine, I give up. But just this once.”

“Good. I’ll be right back,” she said already heading to the kitchen.

“Don’t take too long,” I said after her. “I’ll wait in your room.”

She turned around and smiled. “Alright! Give me five minutes then!”

I laughed and nodded. “Five minutes, not ten!”

She giggled and disappeared into the kitchen.

Nikolas was standing by the stairs, watching everything with a faint smile. He looked relaxed but there was that usual calm in his face.

“You and Katy seem to have bonded too much more than before…” he said teasingly.

I turned and looked at him. “Always! She’s my sister….”

He nodded slightly. “That’s good.”

I started walking up the stairs, holding the rails. He followed behind me quietly, his steps slow and steady.

When we got to the top, I turned to him and smiled a little. “You know, for a man like you, I didn’t expect you to know how to make surprises.”

He raised a brow. “Oh? You doubted me?”

I laughed softly. “Maybe a little.”

He smiled faintly, walking closer to me. “Then I’ll just have to surprise you more often.”

I blushed and looked away.

He chuckled. “I take that as a compliment.”

We reached the hallway, and I stopped in front of my room. I was about to enter when I turned again. “I’ll rest a bit before eating, okay?”

He nodded. “Alright wife.”

The way he said that word “wife” made me melt a bit as if he hasn't been saying it before.

His tone was soft but full of something deep.

“Don’t say it like that,” I said trying to hide my smile.

“Like what?” he asked, pretending to look innocent.

“You know what I mean,” I said shaking my head.

He smiled slightly. “I’ll be downstairs.”

“Okay,” I said quietly and entered the room.

The curtains inside were drawn halfway, letting a soft light fall on the bed.

I sat down slowly, running my hand through my hair. My chest still felt heavy from earlier, but somehow, the silence helped.

A knock came on the door.

“Come in,” I said softly.

Katy walked in holding a tray. The smell of food hit me immediately.

“I brought soup and a little salad,” she said smiling as she placed the tray on the table.

“Thanks,” I said, standing up.

She sat down beside me and sighed. “You look drained.”

“I am,” I said honestly. “It’s been a long day really and I feel tired…”