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CHAPTER 22
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2024-09-13 15:00:39Related chapters
Mine to Lose CHAPTER 23
Athena's POVWhen I arrive at Cassian's loft, Hailee looks surprised to see me. “He’s upstairs in his studio,” she says. I head up the stairs and find the door to his studio open, so I don’t need to knock. Cassian doesn’t hear me come in; he’s engrossed in painting with his AirPods on. I could watch him all day—he looks so perfect, so absorbed in his work.I stand there for a few more minutes until he glances up and his face lights up with a deep, genuine smile. The happiness in his eyes makes my heart flutter.“Hey, sorry, I didn’t hear you come in,” he says, setting down his paintbrush and removing his AirPods.“You looked so engrossed, I didn’t want to interrupt,” I reply, pointing at his painting. “What are you working on?”“You’ll see it when I’m done,” he says, his smile widening.Just then, a woman with a thick French accent walks out of the bathroom in a towel that barely covers her. I remember her, she was with him at the auction. My stomach drops and I feel a wave of nausea.
Last Updated : 2024-09-14Mine to Lose CHAPTER 24
Athena's POVWhen we arrive at my parents' house, my anxiety peaks to the point where I feel like I might throw up.“Hey, hey, you’re okay. Everything is fine. I’m here, and I’m not leaving you alone,” Cassian says reassuringly until my breathing steadies.As we get out of the car, I notice Cassian holding a bouquet of white roses—my mother’s favorite—and a bottle of bourbon—my father’s favorite. I can’t help but smile as I watch him. “I told you not to bring anything,” I say, but he just smiles back.“I can’t show up to my in-laws empty-handed,” he replies, just as Melinda, the housekeeper, opens the door with a bright smile.“Miss Castellanos,” she greets me warmly, then looks up at Cassian, standing beside me. “Hello,” she says, and Cassian returns her greeting with a friendly smile.“Where are they?” I ask as we enter the house.“In the living room,” Melinda responds. “I thought it was just you,” she adds. “Let me add a place at the table,” she says with a smile.Just then, my mot
Last Updated : 2024-09-16Mine to Lose CHAPTER 25
Athena's POVOnce we had driven away, I glanced over at Cassian, who sat beside me, watching me intently. I wanted to apologize for kissing him—we had agreed to be platonic friends, in fact, I had suggested it myself—but I couldn’t bring myself to say anything.“So, do you know why the Covingtons and the Castellanos hate each other?” Cassian broke the silence.“I thought you would know,” I replied. “I tried asking my parents, but they wouldn’t tell me anything.”“I don’t know either,” Cassian said. “It goes back to our great-grandparents, though.”“Yeah, I think so,” I agreed with a nod.“Do you want to find out?” Cassian asked.“Are you kidding? Of course,” I said.“Okay, good. I know where we should look,” Cassian said. He then instructed the driver to take us somewhere.A few minutes later, we were in the Upper East Side, parked at the curb of a grand building. Cassian grabbed the food takeaway bags while the driver opened the door for us.“We can eat as we look,” Cassian said as w
Last Updated : 2024-09-18Mine to Lose CHAPTER 26
Athena's POVI arrived at work early, eager to get the meeting I had asked Pamela, my P.A., to move up so I could get it out of the way. The plan was simple: handle business, then move on with my day. But as I walked into my office, I stopped in my tracks.My father was sitting there, waiting for me.“Daddy, good morning,” I said, forcing a smile, pretending everything was fine, as if we hadn’t had a huge argument last night.“So, you're talking to me now?” he asked, his voice calm but sharp as he handed me a cup of coffee.“If you're here to tell me to break up with Cassian, it's not happening,” I said firmly, my fingers instinctively brushing the engagement ring on my finger. The ring that Cassian had given me.His eyes followed the motion, a frown creeping across his face before he forced a smile. "Actually, I'm here to say that if you want to be with the Covington boy, I won't stop you."“What?” I asked, confused by the sudden shift.“Yeah.” He smiled again, but it didn’t reach hi
Last Updated : 2024-09-19Mine to Lose CHAPTER 27
