Listen to Lose You To Love Me by Selena Gomez.

"Cassie?"

We heard Tristan's voice from behind.

"Shit!"
Adrian mumbled quickly removing his arms around me as if it caught fire.

We pulled away from each other and turned to look at Tristan. He was wearing the same clothes from the news I saw earlier, I guess he came directly from the news Center.

He looked so surprised, he said my name again, but in a soft whisper like he couldn't believe it was me. He took a step toward me, I stepped back giving him a mean look.
He stopped and tried to say something but no words left his lips.
His eyes moved from me to Adrian.

"You kept her here? She was with you all this time?"
His voice raised at the end of his sentence.

"She didn't want anyone to know."

"You should have at least..."
He stopped and groaned not knowing what to say.

I wanted to say something, but I stopped myself. I didn't want to say a word to Tristan, I got furious just staring at him.

His eyes stayed on me, our eyes met for a brief moment but I looked away and headed for my room.

"Cassie."
He called coming after me.

I walked faster not looking back, I could hear his heavy footsteps as he trailed behind me trying to talk to me.

I opened my door and stepped in in a haste, I shot him a glare and slammed the door on his face.
I heard him groan, I walked to my bed and sat down.

"Cassie, please listen to me."
He knocked on the door.

"Cassie, please," he didn't have the right to call me that anymore.

He stopped knocking, there was a long silence. I waited for him to leave but he started talking, his voice was filled with regret and pain.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you. I know you're never going to forgive my family and I. I wanted to tell you but I was scared, I was scared to lose you after growing so attached to you."
He paused for some seconds.

"I'm sorry, Cassie."
Oh my God, he was crying.

The only time I saw him cry was when he saw those baby clothes and when he told me about Fiona.

"You were right, I don't deserve to be happy, I don't deserve your forgiveness, shit! I don't even deserve any part of you. I wish I treated you better than your exes, I guess I failed. You are more than what you think you are to me, Cassie."

I felt tears in my eyes, I was an emotional mess. The vegetables I cut earlier must have been mixed with onion.

"Your family wants you back, it was my fault you got kicked out. I didn't think of the consequences, please go back to your family, they need you right..."

I stood up and ran to the bathroom, I didn't want to hear more.
The tears rolled down my cheeks before I could stop them, I turned on the shower and sat under it. I cried as the water sprinkled on my skin.

I hated myself for still caring about him, for missing him even a little bit. I wanted my feelings for him to die, I wanted every memory of us to disappear from my brain. I stayed under the shower for almost twenty minutes just crying my heart out, I decided to take a shower. When I came out, I didn't hear his voice again, he was gone.

I dressed up for bed and buried myself under the covers, I stayed up for some hours before finally getting some sleep.

∆
I woke up past nine in the morning, I left the room after brushing my teeth and rinsing my face.
I was surprised to see Adrian at the dining eating, he should be at work.

"I knocked but you didn't answer, I assumed you were still sleeping."
He smiled at me as I took the seat in front of him.

"Aren't you going to work today?"

"I am, but I'm leaving here by twelve."

"Oh."

He left and brought me something to eat. He had lots of takeouts stacked in his fridge. I stared at the pancake and syrup he dropped in front of me.

"Thanks."
I muttered.

"He promised not to tell anyone."
Adrian suddenly said.

I nodded and continued eating, we watched a movie together on HBO before he left. I laid back on the couch searching for something to watch, I paused when I saw my parents on tv.

My mom was in full tears, they were being interviewed in the house. I knew that from the home décor in the living room.

"....we miss her so much, it wasn't our fault. If we knew that bastard was lying then...."
I turned off the tv and huffed.

I went back to my room and stayed under the covers. My mind drifted slowly to that night Karen spilled the truth. I felt like my existence was meaningless to anyone and anything. It was like an old wound reopened and I knew this one was going to take a long time to heal---or maybe eternity.

I couldn't stay here forever, my online classes resumed last week but I had no money to pay and I didn't want to tell Adrian about it.
All the plans in my head didn't make any sense mainly because I was broke.

I closed my eyes and allowed my mind to relax.

"Think Chloe."
I groaned.

∆
6 pm I dragged myself to the kitchen to make dinner for Adrian. I played loud music to distract myself from thinking about Tristan in the kitchen with me.

He arrived an hour later, he looked impressed which made me glare at him. He laughed as he left to freshen up, I had everything on the dining table before he came down.

"I should be the one doing this."
He said as he took a seat.

"No, I have gone through enough torture with your awful cooking skills already."

"Ouch, Chloe," he said and I smiled.

"I was just being honest," I shrugged.

"Is your birthday, I should be the one to make you dinner."

"My birthday? Sorry, what is today's date?"

"August 12th."

I gasped, I totally forgot my birthday.

"You forgot?"
He looked surprised.

"Yeah."
I said laughing, he joined in.

He stood up and returned with a cake, when did he buy that? How come I didn't see it? He started singing, I laughed so hard that tears gathered in my eyes.

I blew the single candle in the middle and he clapped.

This wasn't how I planned on celebrating my 21st birthday, I had never had a big birthday party, it was always my family and me.

But celebrating it like this with Adrian was memorable.

"How did you know?" I asked.

"Your parents announced it on tv."
I rolled my eyes at the mention of my parents.

"Here is my gift to you."
He dropped a small box in front of me.

I picked it and opened it, it was a credit card.

"I didn't know what to get you in particular, so do all the shopping you want with the card."

"Thank you."
I said with a pout, his phone rang when he opened his mouth to say something.

"Excuse me, I will be right back."
He picked the phone and left.

He returned a few minutes later with a weird expression on his face.

