Chapter 17 — Cassandra's Hidden Secret

"Lucy?” she uttered. Her soft voice trembled. 

Lucy turned around and as soon as she saw Cassandra, her eyes started to sharpen. 

"Yes, it's me. Your one and only friend that you betrayed!” she said while staring at Cassandra with her glaring eyes. 

Cassandra walked towards her and found an empty chair in front of her. Her face became thinner, and her wrinkles almost covered her forehead. She is getting older and maybe because of the domestic effect, she hadn't had a good appetite inside the prison. 

Lucy feels pity for her in a good way. Even she took Austin and kidnap her, she's not the type of person that held a grudge against someone that hurts her. Just like Eloisa and Gale, she forgives them.

Cassandra cleared her throat before she started to release a few words at Lucy. 

“So, what brings you here? Do you want to say something?” she asked her. 

Lucy clenched her fist on her lap. She can't believe that her old friend has the guts to talk to her like she did nothing to her family. After what happened to Austin and Kent, she thought, Cassandra will ask for her forgiveness. 

Lucy narrowed her eyes on her. 

“I am here to ask you why you did it? You could have told me about your problem from the start? Why we have to end this way?” she asked Cassandra with anger in her voice. 

Her crazy friend just laughed at her. She took a deep sigh. 

"What should I tell you or what will I do? Do you expect me to kneel in front of you and ask for your forgiveness? Why would I do that?” she told her, and Lucy started to get mad. 

She slammed her fist on the table.

“Cassandra! Why are you acting like that? Your daughter—" She was startled when Cassandra slammed her fist. 

"Don't ever say my daughter's name again! You had no right, Lucy! You don't what it feels like to lose an only child " tears streaming on her face. 

Lucy looks shocked and can't believe that Cassandra is a short temper. 

Their eyes stared at one another, and they can feel the tension between them. Lucy wanted to reconcile with her even she did something wrong but she's as hard as a stone. She decided to leave her when Cassandra stops her. 

"I am scared, and no one tried to help. I just got out of Asylum but was startled when someone arrived. It's the police. They said I killed my neighbor Dorothy,” she said. 

***

Flashback: Dorothy Murder Incident.

Cassandra and her husband just arrived at their house, and she wasn't happy being back since their daughter just passed away. She was locked inside the asylum for three months but her mourning still fresh. 

She felt empty even though Val, her husband, was there beside her. She quickly went inside her daughter's room, and nothing changed. She sat on her bed and took her favorite teddy bear. 

"Baby, just let me go. Mommy will always love you," she murmured while embracing the teddy bear tightly. 

She felt the sting in her eyes and the tears began to fall on her cheeks. She sniffs. 

"No. Mama is brave. I can't cry anymore. We can play tomorrow, Kylie. I'll be coming back here,” she said with a grinned on her face. 

Val saw it but decided to ignore his wife's strange behavior. He was trying to convince himself that maybe she reacted like this because it was his fault that he put her in an asylum. That triggered her normal mind. 

Cassandra turned her head to Kylie's room door when she heard a sudden knock. It was her husband, Val. 

"Love, time for dinner,” he called her, and Cassandra followed him with a smile. 

"Okay, love. I'm going,” she replied, and her eyes widened to see a dead body in their living room. 

Cassandra screamed and all her neighbors heard it. Val doesn't know what to do when she keeps screaming. He quickly covered her mouth to stop her. 

"It's Dorothy. She's dead! Who killed her! Val, don't leave me. I don't know about this!”

"Shh…don't shout. We need to find the killer. Why did he bring her inside our house? This is not a good sign!” Val said, but when they opened the door, police officers are there. 

“Miss Cassandra, you're under arrest! You have the right to remain silent for killing Mrs. Ocampo!” one of the police officers said while they handcuff her. 

Val doesn't know what is happening. Everything around him became blurry and he just saw his wife pulled by the police struggling for help. 

***

Lucy just listened to her. 

"I am innocent that time. Nobody wanted to help us! Val asks for help from a public attorney, but someone paid them to ignore our help! Now tell me, will I smile in front of you after what your father-in-law did to me!” she said. 

Lucy tried to comfort her, but her time is up. 

“Visiting hours are done, Miss Mason." One of the police officers came inside. 

They quickly handcuff Cassandra. She stood up and followed them without any noise. Lucy just shook her head and took a sigh. 

***

Kent decided to go back to their company to fix the issues about his dad's case. He made a public appearance to tell everyone that his father did the right thing. He is now paying for his sins. 

He roamed his eyes around to find his wife because Lucy told him that she had an appointment with an old friend, but Kent doesn't know that she visited the crazy Cassandra. 

He took a deep breath to relax. Before he uttered a few opening words, he looked up to thank the father Almighty. 

“Before I start, I want to say thank you to Makati Police Station for being courageous enough to get back our son safe and sound. I know this is the worst moment for me since my father is still in prison but good to say that he is now paying his sins. I am sorry to those employees he fired and mistreat. On behalf of his absence, I Kent Oliver Stone will continue governing the Kings and Queens hotel,” he said and all of them applauded. 

