Seventy One

CHAPTER 71

Cassandra sat on one of the wooden benches facing a small pond in the city park. The cold air seeped through the gaps in her blue wool sweater, but she didn’t mind. Snow began to fall gently, decorating her loose black hair. She held a cup of hot coffee she had just bought from a nearby shop, the first sip soothing her throat. That day felt like a pause in her tumultuous life.

Over the past few days, Cassandra had refused to touch her phone. Unread messages and missed calls piled up. She needed time to herself, to reflect, and to understand what she was feeling. However, the silence that initially felt comforting now began to feel burdensome. A mix of curiosity and guilt pushed her to finally turn her phone back on.

The phone screen lit up, displaying dozens of notifications. Messages from Martinez and Alexander dominated. Cassandra scrolled through, reading message after message filled with concern. Martinez asked about her whereabouts, while Alexander was more insistent, inquiring about unresolved cases. There were also several messages from Jessica, but Cassandra decided to ignore them for now.

With much hesitation, Cassandra tapped Alexander’s name in her contact list and pressed the call button. Her heart raced as she waited for the call to connect. When she finally heard a voice on the other end, it was filled with worry.

“Cassandra? You finally called! What happened? I was so worried,” Alexander’s voice sounded tense.

Cassandra took a deep breath before answering, “I’m fine, Alex. Sorry for worrying you.”

“Fine?” Alexander sounded unconvinced. “You disappeared just like that, no news for days. You know we’re in the middle of a major case, right?”

As Alexander started talking about the deaths of Cale Callaghan and Michael Foster, Cassandra felt her chest tighten. Memories of those two men, their mysterious deaths, and all the pressure surrounding them resurfaced. Tears began to well up in her eyes, and though she tried hard to hold them back, they started to fall, one by one.

“Alex, I can’t talk about this right now,” she said, her voice trembling.

“Cass, what’s wrong? Is something happening?” Alexander asked, his tone shifting to one of concern.

Before Cassandra could answer, from a distance, she saw Antonio approaching. Panicked, Cassandra quickly ended the call. “Sorry, Alex. I have to go,” she said, cutting the call before Alexander could respond further.

Antonio walked with calm steps, his face as serious as ever. Cassandra hastily wiped her tears and put her phone in her bag. She couldn’t let Antonio know she was a police officer. That secret had to remain safe, at least for now.

“Cassandra, are you cold?” Antonio asked as he reached her. His tone sounded sincere, but Cassandra knew better than to trust his sweet demeanor easily.

“No, I’m fine,” Cassandra replied, attempting a faint smile.

Antonio looked at her with an unreadable expression. He then sat on the same bench, maintaining a respectful distance but close enough to make Cassandra feel uncomfortable.

“I want to talk about something,” Antonio said, breaking the silence.

Cassandra gripped her coffee cup tighter. “What is it?” she asked, though she didn’t really want to know.

“I know there’s a lot you’re hiding from me,” Antonio said, looking straight into her eyes. “But I want you to know that I’m here for you, Cassandra. No matter what happens.”

Those words made Cassandra’s heart tremble. There was sincerity in his voice, but she couldn’t trust him so easily. She had learned that good intentions often came with hidden agendas.

“I appreciate that, Antonio,” Cassandra finally replied. “But I need time to understand everything.”

Antonio nodded slowly. “I understand. I just want you to know you’re not alone.”

Silence enveloped them once more. The snow continued to fall, creating a thin layer on the ground and the bench they sat on. Cassandra stared straight ahead, her mind drifting between the past and the present. She knew she had to make a decision soon, but for now, she just wanted to enjoy this brief moment of peace in the snowy park.

When Antonio finally left, Cassandra sighed with relief. However, she knew this wasn’t the end of everything. A long journey awaited her, filled with secrets to uncover and decisions to make.

Cassandra diverted her gaze from the small pond and looked around the park. In another corner, she saw a happy little family. A husband and wife were busy holding their laughing baby, while an older child tried to catch falling snowflakes. The sight touched her heart but simultaneously filled her mind with doubt. She imagined what her future would be like if all the things she kept hidden were revealed. Could she have happiness like that family? Or would she lose everything?

Meanwhile, from a distance, Antonio hadn’t really left. He stood near his car parked at the edge of the road, watching Cassandra who remained seated in the park. His usually calm face now appeared full of mixed emotions. Ben, Antonio’s personal driver, sat in the driver’s seat with an annoyed look. He glanced at his boss through the rearview mirror.

“Mr. Antonio, we’re already late for the meeting,” Ben said impatiently.

However, Antonio ignored him. He lit a cigarette, letting the smoke spread into the cold air. The snow was falling heavier, but he remained standing there, staring at Cassandra from a distance. He knew she was crying, and though he wanted to approach and comfort her, he chose to leave her alone. In his heart, he felt guilty. Everything that had happened, both between them and around them, felt like an unavoidable burden.

Antonio took a deep breath, exhaling the cigarette smoke slowly. He felt increasingly unsettled. Cassandra was a puzzle that was difficult to solve, and he realized their relationship was far from simple. However, beneath all its complexities, there was something that made him unable to let her go.

“Mr. Antonio,” Ben called again, this time with a firmer tone. “If you don’t want to leave now, at least get in the car. The weather is getting worse.”

Antonio extinguished his cigarette with slow movements, but he remained standing in place. His thoughts wandered to the moments he had spent with Cassandra. Her faint smiles, small laughs, even their sharp arguments—all of it felt like part of an unfinished story.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Antonio stepped toward the car. Before getting in, he looked at Cassandra one last time. She was still sitting on the park bench, her head bowed, with snow continuing to cover her hair and shoulders. Antonio got into the car without saying anything more.

“We’re leaving now,” he said briefly.

Ben sighed in relief and immediately started the car. They left the park, but Antonio’s mind remained there, with Cassandra and all her complexities.