Chapter 0002

"Sia," Darvan called as he slowly sat upright, his head pounding with a headache. He found himself sprawled on the sofa, still in yesterday’s clothes and without a blanket. His head spun and he felt the chill creeping in, like he might catch a cold.

“Why didn’t she help me change?” he groaned, holding his head with one hand as he struggled to stand.

“Cassia...” he called again, this time using her full name as he rose from the couch craving some congee.

He expected Cassia to appear with a bowl like she always did when he had a hangover. For a moment, he forgot about the pain in his head as the housekeeper approached, a bowl in her hands. His brows furrowed. She set the bowl in front of him, and he noticed it was seafood congee, his favorite after a night of drinking.

“Why are you bringing me food?” he asked, his gaze shifting from the bowl to the housekeeper.

“Where’s Cassia?” he questioned but she said nothing, clearly unaware of Cassia’s whereabouts. Even she had been surprised not to find Cassia busy in the kitchen as usual.

Darvan ignored her and took a sip of the congee, expecting it to be just like Cassia’s. But as soon as the taste hit his tongue, disappointment set in. It wasn’t the same. He spat it out immediately and wiped his mouth with a tissue.

“Who made this?” he demanded his tone sharp.

“You made this while Cassia’s home?” His anger was rising. He crumpled the tissue and threw it aside as he stood abruptly.

“Cassia!” he shouted, ignoring the pounding in his head.

“She’s not home, sir,” the housekeeper replied.

“Not home? What do you mean?” he snapped but before she could answer, the events of the previous night came flooding back, making his head spin once more. He cursed himself silently for drinking so much.

He remembered now. She had left the party after declaring it was over between them. What shocked him was that she hadn’t come home yet. She wasn’t the type to go even three hours without seeing or talking to him. So how could she still not be home?

He slumped back onto the couch and dismissed the housekeeper with a wave of his hand. As he began to drink the congee, it felt like a struggle—each sip was forced. Mentally, he cursed Cassia for not being there with him.

Cassia’s congee was unmatched, the best he’d ever tasted. She had learned the recipe from a nutritionist specifically for him, a skill even the housekeeper couldn’t replicate.

“Is she really not home?” he wondered again, glancing toward the bedroom.

“Or is she just avoiding me because of what I said?” His eyes remained fixed on the direction of their room, hoping she would emerge from hiding and make him the congee he craved.

But something felt off. Unease growing, Darvan made his way to the bedroom door which was slightly opened. Inside he noticed that a few of her things were missing. Her luggage was gone. A cold shiver ran down his spine as he stared at the empty spaces. She had really left. She had abandoned him.

He blinked rapidly, struggling to accept the reality.

She wouldn’t have left. She was just being dramatic, right? She couldn’t have actually walked out on him. Not really... She’d come back—she always did. He laughed it off, but a creeping doubt began to settle in.

Lying on the bed, memories of Cassia flooded his mind. She used to fuss over him, making sure he ate well, even after their worst arguments. Now, the silence was unbearable. The bed felt cold and unfamiliar without her.

He closed his eyes, trying to shake off the thoughts. This time wouldn’t be any different from the others. She was just throwing a tantrum, but she’d be back. She always was. It had been the same when she found out he’d asked her to grow her hair long because Stacy had long hair. The same when he pressured her into dressing like Stacy, wanting her to be everything Stacy was.

Even though Cassia hated it, she’d screamed, thrown fits, but in the end... she stayed. She always forgave him. And she always took care of him afterward. He was sure this time would be no different.

“ I'll wait for you to come beg me on your knees,” he chuckled to himself as he shifted on the bed, completely confident she'd return.

******

The next morning, Cassia decided to make a change starting with herself. She went to the mall and took her time to buy plain but comfortable clothes, which was very different from the attractive stylish dresses she had been wearing just to impress him. She looked at a beautiful, soft cotton dress, and, lifting the cloth to her cheek, felt the delight of actually being able to decide on her own.

Then she proceeded to the salon. For as long as most of the attendees could remember, she had always had long, straight, and shiny hair. It was her pride and joy, flowing in soft waves down her back. She bought expensive oils, carefully combed it every night and tied it up in delicate scarves to protect it while she slept.

She had done it all because he loved it. She overheard him once, casually telling a friend how his first love had long hair, and that was why he preferred it. That revelation stung her deeply. She wanted to cut it all off in that moment, but the fear of displeasing him had always held her back.

But today was different. When she sat on the salon chair she looked at herself in the mirror and touched the tips of hair with her fingers.

“Trim it,” she told the stylist, holding his gaze.

"Cut it short—into a bob."

The stylist blinked a little and then gave her head a quick, affirmative jerk. With each cutting movement the scissors made, with each inch that she lost, she felt lighter. She looked as each strand of her hair; thick and gorgeous, fell down the floor in a heap. It was a bold change.

"Done... You look even prettier with short hair" the stylist complimented and Cassia offered a soft smile admiring how the chic bob framed her face perfectly.

