Chapter 3

3.

I booked a train ticket back to the mountains immediately.

Being near Zoe for one more second made my skin crawl.

As I was packing my things, Zoe didn't even look up to ask where I was going.

She acted as if my movements were completely irrelevant to her life.

Just as I got into a taxi, her grandfather called me, insisting I come over for dinner.

I was an orphan who had been taken in by the York family and raised alongside Zoe.

The old man was the one who had encouraged our relationship in the first place.

He was the only one in that family who knew the truth about us.

He was getting old and his health was failing, so I couldn't bring myself to say no.

When I arrived at the York estate, the old man greeted me with a warm smile.

"Cassian, my boy. Three years in those mountains must have been rough. Look at you, you're all skin and bones."

I forced a smile. "It wasn't that bad, Silas. The work was actually very rewarding."

Zoe was sitting on the couch, scrolling through her phone. When she heard me, she let out a loud scoff.

"How hypocritical," she muttered under her breath.

Silas glared at her. "Watch your mouth, young lady."

Zoe pouted and shot me a venomous look because I hadn't jumped to her defense.

A few minutes later, Xander walked in like he owned the place.

He didn't even knock; he just grabbed a pair of slippers and made himself at home.

"Hey, Silas. I came over to grab some dinner," he said with a smug grin.

The old man's face darkened when he saw Xander. He looked at me, ready to kick him out.

But Zoe jumped up and met Xander at the door, taking his hand with a tender smile.

"What took you so long? I've been waiting for ages."

Xander laughed and pinched her cheek affectionately.

"I guess you really can't survive a minute without me, can you?"

They looked like a pair of newlyweds, radiating a kind of intimacy that made me feel sick.

Silas looked upset and patted my hand, clearly wanting to apologize for his granddaughter's behavior.

I just shook my head and gave him a faint smile.

"I don't mind, Silas," I said quietly.

I was tired of being pitied. I didn't want anyone to feel sorry for me anymore.

Silas sighed and led us all to the dining room.

It was a square table. Silas sat at the head and tried to gesture for me to sit next to Zoe.

But as I moved toward the chair, Zoe and Xander stepped in front of me.

Zoe's smile vanished, replaced by her usual cold stare.

"Move. You don't deserve to sit here."

Xander looked at me with mock pity, pretending to be the bigger person.

"Zoe, don't be so mean. He's supposed to sit here. I'm the one who's always leaning on you, maybe I should sit somewhere else."

Zoe held onto his arm even tighter, her voice turning into a sugary sweet whine.

"But I want you right next to me. I want to be the one who serves you dinner."

I let out a sharp laugh. I couldn't listen to this garbage anymore.

"You two sit together," I said, stepping aside. "I'll sit anywhere."

Both Silas and Zoe looked at me with confused, dark expressions.

Zoe really meant what she said. She spent the whole meal doting on Xander.

She put food on his plate and filled his glass, acting with a level of devotion I had never seen from her.

I remembered how it used to be when we were alone.

I was the one who did all the cooking and cleaning.

I thought she was tired from work, so I wanted to make her life as easy as possible.

Over time, she just got used to it.

She didn't even have to ask; I would just anticipate her every need.

It was pathetic. She was capable of being a caregiver; she just chose never to be one for me.

Silas finally spoke up. "Zoe, marriage isn't a game. You shouldn't tie yourself to someone just on a whim."

Everyone knew what he was talking about―the engagement announcement.

I laughed internally. Zoe wasn't doing this on a whim.

Xander was the only person she had ever truly wanted to marry.

As I expected, Zoe dropped her fork and fired back at her grandfather.

"Grandpa, this isn't a whim."

Silas slammed his hand on the table, his voice rising in anger.

"Zoe! Cassian spent three years in the middle of nowhere for you! I don't care who you flirt with, but the man you marry will be Cassian!"

I watched Zoe closely, thinking she might back down when the old man got angry.

But her love for Xander had reached a point where she was willing to defy her only living relative.

She stood up, still clutching Xander's hand, and screamed back.

"I've only ever loved Xander! You forced me to be with Cassian, and that was bad enough! Do you really expect me to spend the rest of my life with a man I despise?!"

Silas raised his cane, ready to strike her, but I stood up and caught his arm.

"Don't, Silas," I said calmly. "It doesn't matter who Zoe marries. It just won't be me."

"Because we're over. I'm the one who doesn't want to marry her."