CHAPTER 09

CASSANDRA

"Ma!!!

"Why are you screaming? Did something happen? Did they hurt you?"

"No!! I saw James Larson." I shrieked and wrapped my arms around her. "Mama, I saw James Larson. He stood very close to me. He's very handsome and tall blah! Blah! Blah, my mouth is like a gun, firing everything I noticed at James Larson without noticing that everyone in the house is now crowding around me, chuckling. I couldn't help it. It was the first time I saw my childhood crush in person.

"Cassy! Cassy Cassy! !!! Mama screamed, stopping my blabbering. That's when I noticed everyone, including Attorney Adrian. I blushed and wanted to melt because of embarrassment.

"Are you calm now?"

"I'm embarrassed now, Ma?" I murmured and buried my face in her chest. She chuckled and softly patted my head.

"So, what did you do when you saw him? Don't tell me you ran to him and hugged him or asked him to take a picture with you?"

"No!" I murmured.

"Why? It's your chance." Mama gasped.

"I'm embarrassed, though."

"She hid," Jack said, chuckling.

"I'm so disappointed with you. All these years, you wanted to see him, but when the time comes, you hide like a turtle hiding in her shell."

"Ma!" I whined. "What can I do? He is so handsome up close. I couldn't even look into his eyes. I was star-struck by him. But at least he talks to me."

"He did what? Mama shrieked, which startled all of us, and we all burst into laughter. She glared at us and pulled me to sit on the couch, and the others followed.

"What did he say to you?" Mama asked excitedly.

"He introduced himself, shook my hand, and he is our neighbor?"

"Our neighbor?" I nodded, grinning. "Oh my god. Someone might not be able to sleep."

"What, of course not. I might sleep soundly, knowing my crush is just near to me. God, It never crossed my mind that I would be able to meet him, but holding his hand is another thing."

"Yeah, Mr. Larson even asks her if she is okay?"

"Why? Maybe you look like you are going to faint, or maybe you look like you are constipating."

"Ma! I softly smacked her arms, but she only chuckled.

"Then, why did he ask you if you are okay?"

"She's screamed," Jack answered, chuckling.

"Because I felt so giddy, I held his hand. it's a typical reaction from me." I huffed.

Hmm!! I thought there was a spider." Billy smirked. I bit my lips and twiddled my fingers. I didn't want him to know he was my crush, and I was surprised when he rushed back. I unconsciously blurted those words. It's embarrassing. He even murmured I didn't see a spider when he left. It means he knows I am lying. I wanted to blend with the car that time." Mama giggled beside me.

"You know, Mr. Larson is Alexander's friend and comes here sometimes?" I look at Adrian, surprised. James is Alex's friend.

"What? Please don't mention what I said earlier to Sir Alex. He might accidentally mention it to Mr. Larson. Please." I pleaded. It would be embarrassing if Mr. Larson knew my undying crush for him.

ALEXANDER

I didn't plan to see her this soon, but I couldn't control myself. I wanted to run out of the car as I saw her running out of school. I only planned to watch her from afar but didn't expect to see her crying and running without direction.

These past years, all I saw of her were the photos of my men watching her. I first met her in person when she was eight years old in our school. She was crying because Christina and Kris threw her bag in the dustbin.

"I fell in love with that kid the first time I saw her. I was a troublemaker back then, and all my schoolmates were scared of me, including my angel Cassandra.

"After class that day, I waited a chance to get back to Kris and Christina for my Angel. I chuckled when I remembered Christina's screams when I poured a bucket of water from a toilet bowl over her head and Kris's screaming for help when I put him inside the garbage can.

"But After that day, my family migrated abroad, and I didn't see her again. The next time I met her was when she turned ten when my family returned for business. She's the first person I seek to see.

"She was walking out of the school when I saw her, and I quietly followed her to the bus stop and even sat beside her. I secretly took a photo of us, and until now, I used it as my phone's lock screen.

We got out of the bus together, but she dropped something. It was a drawing titled my dream room. I smiled while following her until she got inside the Revira's residence.

The last time I met her was three years ago; she was fifteen years old. I didn't expect to meet her at the party. And that's how I found out her family treats her as their servant. I thought only her siblings were bullying her, but her whole family.

I witnessed how they ordered her around despite the servers serving the guests. My eyes never left her as she stood on the corner waiting for her family to order, and I couldn't contain my anger anymore when Christina ordered her for the fifth time. I stood up, planning to confront her, but I didn't notice Cassandra returning to their table and bumping into her. Cassandra fell to the floor, and her food covered my white suit.

I was shocked at first and wanted to scream at whoever bumped me, but when I recognized the person who suddenly kneeled before me, I mentally beat myself, but her sister pushed her head on the floor, snapping me out of my daze.

"Stop it!!! I screamed. I'm so angry with how she treated her, but as soon as Christina lets go of her, Cassandra runs away crying. The Revira's apologized, but I ignored them and ran after Cassandra. I got worried when I saw it raining heavily outside. I searched for her outside but didn't find her.

Since that day, I asked someone to gather information about her, and I was furious when I found out how her family treated her.

I asked my PA to follow Carlos Rivera, and when I found out that he was gambling, I asked my assistant to pay someone to ensure he'd always lose, and Carlos did. When Carlos needed money, my assistant asked someone to offer him money and then asked one of his children as collateral, and he didn't hesitate to use Cassandra. He purposely didn't pay his debt, that bastard. He doesn't have any feelings toward his daughter.

But I'm happy because she's in my care now, and I'll make sure no one will hurt her.

She looks small in person compared to my height. I am 6'1," and she's 5'5", but she's gorgeous. I like her doe eyes, which curtain with long curly lashes, and her dark brown hair that reaches her waist. She's lovely, but I wonder why she's crying.

I stepped out of the car when I saw she was planning to cross the street with many cars passing, but it seemed she wasn't herself. I rushed to stop her, but I didn't expect her to keep walking as if no one was before her. She bumped into me; I was shocked and couldn't catch her fall.

"I'm so sorry. I'm not looking where I am going." She apologized while dusting her skirt. I handed her my handkerchief when I noticed the scrapes on her knees. She looked at me, and I saw her eyes were red from crying.

"I'm sorry, sir, but I can't take that. I'm sorry again." She resumed walking, and I quietly followed her. Without her knowing, she went to the deserted street. I continued to follow her, and I was glad when she stopped as if she snapped out to whatever was in her mind.

She retracts her step, but a guy suddenly appears and covers her mouth. She struggled for a few moments until she became unconscious. I rushed to help him, but someone stopped me.

"Let me do it, sir." I nodded and watched my bodyguards snatch Cassandra from the man. I took her from him and carried her to my car.

"Austin asked someone to make that man sober." Starting today, whoever harms Cassandra, I'll punish them the way I want. I won't let anyone hurt her now that I'm back.

"Billy and Jack dit it already, sir."

"Good."

"Where to?"

"Rivera residence. Call Adrian to prepare the papers needed. I want to collect Carlos's debt today."

"Okay, sir."

I'll avenge you, Angel. Your family will pay. I'll let them experience what you went through.

"Bryan, go and tell the guard to call Cassandra's Mom. Tell him that Cassandra is unconscious. "

"Okay, Sir." Bryan is the youngest among my men. He is twenty years old and an orphan. I picked him up from the street when he was fourteen years old. I saw Cassandra in him because, like Cassandra, he was bullied and beaten by other people on the street. I found him full of bruises and bleeding. I sent him to the hospital and brought him home after.

I also sent him to school; he is my eye in Cassandra's school.