Chapter 69 Collision Course
Cassandra smoothed her dress with one hand and smiled as she placed her arm into Alex’s own, almost looking like they belonged together.
But Alex stiffened.
I saw the small flinch as he tried to pull away from her without making a scene, but I didn’t care about that.
The image of them getting out of his car and walking side by side as if they were a couple had already been stapled in my mind.
“So much for someone he doesn’t want,” I scoffed under my breath.
I told myself I didn’t care but my body didn’t get the memo.
Jane noticed that I hadn’t moved from the spot and called my attention.
“Joan… is everything okay?”
“Oh, yes,” I replied quickly.
Just then, Alex’s gaze lifted and locked onto mine.
His eyes widened in shock and a flicker of something that looked like regret flashed across his face.
Cassandra followed his gaze and her eyes landed on me too.
Alex wanted to walk forward, but she tightened her grip on his arm and pulled him back with a smile that irritated my soul.
“Are you sure you are okay? You look like someone who just saw a ghost,” Jane asked, looking at my face with concern in her eyes.
“I’m fine,” I lied, feigning a small smile.
Her eyes narrowed, clearly not convinced.
“I’m really fine,” I insisted.
“Thank you for tonight, Jane. I will be on my way now,” I added.
She hesitated, then nodded slowly.
“Okay… drive safely, alright?”
“Thank you,” I said, giving her a quick hug, then turned and walked toward my car without looking back.
My hands were slightly shaking as I unlocked the door. I got in, started the engine, and gripped the steering wheel tightly, before pulling out into the traffic.
As I drove through the street, a thought crept into my mind.
“I had been a fool to ever let him back into my life.”
ALEX HART’S POV
I never should have let her talk me into this rubbish.
Cassandra had been unbearable all day. She had been throwing tantrums, crying, and sighing dramatically about “how the baby wanted fresh air” and “needed to feel close to its father.”
She was ready to paint me into a villain if I said no.
She threatened to call my mother if I didn’t cooperate.
“You promised to take responsibility and now your baby wants to follow you out. Is that so hard to do?” she said.
After so much back and forth, I gave in just to shut her up.
I figured it was easier than another round of hearing her cry about how lonely she felt.
If only I had known, I would have endured her shenanigans.
I pulled over outside the restaurant because she insisted on grabbing desserts to satisfy her pregnancy cravings.
I wanted to stay in the car at first but she was hell-bent on going in with me.
I finally agreed and stepped out of the car.
Immediately, she slid her arm through mine.
That made me so uncomfortable, so I tried to shrug her off without actually making a scene.
“Don’t,” I muttered under my breath.
“Relax, it’s just a little walk. Moreover, the baby likes it this way,” she smiled widely, moving closer to me.
Her grip felt like I was in chains.
I was about to pull away more firmly when I looked up and saw her.
Joan.
She was standing a few miles away with another woman who seemed like a client.
Her face went blank the second our eyes met. I could feel the emptiness in her eyes and that made my stomach drop.
She saw us. She saw Cassandra holding on to me as if we were a lovely couple.
I couldn’t shake her off fast enough, then I took a step forward instinctively.
I didn’t know what to do at that moment.
But something in me wanted to explain… it wanted to shout that it wasn’t what it looked like.
Before I could even do anything, Cassandra held me tightly and pulled me back.
“You will only make it worse,” she whispered.
Joan turned away.
Then she said something to the woman beside her, forced a smile that didn’t reach her eyes, and walked towards her car.
And just like that… she drove off.
I stood there like an idiot, my head spinning as I stared at the empty spot where she just walked away from.
If I had known she would be here… if I had even suspected, I would have locked myself in the house and taken all the screams and tears.
Cassandra finally let go of my arm and moved back a little bit, her lips curling into a smug smile.
I turned slowly to her and looked away almost immediately.
Then without a word, I walked back into the car.
She walked in after me and banged the door loudly behind her.
“Aren’t we getting desserts again? I…” she wanted to start, but I shut her up immediately.
“You can stay if you want, I’m going back home,” I muttered, my voice firm.
I started the engine with a violent rev and drove into the street.
JOAN COLE’S POV
I parked in front of my house, killed the engine, and sat there in the dark for a long minute.
My chest felt very tight as if someone was pulling it. I finally stepped out and walked inside, closing the door behind me harder than necessary.
Lena was lying on the couch, scrolling lazily on her phone.
She looked up when she heard the door close.
“Why do you want to break the…?”
She stopped when she saw the expression on my face.
“What’s wrong?”
I dropped my bag on the couch opposite her and sank onto it.
“I saw Alex with Cassandra… they were locking arms as if they were one cute couple,” I muttered, my voice flat.
“I don’t know why I feel like this,” I added and sighed.
Lena sat up, her eyes widening.
“Oh, honey,” she muttered softly.
“I thought I was past this. But seeing them like that? It hurt… more than I expected.”
She moved closer and reached for my hand.
“I understand how that feels. But listen to me, Joan,” she said and paused until I looked up at her.
“You have to let him go… completely,” she continued.
It was easier said than done.
“I know it’s not that easy,” she said as if she had read my mind.
“But you have to let him go… for the life you are building without letting him drag you back every time you start to breathe again.”
She pulled me into a hug and I let myself seep into the warmth of her embrace.
My eyes stinged but no tears came.
“You deserve better than Alex. He’s not even worth a tiny bit of your heart,” she muttered, patting my back slowly.
I nodded against her shoulder, even though I was still thinking about the moment our eyes met outside the restaurant.
But Lena was right.
I have to let him go… completely.
Maybe that was why he sent the message that night.
Thunder rumbled, then came a heavy downpour.
I slipped into my nightwear, closed all the windows, and was ready to go into my room when I heard a knock on the door.
Lena and Theo had slept in their various rooms and I wondered who would be at the door that late at night.
I looked through the door hole and saw Dave standing there with a bouquet in his hand.
Immediately, I opened the door.
He was already drenched in rain, water dripping from his hair.
“Hi…” I muttered, my voice slightly shaky.
“I’m sorry I came late. There was a delay on my way here,” he smiled, despite the way he looked.
I wanted to say something but my gaze shifted to his chest.
His shirt was so wet that it revealed his perfectly built chest.
“Oooouuuu,” I mumbled slowly under my breath.
For a while, I stood still, my gaze fixed on his chest.
“I came to give you this for a job well done. I couldn’t come over to her office,” he muttered, snapping me out of my thoughts.
“Oh, come in… you are so wet. Let’s get you something to wipe yourself dry,” I said, stepping aside for him to enter without hesitation.
“Thank you,” he said.
I led him into my room to give him a towel.
While I was scrambling through my drawer, I didn’t realize he had been unbuttoning his shirt.
And when I turned back, I was met with the sight of that hot build.
My mouth fell open and my fingers tightened around the towel I was holding as I watched the water dripping down his bare chest.
He looked up at me, and I quickly looked away.
“Oh,” I let out a soft breath before I knew it.
He took a slow step toward me.
I should have stepped back, but I didn’t.
“You are staring,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper.
“I’m not,” I replied too quickly.
“Liar,” he added, his lips curling into a small smirk.
Just then, his gaze dropped slowly to my lips.
I swallowed, my eyes closing.
“What am I doing?”