Athena's POV“So this is what we’re doing now?” I say to my mother once we’re alone. “You can’t just barge in here.”“I didn’t barge in. You’re my daughter; I can come over whenever I want,” my mother says, completely unaware of my need for privacy.“Just because you’re my mother doesn’t mean you get to ignore my right to privacy,” I reply, but she dismisses it without a hint of remorse.“Anyway, I came to talk to you about your father,” she says, changing the subject.“What about Dad?” I ask, already weary of where this is going.“You are the most important person in his life, you know,” she says, watching me closely. “You shouldn’t be so hard on him.”“I’m not being hard on him. Maybe you should talk to him about just being my dad and not trying to control every aspect of my life,” I say, frustration bubbling up.She shakes her head, letting out a small laugh. “Athena, querida, I know what’s happening here. You’re half a Ferreira woman after all. Love is our cause; we love too much
Last Updated : 2024-09-20Mine to Lose CHAPTER 28
Athena's POVI wake up with a splitting headache, but the soft embrace of my Egyptian cotton duvet covers makes it bearable. Turning to my side, I spot Cassian lying on top of the covers, deeply engrossed in his sketchbook. He’s drawing something, his brow furrowed in concentration. Suddenly, I’m acutely aware of myself—my makeup, the clothes I passed out in last night. I peek under the covers and realize I’m no longer in last night’s clothes; instead, I’m wearing a comfortable shirt from my closet. I’m still in my underwear, which means Cassian must have helped me change without taking advantage of me while I was out cold.I shift slightly, and Cassian’s attention shifts to me. He drops the sketchbook, his face lighting up as he sees that I’m awake.“I passed out last night. I’m sorry,” I say, forcing a smile.“You have nothing to apologize for,” he replies, handing me a bottle of aspirin and a glass of water. “Your head must be killing you.”I nod, gratefully taking the aspirin and
Last Updated : 2024-09-24Mine to Lose CHAPTER 29
Athena's POV“Where are we going?” I ask as Cassian leads me upstairs and we continue walking down a long, quiet hall. The faint sound of music from the party downstairs barely reaches us, and I get the sense that we’re not supposed to be up here.“To my room,” he says casually.“Your room? You live here?” I ask, surprised, as he pulls out a key and unlocks the door.“When I was a kid,” he replies, and I feel a rush of excitement at the idea of seeing his childhood bedroom.He notices my smile. “A smile?” Cassian teases. “I’d love a peek into what you’re thinking right now.”I blush harder as we step inside, my mind racing with curiosity. But the room is nothing like what I expected. It’s bland, neutral—like a sterile hotel room, with none of the artistic flair I thought would define his space. I don’t know what I had imagined, but this wasn’t it.“This was your room as a child?” I ask, glancing around at the minimalist decor.Cassian nods, still holding my hand. Then he leads me to a
Last Updated : 2024-09-26Mine to Lose CHAPTER 30
Athena's POVAfter the party, Cassian takes me home. Though I’m tempted to invite him in, I resist. The evening had been intense, and I knew we both needed some space to breathe. I kiss him goodnight and promise to call him tomorrow. As soon as I’m inside, I silence my phone and slip out of my dress, sinking into the soothing, bubble-filled tub. Only then do I glance at my phone and see the dozens of missed calls from my parents.Of course, the news about Cassian and me had reached them.I decide to ignore it for now. That's a problem for tomorrow. Right now, I’m too exhausted to deal with it. I scroll through my messages and spot several from my friends in our group chat, with a picture of Cassian and me at the party. His arm is wrapped around me, and they’re all asking if I got engaged and didn’t tell them.Curiosity gets the best of me, and I follow the link to see that we’ve gone viral on Instagram and Twitter. Several pictures of us are circulating, the captions proclaiming, "Ath
Last Updated : 2024-09-27
Latest chapter
Mine to Lose CHAPTER 36
