Chapter 7
Casper jabbed a finger at Sasha, his voice seething. “Get lost!”
Sasha caught his hand, tears running down her cheeks. “I’m sorry, Cas. I didn’t mean to. Please, just give me another chance.”
But this time, her pleading look didn’t get through to him. His face stayed hard. “I won’t say it again. Get lost!”
Sasha froze. Then, out of nowhere, she let out a sharp laugh. “No! I’m not leaving! You really think you can just toss me aside, Casper? Think again!”
The others stared, stunned by her sudden outburst.
Michael was the first to shake it off. “Take her to the cops.”
Sasha thrashed against their grip. “Let go of me! Let me go! Lisette’s gone, Casper! Why can’t you just move on? She’s already gone!”
The others stood in silence as her shouts dissolved into empty air.
Alyssa looked at Casper, let out a heavy sigh, and turned to leave without saying a word.
“I hope you find Lis soon,” Michael said before following her out.
Casper was alone now. His gaze swept the room, and tears came before he could stop it. He wondered if I had felt this sad and lonely too when I was left behind and if I hated him for it.
He pulled out the ring, his tears making it shine brighter even as they made his pain cut deeper. He remembered what I’d asked “What if I’m not okay? Would you stay?”
Casper finally understood. I’d been ready to leave even back then. I wouldn’t have gone if he’d just stayed with me that once.
Sasha made a huge scene at the police station, demanding to see Casper. Reluctantly, he agreed to meet with her.
The moment she saw him, Sasha threw herself against him, tears streaming down her face. “Cas, I messed up. Please forgive me. I just want us to be together.”
Casper shoved her back, his tone emotionless. “Sasha, you’ve got two choices. Get out of Amethyst City, or you’ll never get out at all.”
Sasha gaped at him, stunned. Casper had always listened to her before. He’d promised to give her everything she wanted.
“I’m not leaving you, Cas,” she insisted, still convinced she could change his mind.
Casper shot her an icy look. “You’ll never see me again.‘
He walked out of the police station and lit a cigarette without thinking. He’d promised me he’d quit once we got married.
Suddenly, he heard my voice coming from inside the building. At first, he thought he was hearing things until he turned around and actually saw me standing there.
He stopped dead.
When the shock wore off, he ran to me and crushed me in a hug so tight that I could hardly breathe. I gasped and started pounding his back in panic. His eyes were bloodshot and wide with disbelief.
“Lis, I messed up. Please don’t go,” he said.
1
Everyone nearby was completely thrown.
…
About ten minutes later, Michael and Alyssa came running in.
We were in the mediation room when they arrived. The moment Alyssa spotted me, she burst into tears and threw her arms around me. I hugged her back, tears streaming down any face as I tried to soothe her.
“What are you doing at the police station, Lis?” she choked out.
An officer stepped forward to explain. “This lady helped get a pregnant woman to the hospital for emergency care. Because of her quick actions, both mother and baby are safe. The people who were here earlier came to express their gratitude.”
Alyssa cried even harder at the mention of the baby. “Lis, we let you down. Why didn’t you come to us? would have defended you.”
Istayed silent, at a complete loss for words.
Casper met my gaze, his face full of remorse. “I’m sorry, Lis. This is all on me. I broke my promise to you. Can we try again?”
The
e raw sincerity in his eyes was unmistakable, but it didn’t change anything now.
gave a small shake of my head. There were a thousand things I wanted to say, but they all caught in my chest.
“Casper, once some things are gone, they’re gone for good.” I took a steadying breath to keep my voice even. “I need someone reliable–a real partner
up when life gets hard, not someone who keeps disappointing me.”
who shows
Casper stayed quiet. He looked lost in thought, weighed down by regret.
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Finally, his voice came out rough and quiet. “I get it, really. But Lis, I can change. I’ll do whatever it takes to fix this for us.”
I looked at him, my chest aching with feelings I couldn’t begin to untangle.
“Casper, you swore you’d always be there for me and love me forever. And I trusted you until life kept proving how empty promises can be. I don’t need more words. I need to see real change. I need a home where I actually feel safe and loved.”
Something hopeful flickered in Casper’s eyes. He seized my hand, holding it tight. “Lis, I’ll show you. Let me prove I’m different now. Please just give me this one chance to fix what I broke.”
Slowly, I slid my hand from his. Our eyes locked, full of all the things neither of us could say aloud.
“I should get home and rest,” I told him.
“Let me take you back.”
He got to his feet and carefully led me out of the mediation room.
Night had fallen during our time inside. I reminded myself of one certainty—no night lasted forever, and dawn would always arrive.
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Chapter 8