Kent smiled to see everyone accepted him and his happiness added to see his wife Lucy waving from afar. 

After his speech, he invited his wife to have dinner. Eloisa told him that she will look after Austin while they are not around. 

"I thought you went missing! Thanks for coming here, honey,” he said and kissed her on the forehead. 

Lucy wink at him. 

"Of course, I will support my husband no matter what," she replied while both of them went inside the hotel to have a quick lunch. 

After that, they decided to visit Eloisa and Gale's house to pick up their son Austin. 

They hold hands together while walking down the street when a stranger hits Lucy on her shoulder. 

"I'm sorry,” he said and put on his hoody back to his head. 

"Hey!” Kent yelled at him to catch his attention, but Lucy stops him.

“It's an accident. Let it go, honey,” she said while they went inside their car. 

They forget the man who bumped Lucy but as their car started navigating the road, a devilish smirk came across her face. Yes, the hoody person was a girl. 

***

The couple arrived at their destination and Austin ran happily towards them as soon as they appeared at Gale and Eloisa's house main door. 

"Daddy! Mommy!” he shouted. 

Kent quickly put him to his back. He ran and piggybacked his son. 

“Yay, yay, I'm a warrior!” Austin cheerfully shouted while raising his right hand in the air. 

Lucy crossed her arms and smiled at them. Eloisa and Gale came over. 

"Hello, so did you meet Cassandra?” Eloisa asks her but she quickly told her to stay quiet, but Kent heard it and his face crumpled. 

“What!?! I told you not to visit her again! She's crazy!” he scolds her. 

Eloisa just bit her lip and act that she will go to the kitchen to prepare for dinner. 

"If you'll excuse me. Baby, can you help me?” she called her husband Gale.

Gale knew the situation, so he took his nephew with him. 

“Come on, Austin. I will show you how your uncle cooked braised chicken!” he said, and they followed Eloisa to the kitchen. 

Lucy and Kent were left in the living room.

She holds Kent's arms and explains to him everything. 

"I'm sorry, honey but I am curious why she did it?” Lucy said. 

Kent took a deep sigh. He tried to calm himself. 

“Honey, we talk about this. Just cut off your ties with your old friend Cassandra. She's in jail now and I heard that she always went screaming inside her cell and her fellow inmates filed complaints to let her move back to the asylum!” he informed his wife. 

"I don't care if she's innocent back then but the way she looks at me that night made me shivers in fear. There's something in here that doesn't right." Kent said and Lucy started to get confused. 

Her eyebrows crossed. 

"What do you mean by that? I don't understand. What do you mean strange?” she asked her husband.

Kent brought her to the couch. He cupped her face and made eye contact with Lucy. 

“Honey! I feel strange about the person who bumped you. I don't know but I felt nervous. Can we go home now?” Kent said. 

Lucy just nods her head. 

"Okay, I will call our son,” she said and went to the kitchen to check him. 

But as Lucy came over Eloisa and Gale just finished cooking their meal. 

"Let's eat first before it gets cold!” Gale said while looking at his stepbrother. 

"Yeah. Besides, it's still early." Eloisa added. 

Lucy and Kent just accept their offer.

After dinner, they went home. The couple felt relieved that they were going home safe, but they had no idea that someone was following them. 

It was Cassandra, covered in a hoodie. 

"Who thought I would let them get away from my revenge? I will take their son away and I will kill Alexander for ruining our family!' she uttered while clenching her fist.

***

Flashback Val always had a hard time how recognizing Cassandra and her twin. But their only difference was Carolina was mentally ill and his wife Cassandra was normal. The one he brought in the asylum was Carolina and the other one that was brought to prison was Carolina too. 

Cassandra hid under the basement and Val decided to let her out when Carolina was back in prison again for kidnapping Austin but the one who took Austin was Cassandra itself. Kent and Lucy have no idea that their real enemy is just right there.

“Just wait and your happy family will mourn your son's death,” she mumbled while putting back her black jacket's hood. 

***

Flashback Thirty Minutes Earlier Cassandra POV:

I saw Kent and Lucy walking to the parking lot. I must make my first move for my real revenge. Now that Mr. Stone and Mr. Sherlock are inside the prison, it's easy for my husband to kill them.

Thanks to my sister Carolina since she saved me. I know she's crazy but she's a big help since she loves mimicking me. 

They almost near their car so I hurriedly walked, and I intentionally bump her so I can put a GPS chip on her necklace. It's a grain-like size so if ever she took it off, she won't notice it. 

"I'm sorry!” I mumbled as I covered my face with my hoody. I saw how Kent got pissed and called for me, but I am relieved that Lucy stops him. I hope he won't suspect me or else my plan won't work. 

I set an evil smirk on my lips as their car vanished in the darkness.