Elvie
Cassian froze for a split second, taken aback by the sudden force of my embrace. Then, his arms came around me, wrapping tightly around my back and drawing me flush against his warm body. He rested his chin on top of my head, one of his large hands sliding up to cup the back of my neck gently.
"Hey," he murmured, his deep voice vibrating right against my cheek. "What’s wrong, little birdie? Did something happen at school?"
I shook my head against his shirt, clutching the fabric of his vest so tightly. Hot tears finally spilled over my eyelashes, soaking straight into the cotton over his chest. I couldn’t stop them. The weight of everything he had done for me without ever asking for credit or gratitude was too much to hold inside.
"Elvie?" His tone shifted, a edge of instant concern lacing his words. He tried to pull back slightly to look at my face, but I only held on tighter, burying my nose into his neck, inhaling his familiar scent of cedarwood and spices.
"I know," I choked out, my voice muffled against his skin, thick with tears.
Cassian stilled completely. His hand paused in its soothing strokes along my spine. "You know what?"
"Dr. Vance," I whispered, a fresh wave of quiet sobs hitching in my breath. "He... he showed me the records, Cassian. He told me everything."
A heavy beat of silence stretched through the warm kitchen. I felt the sharp intake of air he took, his chest expanding against mine before he let out a long, quiet sigh.
"That old man really can’t keep his mouth shut, can he?" Cassian muttered softly into my hair. There was no anger in his voice, only a low, resigned murmur.
I pulled back just enough to look up at him through my blurred, tear-filled vision. His eyes were fixated on mine, softer than I had ever seen them.
"Why didn’t you tell me?" I asked, my voice trembling. "All this time... I thought Norman was doing it out of pity. I felt like a burden every single day, forced to feel indebted to a family that hated me. And it was you. It was always you."
Cassian lifted his thumb, gently wiping the damp tear track off my cheek with a touch so soft it made my breath hitch.
"Because I didn’t do it so you would feel indebted to me, Elvie," he said quietly, his gaze locked onto mine with an intensity that made my heart leap. "The moment I saw how brilliant you were—how hard you worked despite everything stack against you—I wasn’t going to let them ruin your future. You deserved a chance. You deserved everything."
"Cassian..." I whimpered, my heart pounding so hard against my ribs it felt painful. "I don’t... I don’t even know how to repay you. I have nothing—"
"I don’t want your repayment," he cut me off, his fingers tightening gently on my waist as he pulled me even closer, eliminating any remaining space between us. "I just want you to be great in life. Have your dreams fulfilled."
**
My head was rested against Cassian’s chest, while my fingers slowly trace lazy circles over his naked chest.
After my tearful breakdown in the kitchen, we had shared dinner together. Now, we had retired up to his bedroom. I was genuinely getting used to sleeping next to him, to the heavy warmth of his body beside mine. The thought of sleeping all alone in my own room didn’t even appeal to me anymore. I just needed his shoulder, his presence, and the safety his presence offers.
"Cassian..." I called out softly into the dim room.
"Hmm?" he hummed, his chest vibrating against my cheek as his fingers lazily stroked my back.
"Thank you," I murmured.
"For what?"
"For everything," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "I honestly don’t know how to thank you. At first, everything felt like a crazy coincidence... but thinking about it all now, you really did this. You planned everything to keep me safe."
Cassian shifted slightly, lifting his head from the pillow to look down at me. He reached over, brushing his thumb gently over my cheekbone in a soft, tender stroke.
"You’ve literally turned into a crybaby, little birdie," he teased softly, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.
My brows furrowed instantly, and I gave him a small frown. "I’m trying to say something serious here, Cassian!"
"And I am serious," he answered, his tone softening as his eyes locked onto mine. "You don’t have to keep thanking me. And yes... some things really were just pure coincidence, while other things were planned. But regardless of how it started, I’m just glad you’re here with me now."
He paused, scanning my face in the low light, and nudged my cheek with his thumb. "Don’t tell me you’re about to cry again?"
I scoffed and gently slapped his hand away from my face, though I couldn’t even bring myself to be truly annoyed. Could I even help it at this point? I had broken down and cried so many times in front of this man that if he wanted to judge me, he could go ahead and judge me however he liked.
I nestled back down on his chest. Listening to that steady thud made a deep sense of vulnerability wash over me. I was falling for him harder and harder with every passing second, even if the words of a full confession were still too terrifying to spill out loud.
"Can you... not hide anything from me from now on?" I whispered. "Promise me you’ll tell me things from now on."
"I can’t promise to tell you every little detail, Elvie," he murmured. "Some things are just too ugly. I brought you into my life to keep you safe, not to drag you into all the mud."
I lifted my head from his chest, leaning up slightly to look at him. "But you literally know everything about me. What’s there not to tell me?"
Cassian squinted his eyes down at me, scanning my face. "Well, I didn’t see you like that..." He paused for a beat, his gaze growing dark and serious. "Let me even ask you... don’t you hate me?"
I blinked, caught off guard. "What?"
"The fact that I’m part of Norman’s family," he said softly. "The fact that I’m his brother."