I had no idea what Wesson had said to them, but to my surprise, they didn't bother me again.
It was an unspoken agreement among them to pretend nothing had happened.
But that didn't mean Fiona would let things lie.
She always seemed to find ways to trip me up, whispering poison into Ashley's ear and fueling her disdain for me.
I wanted to walk away, but it felt like there was an invisible chain binding me.
The urge to escape grew heavier each day, and whether what Wesson handed me was poison or a lifesaver, I took it all as he advised.
As another winter rolled in, I surprisingly didn't feel as cold as before.
Cassian dragged me along on a shopping trip. When he spotted some candies on the side of the street, he asked if I wanted some.
What choice did I have? I simply glanced up and said, "Sure."
He crossed the street to buy them, and for a rare moment, I felt the tension in my shoulders ease.
"How have you been?" I looked up and was startled to find Wesson standing there.
As I recalled my recent health issues, my gaze became complicated, but I managed a gentle smile. "Much better, but… why are you helping me?"
Wesson chuckled, fanning himself playfully. "I'm just such a nice guy!"
I was momentarily speechless, caught off guard.
"Dr. Augustine?" Cassian's tone turned icy, pulling me back into the present. "Are you two close?"
It made sense, really.
The tension between them was palpable, and word of Kate's infatuation with Wesson had spread like wildfire outside Kingston.
Kate was the king's favorite sister, and their story had become common knowledge.
After falling ill with a terrible sickness, she had refused to let her looks deter Wesson, who stayed by her side through her recovery.
Six months later, she had finally turned a corner, regaining her former beauty.
Kate had spent lavishly on Wesson, but her affections went unreturned. Just like me and Cassian, really.
"Oh, we just happened to bump into each other and struck up a conversation," Wesson replied with a slight smile, a far cry from the playful demeanor he had just moments earlier.
Cassian scoffed, gripping my wrist with surprising strength as he began to pull me away.
We went back home, and once inside, he shoved me into a chair, his anger bubbling over. "What's your connection with Wesson? When did you two start cozying up?"
