Chapter 38 — Kassia's Wave
How could he do this to her?
Kassia clenched her fists as she stormed down the sidewalk, the setting sun casting long, angry shadows across the pavement. Her heart pounded with a toxic mixture of disbelief and fury. Cain—always so self-righteous, always demanding obedience, loyalty—yet here he was, with another woman draped all over him like he belonged to her.
Hypocrite.
"I wish he'd get into an accident and lose every memory of me," she muttered under her breath, teeth gritted.
The thought startled her, but the bitterness in her chest was too consuming to feel guilty. She didn't really mean it—did she? Maybe just a little. Enough to make him forget all the power he held over her life.
She arrived at Christy's house just as the air began to cool. The front door swung open before she could knock.
"Kassy!" Chicago squealed, rushing out barefoot and throwing herself into her sister's arms.
Kassia bent to catch her, forcing a soft smile despite the storm raging inside her. "Hi, baby. I've missed you so much."
"I missed you more!" Chicago nuzzled against her neck.
Inside, the smell of fried plantains and seasoned chicken wafted through the air. Kassia tried to let the familiar scent soothe her, even if her mind remained firmly trapped in Cain's living room, replaying every awful second.
"Come sit and eat," Christy called from the kitchen. "The food's almost ready."
"Ohh, Mrs. Massolu!" Kassia hadn't seen the older woman sitting near the window. "I didn't know you were back."
"Yes, dear," the woman said with a warm smile. "I came back this morning."
"How was your trip?" Kassia asked, making an effort to sound present.
Mrs. Massolu beamed. "I'm happy. My client won the case—finally."
"That's wonderful," Kassia said politely, though her voice lacked the usual enthusiasm.
Just then, Christy descended the staircase, drying her hands with a dish towel. She walked straight to Kassia and sat beside her, brows furrowed in concern.
"Kassia, you're back," she said quietly.
Kassia gave a slow nod. "Yeah."
There was a long pause before Mrs. Massolu spoke again, oblivious to the tension simmering between the girls. "So, I heard about your engagement."
Christy shot Kassia a sharp glance.
"Yes…" Kassia replied flatly, barely meeting her eyes. "I got engaged recently."
Mrs. Massolu clasped her hands. "I couldn't believe my ears. The famous Mysia family? You're so lucky, Kassia."
Kassia gave a forced cough, rising from her seat. "I have to get Chicago ready for bed."
"Come on, Chi. It's past your bedtime," she said gently, offering her little sister a hand.
"But I'm not sleepy!" Chicago whined. "In Christy's house, we sleep late!"
"Well, thank God your sleepover's finished," Kassia muttered under her breath, low enough that only Christy could hear.
Christy snorted.
Kassia turned to Mrs. Massolu. "Thank you for the wonderful dinner. And for letting us stay here these past few days."
"It's not a problem, dear," the older woman said kindly.
"Goodnight, Ma," Chicago chimed in with a wave.
"Goodnight, angel."
Upstairs, Kassia got Chicago into her pajamas. The little girl was asleep within minutes, curled beneath the pink comforter like a petal folding in for the night. Kassia stared at her for a moment, envying the innocence. The peace.
She lay on the adjacent bed, staring at the ceiling when Christy entered, a glass of water in one hand.
"All right," Christy said, sitting beside her, "spill it."
Kassia turned her head, eyes narrowing. "God, Christy, that man is infuriating."
"I figured," Christy said, unimpressed. "What did he do now?"
"I went over there to ask why he blocked my Columbia admission. I wanted to hear it from him."
Christy sat up straighter. "Wait—he actually stopped it?"
"Yes," Kassia said, her voice rising. "He looked me dead in the eye and said I wasn't going to Columbia without his permission. Like he owns me."
"What?! Kassia, that's crazy."
"I know! The audacity!" she snapped, voice trembling with restrained rage. "And that's not even the worst part."
Christy's eyes widened. "There's more?"
Kassia inhaled sharply. "While we were arguing, some lady just walked in like she lived there. And she was… she was all over him, Christy. Touching his chest, whispering into his ear. She didn't even acknowledge me."
Christy stared at her. "Did he explain who she was?"
"No," Kassia bit out. "I didn't give him the chance. I walked out."
Christy placed a hand on her shoulder. "Kass…"
"I know we don't love each other," Kassia continued, her voice cracking. "But he demands faithfulness from me. He acts like I belong to him. Don't I deserve the same courtesy?"
Her eyes brimmed with frustrated tears. "He treats me like I'm his possession, not his fiancée."
Christy leaned back against the wall, blowing out a breath. "Look, I'm not going to pretend I understand Cain's logic—because clearly, the man doesn't use any. But Kassia, don't let him derail you. Accept the NYU offer. Focus on that."
"But I wanted Columbia," Kassia murmured.
"And you can reapply next year, when you have your freedom," Christy said firmly. "For now, just... survive him. Don't let him dictate your life."
Kassia turned her face into the pillow, her voice muffled. "I hate how powerless I feel."
"You're not powerless," Christy said gently. "You're just trapped—for now. There's a difference."
There was silence for a moment, except for the soft whirr of the fan overhead and the steady breathing of a sleeping child.
"Lay down. You need to sleep," Christy whispered, brushing hair from Kassia's forehead.
Kassia closed her eyes, but her mind refused to quiet. Every image of that woman—the way she clung to Cain, the smile on Cain's face—burned like fire behind her eyelids. It wasn't jealousy. It was betrayal. The rules were different for him, weren't they? He could do whatever he wanted. She had to ask for permission to breathe.
She rolled to her side, jaw tight. This was not the life she imagined. Not the kind of engagement she dreamed of. She had once believed that even arranged unions could bloom into something kind. But with Cain… it felt like war. Constant, unending war.
She had no idea how much longer she could survive it.
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Author's note
Thanks for reading
Sorry for the late update