Pulling away to think straight. I can’t think straight with his lips on mine. It’s also risky being alone here we could be interrupted. I’d lost myself completely in it, but having Cassian so close, especially his mouth, clouded my judgment. I bridged the distance between us, brushing my lips across his.Cassian didn’t need another invitation. He tore the control over the kiss out of my hands and I let him, too delirious by every stroke of his tongue.His grip on my neck tightened as he deepened our kiss. He tasted like light and darkness, and he could kiss in a way I’d never considered possible. My body tingled from the simple friction of our lips, from the soft caress of his tongue and the taste of him. Soon the tingle turned into a pulsating need and my panties became damp. I was losing control of my body. I snapped back to attention, forcing my mind into stark focus and submitting my body to its command.I reached for his belt and unbuckled it, snatching my mouth away from Cassian
Mine to Lose CHAPTER 35
We walk around the room with my dad and Cassian. They’ve been getting along throughout the party, even during dinner, when Cassian sat beside my dad. I know I should be happy, but instead, I’m irritated—pissed off, even. This isn’t like my dad. He absolutely despises Cassian, so what could have possibly changed in just one day?After dinner, a string quartet plays “Love” by Lana Del Rey, while the room fills with champagne, laughter, and a sense of joy. Everyone seems to be having a great time, but I’m miserable. I haven’t had a single moment alone with Cassian since we arrived, and now it feels like my dad and he are best friends. I glance at Hailee, who’s enjoying herself, chatting with my mother and the model-turned-actress Andrea, who’s a close friend of hers.On the other side of the room, I spot Jess and Josh canoodling together, and it makes me want to throw up—not out of jealousy, but because they’re both horrible people. My eyes drift back to Cassian, and our gazes meet from
Mine to Lose CHAPTER 34
When I wake up the next morning, I’m alone. Cassian is gone, but he left behind a perfect sketch of me sleeping, with a note underneath: "So beautiful. See you later."I smile, feeling giddy with excitement, until reality hits—family dinner tonight, and Cassian will meet everyone together for the first time.Of course, my mother has already called a couple of times, and it’s just past 7 a.m. I call her back, and she answers on the first ring, as if she’s been waiting."Meu amor, good, you’re awake," she says right away. "Do you know what you’re wearing for the party tonight?""Party? Mom, it’s supposed to be just dinner with the family," I respond, confused."Yeah, I know, meu amor, but you got engaged and we haven’t celebrated yet," she replies, as if it's obvious."Mom, you're supposed to be getting to know Cassian, and a party will just be too much. And you're only telling me now that it’s a party? How many people are going to be there?" I ask, frustration creeping into my voice."
Mine to Lose CHAPTER 33
Athena's POVThe week flies by. Cassian is busy preparing for an exhibition at the end of the month in Copenhagen, Denmark—his first one there—so he’s been working tirelessly to ensure everything goes smoothly. Collette, his childhood friend and an art curator, is in charge of selecting and organizing the exhibition. She also sometimes assists with sales, so they’re practically inseparable.I’ve spent the week at the gallery, having lunch with Cassian whenever he could spare the time. When he was too busy, I’d hang out and eat with Hailee, all while feeling Collette’s icy stare burning holes into me. I’ve tried to be friendly—after all, she’s his childhood friend and will always be part of his life, plus they work together—but she doesn’t make it easy.Collette speaks English perfectly well, and she’ll chat with me and others in English. But the moment Cassian is around, she switches to French, deliberately excluding me from their conversations. Even when Cassian tries to bring me in
Mine to Lose CHAPTER 32
Athena's POVStill breathless from the most intense orgasm I have ever had, Cassian and I crashed down on the couch staring into each other’s eyes. "We didn’t use a condom." I blurted out after a bit. "Yesterday too." I added.“I’m sorry.” Cassian says his eyes never leaving mine. “It just got over my head at the moment, I know that’s a stupid excuse but I’m___” he adds but I stop him from finishing."It's okay, I'm on birth control, but we should still be careful," I say, watching him."Yeah, of course," Cassian agrees, nodding."I'm sorry, I just ruined the mood," I say, feeling the shift between us. "I just can't risk not being careful—I can't get pregnant.""What? No, you didn’t ruin anything, Athena," Cassian reassures me. "You can talk to me about anything. You don't want children?" he asks gently, his face soft and non-judgmental."Honestly, I don’t think so. I’m messed up enough as it is—I’d just mess up a child," I say, letting out a nervous laugh. "Do you want kids?" I ask,
