Chapter 3

Once the black Bentley stopped in front of a villa, Gregory carried Cassandra out of the car. He then set her in the wheelchair and guided her toward the house. From behind her sunglasses, Cassandra studied the house they had started their married life in. It had been five years since she last saw it, and looking at it again now felt like a lifetime had passed. Gregory leaned down and murmured, "Cass, we're home. Do you smell that? Those are the tulips you planted for me. I've taken good care of them all these years." She stared blankly at the tulips blooming in the yard. Under the moonlight, they stood tall and graceful. It was a beautiful sight. Cassandra had planted every single one herself. All because Gregory had once said tulips were his favorite. Back then, her world had revolved entirely around him. Whatever he liked, she loved. She had planted hundreds, if not thousands, of tulips. Yet, she never once asked why. After she fell into a coma, Olivia brought a bouquet of tulips each time she came to visit. "You didn't know, did you, Cass?" Olivia had whispered with a sweet smile. "Tulips are my favorite. It was so thoughtful of you to fill the yard with them. Every time I visit the house you and Gregory shared, it makes me so happy." The memory sent a surge of hatred through Cassandra. She gripped one of the tulips beside her and snapped its stem in two. She didn't regret loving Gregory all those years. She had given everything she had and could live with the loss, but he had no right to treat her love with such contempt. By then, Gregory had wheeled her up to the front door. Cassandra had designed the entire villa herself, inside and out. Even the door lock, a fingerprint scanner, had been her choice. From where she sat, the lock was directly in front of her. She instinctively reached out to press her finger to the scanner, but before she could touch it, Gregory's hand caught hers. She could feel his palm was slightly damp. Clearly, he was nervous. "Cass, let me get it," he said. A cold glint flashed in Cassandra's eyes. So, he had even erased her fingerprint from the lock. She wanted to laugh, but the ache in her chest made it impossible. Cassandra quietly withdrew her hand, watching as Gregory pressed his finger on the scanner. Just before the lock opened, a slender, feminine hand reached out from the inside and pulled the door open first. Standing in the doorway was none other than Olivia, looking every bit the lady of the house. Cassandra balled her hands into fists on her lap as she fought to keep her emotions in check. So, while she had been lying in that hospital bed for five agonizing years, Olivia had moved into her home, slept with her husband, and claimed her children as her own. Olivia opened the door with a bright smile. However, she hadn't expected to see Cassandra in a wheelchair beside Gregory. All at once, her smile faltered. At that moment, Cassandra spoke, "What is it, Gregory? Why aren't you taking me inside?" Through the reflection in the wall mirror, she caught him signaling Olivia to stay quiet. Olivia quickly realized Cassandra couldn't see. So, she stepped back obediently and let Gregory wheel Cassandra into the house. "Gregory, where are Ash and Elle?" Cassandra asked, her voice edged with urgency. She had already chosen their names back when she was pregnant. Right now, she couldn't care less about Olivia, the homewrecker who had moved into her house. All she wanted was to see her children and hold them close. For five long years, she had held on, clinging to her love for Ashton and Noelle until she finally woke. "They've already gone to bed," Gregory answered in a low voice. "They have school in the morning. Besides, your eyes haven't recovered yet. There's no rush." Behind her sunglasses, Cassandra's gaze darkened. Still, she knew better than to press him now. It would only make him suspicious. "Then…" Cassandra had just begun to speak when the sound of hurried footsteps echoed from the stairs. She turned instinctively and saw Noelle and Ashton coming down hand in hand. Both of them were dressed in pajamas and slippers. One was in blue, while the other was in pink. The sight of them nearly brought her to tears. "Daddy," Ashton called out. A beat later, his gaze shifted to Cassandra in the wheelchair. Realizing who she had to be, he gripped the hem of his shirt nervously, unsure how to react. On the other hand, Noelle's eyes lit up as she looked at Olivia. "Ol—" She was about to call Olivia's name when Olivia shook her head slightly. Though she didn't understand, Noelle fell silent. "Elle? Ash?" Cassandra fought back the ache in her chest as she opened her arms to them. "It's me… Your mommy. Come here and let me hold you, okay?" Instead of running to her, Noelle shrank back in fear. Ashton, however, hesitated for a moment before cautiously stepping forward. He reached out carefully and brushed Cassandra's face, as though to make sure she was real. "Are you really my mommy?" asked Ashton. "Yes, sweetie. I'm your mommy, and Noelle's, too," Cassandra said softly. She wanted nothing more than to pull Ashton into her arms, but she was afraid of frightening him. To them, she was probably just a stranger who had been asleep for five years. Then, Gregory interrupted, "Alright, it's late. Ash, take your sister upstairs and go to bed. I'll explain everything to you both tomorrow after school." Ashton glanced at Cassandra several times before turning toward the stairs. Unable to hold back any longer, she asked, "Ash, can I hug you before you go?" Her tone was almost pleading, and a single tear slid down her face. Ashton hesitated for a long moment, then turned back. He had barely taken a step when Gregory's commanding voice cut through the air. "Ash, go to your room." After saying that, he rested a hand on Cassandra's shoulder. "Take it easy," he said in a low voice. "They lost you the moment they were born. They just need time to understand." A chill spread through Cassandra's chest. She knew Gregory was doing it on purpose. He didn't want her getting close to the children. Just like that, Ashton took Noelle's hand and led her upstairs. Noelle, reluctant to leave, looked back at Olivia before blowing her a kiss. The sight made Cassandra close her eyes, a sharp ache twisting in her chest. Olivia could have that worthless man, Gregory, for all she cared. But Noelle and Ashton were her own flesh and blood. There was no way she'd allow anyone to take them from her. After the children went upstairs, Gregory carried Cassandra back to their room and laid her on the bed. The wedding photo that once hung on the wall had been taken down and carelessly tossed into a corner. Worse, it was covered by a piece of cloth that happened to hide her face. Cassandra sneered inwardly. It seemed Gregory loathed her so much that he couldn't even stand to see her face in a photograph. "Cass, get some rest. I'll be in the study to take care of some work," Gregory said gently before turning to leave. "Gregory," she suddenly called out. "Do you know what my favorite flower is?" He froze for a moment, clearly caught off guard, but quickly composed himself. "Of course," Gregory replied confidently. "Your favorite flower is the tulip because you've always liked whatever I do. You've always been that way, Cass." Cassandra smiled faintly. "Yes. I've always been that way." She had always loved what he liked, letting her world revolve around him and putting herself second. Looking back now, she realized just how foolish she had been. As soon as the door closed, Cassandra's smile vanished. She didn't believe for a second that Gregory had gone to his study. With great effort, she set her feet on the floor and steadied herself against the wall, inching her way toward the window. Every step sent a searing pain through her body. The window was only a few feet away, yet it took her five long minutes to reach it. By then, she was drenched in sweat. When Cassandra finally reached the window and looked down, she saw Gregory and Olivia locked in an embrace beneath the moonlight.