Chapter 99 Chapter 99
Cassandra woke up very late that morning. Her head was heavy, and her eyes were swollen from crying all night. She sat up slowly, holding her pillow close to her chest. The house was quiet, too quiet for her liking.
She walked to the mirror and sighed. “You look like a mess,” she whispered to herself, trying to smile. But the smile didn’t last.
Her thoughts were everywhere. For days now, Nathaniel had been acting distant. He barely talked to her anymore. Even when he was home, he stayed in his study most of the time. The love and attention she used to get from him had slowly turned into silence.
She blamed herself. She knew she had been moody and distracted lately, thinking too much about Marcus and all the mistakes she had made. But Nathaniel didn’t know that — and she didn’t want him to.
Cassandra dressed up neatly and went downstairs. The maids greeted her, but she barely answered. She sat at the dining table, staring at her untouched food.
After a few minutes, Nathaniel came down the stairs. His shirt sleeves were rolled up, and his face looked tired. He stopped when he saw her sitting quietly at the table.
“Good morning,” she said softly, trying to sound cheerful.
“Morning,” he replied shortly and sat opposite her.
The silence that followed was thick. Only the sound of the wall clock filled the air. Cassandra pushed her plate gently and forced another smile. “You came home late last night.”
“Yes,” Nathaniel said without looking at her.
She sighed. “You’ve been coming home late a lot these days. Is something wrong?”
Nathaniel looked up slowly. “I should be the one asking you that, Cassandra.”
Her heart skipped. “What do you mean?”
“You’ve been acting strange lately,” he said, his voice calm but serious. “Always quiet, always lost in thought. You sneak around the house at night, and you lie when I ask where you’re going.”
Cassandra’s eyes widened. “What? That’s not true!”
“Don’t deny it,” he said firmly. “I saw you leaving the living room past midnight yesterday. You thought I was asleep.”
Cassandra swallowed hard. “I only went to the garden,” she said quickly. “I couldn’t sleep.”
Nathaniel leaned back, studying her face. “You expect me to believe that?”
“It’s the truth,” she whispered, looking away.
He sighed, rubbing his temples. “Cassandra, I don’t know what’s happening to you. You keep secrets, you avoid me, and you think I don’t notice. But I do.”
Cassandra blinked back tears. “Nathaniel, please, don’t misunderstand me. I just have a lot on my mind.”
“Then talk to me,” he said, his tone softening a little. “I’m your husband, Cassandra. Whatever it is, you can tell me.”
But Cassandra couldn’t. How could she tell him she was still haunted by her past with Marcus? How could she tell him about the guilt she carried, the lies she was hiding?
She shook her head. “It’s nothing serious,” she said weakly. “Please don’t worry about me.”
Nathaniel stared at her for a long time. “You always say that,” he murmured. “You always push me away when I try to get close.”
Cassandra’s voice trembled. “I’m not pushing you away, Nathaniel. I just… I need time to think.”
“Think about what?” he asked quietly.
She opened her mouth but couldn’t answer. The truth stuck in her throat like a stone.
Nathaniel stood up slowly. “You know what? Maybe you should have all the time you need.”
She looked up at him quickly. “What does that mean?”
“It means I’m tired,” he said flatly. “Tired of chasing after someone who clearly doesn’t trust me.”
Tears filled her eyes. “Nathaniel, please, don’t say that.”
He shook his head and picked up his car keys. “Cassandra, I’ve tried. I’ve given you everything — love, comfort, peace. But you keep acting like I’m the enemy. I can’t keep doing this.”
He turned to walk away, but Cassandra rushed to him and grabbed his arm. “Please, don’t go like this. I’m sorry if I’ve made you feel that way.”
He looked at her hand on his arm, then back into her teary eyes. “Then tell me the truth,” he said softly. “Tell me what’s really going on with you.”
Her lips shook. “I can’t,” she whispered.
Nathaniel’s eyes darkened. He gently pulled his arm free. “Then there’s nothing left to talk about.”
He walked out of the house, leaving Cassandra standing there like a statue. The sound of the door closing echoed through the mansion.
She stood still for a few seconds before falling to her knees. “Why do I keep ruining everything?” she whispered, covering her face.
The maids standing nearby exchanged worried looks. One of them tried to go near, but Cassandra waved her away. “Just go,” she said weakly.
She sat there on the cold floor, her tears dropping one by one.
\---
Later that evening, Nathaniel drove aimlessly around the city. His mind was a mess. He didn’t understand what was happening to Cassandra anymore. She used to be open with him, laughing, playful, full of charm. But now, it was like living with a stranger.
He parked by the seaside and sat quietly, watching the waves hit the shore. “What changed?” he whispered to himself.
He thought about the nights she stayed up alone, her distant eyes, her sudden mood swings. Something was clearly wrong, but she refused to let him in.
“I’ve done everything I can,” he said under his breath. “If she doesn’t want to talk, I can’t force her.”
He leaned his head back on the seat and closed his eyes. He loved Cassandra, but her silence was slowly killing that love.
\---
Back at home, Cassandra was lying on the couch in the dark. She hadn’t eaten all day. Her makeup was ruined from crying. Every few minutes, she wiped her face and looked toward the door, hoping Nathaniel would walk in.
But he didn’t.
She finally got up and went to their bedroom. She stood by the bed, touching his pillow gently. “Nathaniel, please come home,” she whispered, her voice breaking.
She picked up her phone and almost dialed his number but stopped halfway. “No… he’s angry,” she said softly. “He won’t pick up.”
She sat on the edge of the bed, thinking about everything that happened. “I just needed space… I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
Her heart ached. She realized she had pushed him too far this time. She had kept too many things from him — her fears, her guilt, her sleepless nights.
She lay down and hugged his pillow tightly. “Please don’t stop loving me,” she whispered as tears rolled down again.
The night passed slowly, with only her sobs echoing through the big empty room.
\---
Nathaniel didn’t come home that night. He stayed at a hotel, sitting on the balcony, staring into the dark sky. His chest felt heavy.
He missed her — even after all the pain, he still missed her. But something inside him refused to go back too easily this time.
“Maybe she’ll finally realize what she’s losing,” he murmured before closing his eyes.
Far away in the mansion, Cassandra sat awake, waiting for the sound of his car that never came.
And that night, both of them lay in different places, thinking about each other but too hurt to reach out.
It was the first night they truly felt the distance between them.