Mine to Lose CHAPTER 31
Athena's POVAs soon as my parents leave, I call my grandmother. My dad was right—she's not happy about finding out about Cassian and me through her book club. Apparently, one of her friends, who she despises, showed up waving the newspaper with our picture printed on it. I have to apologize profusely, explaining I had no idea Cassian was going to propose.Like my father, she’s concerned about me being with a Covington, but when I ask her why, she doesn’t give me a clear answer. It’s obvious she knows more about the origin of the family feud, but just like my dad, she refuses to tell me anything.The call ends, but I’m left with even more questions. It reminds me that I need to get back to reading my great-grand aunt Melia’s journal to uncover more about her and Cassian Covington I, and the mysterious past that’s been kept from me.With the conversation weighing on my mind, I decide to tackle some work from home. After wrapping up a few online meetings, I find myself drawn to the jour
Mine to Lose CHAPTER 30
Athena's POVAfter the party, Cassian takes me home. Though I’m tempted to invite him in, I resist. The evening had been intense, and I knew we both needed some space to breathe. I kiss him goodnight and promise to call him tomorrow. As soon as I’m inside, I silence my phone and slip out of my dress, sinking into the soothing, bubble-filled tub. Only then do I glance at my phone and see the dozens of missed calls from my parents.Of course, the news about Cassian and me had reached them.I decide to ignore it for now. That's a problem for tomorrow. Right now, I’m too exhausted to deal with it. I scroll through my messages and spot several from my friends in our group chat, with a picture of Cassian and me at the party. His arm is wrapped around me, and they’re all asking if I got engaged and didn’t tell them.Curiosity gets the best of me, and I follow the link to see that we’ve gone viral on Instagram and Twitter. Several pictures of us are circulating, the captions proclaiming, "Ath
Mine to Lose CHAPTER 29
Athena's POV“Where are we going?” I ask as Cassian leads me upstairs and we continue walking down a long, quiet hall. The faint sound of music from the party downstairs barely reaches us, and I get the sense that we’re not supposed to be up here.“To my room,” he says casually.“Your room? You live here?” I ask, surprised, as he pulls out a key and unlocks the door.“When I was a kid,” he replies, and I feel a rush of excitement at the idea of seeing his childhood bedroom.He notices my smile. “A smile?” Cassian teases. “I’d love a peek into what you’re thinking right now.”I blush harder as we step inside, my mind racing with curiosity. But the room is nothing like what I expected. It’s bland, neutral—like a sterile hotel room, with none of the artistic flair I thought would define his space. I don’t know what I had imagined, but this wasn’t it.“This was your room as a child?” I ask, glancing around at the minimalist decor.Cassian nods, still holding my hand. Then he leads me to a
Mine to Lose CHAPTER 28
Athena's POVI wake up with a splitting headache, but the soft embrace of my Egyptian cotton duvet covers makes it bearable. Turning to my side, I spot Cassian lying on top of the covers, deeply engrossed in his sketchbook. He’s drawing something, his brow furrowed in concentration. Suddenly, I’m acutely aware of myself—my makeup, the clothes I passed out in last night. I peek under the covers and realize I’m no longer in last night’s clothes; instead, I’m wearing a comfortable shirt from my closet. I’m still in my underwear, which means Cassian must have helped me change without taking advantage of me while I was out cold.I shift slightly, and Cassian’s attention shifts to me. He drops the sketchbook, his face lighting up as he sees that I’m awake.“I passed out last night. I’m sorry,” I say, forcing a smile.“You have nothing to apologize for,” he replies, handing me a bottle of aspirin and a glass of water. “Your head must be killing you.”I nod, gratefully taking the aspirin and