When the transformation was complete, she looked at her reflection, almost not recognizing the confident woman staring back. It was now neatly chopped and her jaw which were previously softened by the feathered cut had sharp lines added to it. For the first time in years she felt at ease, she felt like she was being herself.

After leaving the salon, she took out her phone, her fingers hesitating over the screen. With a few quick taps, she blocked Darvan's number, ensuring he wouldn't be able to reach her through calls or texts. She also blocked the numbers of his friends, who always checked in on her to keep tabs. She had been on call for him day and night, always available whenever he needed something, always waiting for a text that half the time never came.

She logged into her social media account, making sure to block each and every one of them, leaving no traces behind.

No more being on standby for him, no more rushing to his side at the snap of his fingers. The freedom washed over her like a breath of fresh air. She wouldn’t have to deal with the discomfort of always tying her hair up in ponytails, the way it trailed behind her like a ghost whenever she ran. She had hated that feeling. But now? Now she felt relaxed... She had made her decision. She was letting go, not holding back anymore.

As she left the mall, a shopping bag in hand, she stopped by Kiara, her friend's house. There, she met her with Quinn, another friend of theirs busy in the kitchen. They were stunned about her sudden transformation.

"No way, girl!" Quinn exclaimed as she took in the new hairstyle.

"I didn’t think you’d ever cut your hair. He loved it long, didn’t he?" Kiara asked, her eyes widening in shock.

She smiled, running a hand through her short hair. "Yeah, well, I’m done living by his rules. It’s my hair. I’m not going to keep it long just because his first love did."

Quinn hesitated, then leaned in, lowering her voice. "So, are you guys going to... you know, work things out? Get back together?"

She let out a dry laugh, shaking her head. "Not a chance. I’ve wasted enough of my time being someone he wanted. I’m done with that. I'm not going back."

Her friends exchanged glances but didn’t argue. They knew her well enough but couldn't figure out if she could really do that.

"All good, I'm hungry" she said, yawning softly as her friends nodded and made their way to the kitchen.

*****

Cassia decided to head back to the hotel after spending time with her friends. As she walked through the busy city, memories of her past filled her mind starting from her university days studying fashion design to winning the Best Newcomer award at the prestigious global 'Trendsetters Showdown' Designers Competition. Her future had always been bright back then.

Her creations had been sold at highly escalated prices, attracting offers from well known brands which were willing to employ her after she left school. And even the famous designer Liam Amsterdam had wanted to mentor her, offering to introduce her to the design scene in Paris.

It had been a dream come true. But she had given it all up for Darvan. The day he decided they should date, she had been torn between him and her dream. In the end, she had chosen him, foolishly sacrificing her ambitions just to be with him.

Now the weight of that choice felt heavier than ever. As she walked, the pain in her heart grew. She overheard people discussing Liam's latest exhibition and her steps faltered. For a moment, hope flickered. Maybe... just maybe, she could get her back – the side of herself that seem to have vanished. The part that loved design, that wasn’t defined by Darvan.

But then she remembered the unresolved issues with Liam due to the conflict from when she had chosen Darvan over her studies. The embarrassment of that decision still haunted her, making it difficult to reach out directly. Yet deep down she knew she could not afford not to see Liam’s exhibition.

*****

At the gallery, Cassia’s heart nearly stopped when she saw one of her own works on display. It was her graduation project proudly showcased under the label "REMI LUX."

She stood frozen, her breath catching in her throat as she overheard Liam discussing the piece with visitors. His words were filled with both admiration and regret, lamenting how she had abandoned her dream for a man. Her eyes stung with unshed tears.

Some visitors who were familiar with the fashion world spoke up. They began to discuss how REMI LUX had once emerged on the market and then disappeared out of the blue. Her few works had been quickly snatched up and auctioned, leaving people wondering why such a promising talent had vanished.

“oh, what a shame" one visitor sighed as he shook his head. “We lost a gifted designer.”

Cassia’s tears fell, warm against her cheeks as she bit her lip, shame and regret crashing over her. She couldn’t face Liam, not like this. Not yet. Overwhelmed, she turned and hurried out of the gallery before he could see her.

“I’m sorry, Liam,” she muttered through her tears as she disappeared into the crowd. Just then Liam glanced back, catching a fleeting glimpse of someone leaving. Someone who looked like Cassia. A wave of nostalgia washed over him but by the time he realized, she was already gone.

As Cassia ran, she collided with someone. Just as she was about to apologize, the sound of her name being called made her look up, and her eyes widened in shock.

"Samantha?" Cassia called, shocked.

Samantha had been a colleague from college, someone in the design world as well. She had always been a thorn in Cassia's side, calling her poor and old-fashioned, insisting she didn’t deserve Darvan. Perhaps she was right, given the situation.

"Seeing you here..." Samantha began, staring at Liam's gallery. "Did you have a fight with Darvan? Did you two finally break up?" she asked. Cassia smiled and nodded.

"Yeah, you can now go to the son of a b*tch you've been wanting to get since college," Cassia replied, leaving the place without looking back.

"Did she just... talk back to me?" Samantha wondered, confused as she stared in the direction Cassia had taken.