"It's Tristan, he wants to wish you a happy birthday."
I nodded.

"He is drunk."
He warned me before putting the call on speaker.

"Cassie?"

"I'm here," I said sounding annoyed.

He exhaled in relief.

"Happy Birthday Cassie, if you were still here I would have thrown you the biggest party, it's my fault you didn't get to celebrate it with your family or the way you wanted, I'm so sorry."
He slurred.

"I hope you find someone who makes you happy, someone who won't be an asshole to you, someone whose goal is to make you the happiest person every day, stay safe Cassie."
He ended the call.

I bit my tears back, Adrian didn't say anything. We sat in silence, different thoughts were running through my head, I tried not to let it control me.

"Drinks?"
Adrian asked and I nodded.

"Since it's your birthday, I will let you drink."
I smiled. If only he knew the truth.

We moved to the living room and sat on the floor, we kept drinking until we were too drunk to stand on our feet.

I slept off on him saying something I myself didn't understand.

∆
I woke up in my bed, I saw some painkillers and a bottle of water on my nightstand, I took it and went for a bath.

I missed Morris's hangover soup, I missed him.

It was past one in the afternoon, I spent the rest of the day putting my plans in order and making up my mind.

I was twenty-one now, twenty years have taught me a lot, it was time to make the right choice, time to fix my life, time to start over again.

I skipped dinner telling Adrian I was not hungry.

I made my decision. I woke up very early the next day and made breakfast. Adrian came down on a dark slim-suit, he looked surprised to see me awake.

"You are awake."

"Yes!"

I watched him as he ate his scrambled eggs and French toast.

"I'm leaving."
I announced, he almost choked on the coffee he was sipping.

"Sorry."
We both said at the same time.

"You are leaving?"

"Yeah, I have made my decision, I think I know what I want now."
I said with a soft smile.

"When?"

"Today."
His face fell.

"And you're just telling me?"
He leaned back on his seat with a scowl on his face.

"Sorry, it was last night."

"Are you going back to your family?"

"No."

"Tris..."

"No."
I said before he could say the name fully.

"Then where?"
I just smiled.

"Chloe?"

"Relax, I will be close by."

"Are you leaving town?"

"I don't know yet."
He sighed in relief.

"Can you lend me some cash? I will pay you back once I get a job."

"Yeah but don't pay it back."

"I want to, I will pay every penny back. I owe you a lot after everything you've done for me."

"It's nothing big, Chloe. We are friends, friends look out for each other."

"Thanks but I'm still paying you back."

"Do you need a ride?"

"No, I will take a cab to get my things."

"If you don't want to go there, I can get them for you."

"It's fine."

"Are you sure?" I could sense the fear in his voice.

"Yes, eat up."

"Yes, mom."
I kicked him from under the table.

He wrote me a 100k check, we spoke for a while before he left. I took one last tour around the house, I noticed he had no swimming pool around. For an ex swimmer, you would expect a large pool in his backyard.

I took my bath and got ready to leave. Adrian had picked out some dresses and shoes from the store for me to wear while I stayed hidden in his house. I adjusted the thin straps of the red floral dress that had a slit on the right side of my thigh. I packed the stuff I had inside Adrian's Gucci carry-on duffel bag. I smiled at the room and walked out.

 The cab driver kept staring at me from the rearview mirror, I shot him a glare but he kept stealing glances at me.

"Do you mind? I didn't pay for you to stare at me like a creep."

"Sorry, you look like the missing girl."

"Ohh, I get that a lot."
I said and looked outside the window.

My heart raced when the car stopped in front of Tristan's mansion.
I told the driver to wait while I  get my things.

Morris looked like he saw a ghost when he opened the door.

"Hi, Morris."

"Miss, Simpson? You came back!"
It was the first time I was seeing him so happy.

"Actually, I came to...get...um...my stuff."

"Ohh."
The smile on his face fell.

"Sorry."
I gave him a hug.

"Please don't leave him."
He begged me when I pulled away.

"I'm sorry."
I said again and headed for the stairs.

"I wish you met the Tristan I have known since I started working here. Do whatever your heart desires, Ms. Simpson."
He said to me.

He always spoke like those wise monk, it was scary sometimes.

I took a deep breath and climbed the stairs. Nothing anyone says was going to change my mind, I deserved a little happiness too and I won't get that happiness around Tristan or my family.

I took a glance at his room as I walked to my old room, memories of everything we did together, every fight, every funny moment, every tear, clouded my brain.

I saw a few of Tristan's belongings in the room.

"He has been sleeping here since you left."
I heard Morris's voice from behind me.

"He really loves you, Chloe." Wait, did he just call me Chloe? First time ever! 

"Please help me with my boxes and suitcase," I said instead.
He looked disappointed.

I packed everything I owned and allowed Morris to help take them to the car. I stared at the door to Tristan's room, was he home? Won't he come out and see me?

I wanted to see him for the last time, just a glance.

I shook my head and left, I apologized to Morris again before entering the car.

I needed this break, my heart needed it.

I stared at the glass mansion as the car moved, I saw him, I saw Tristan, he was staring at me from my room, the room I just left. Was he there since I came?

He raised his hand and waved. I looked away and leaned back on the seat.

This was it, time for a fresh start, a new beginning.

No family.

No exes.

END OF PART ONE OF A LIE IN CHURCH!!!

Drop your thoughts on this chapter.

THIS IS THE END OF BOOK 1, I HOPE YOU ENJOYED IT.

THANK YOU FOR READING CHLOE AND TRISTAN STORY AND MAKING IT THIS FAR, LOL.

WHO IS READY FOR BOOK TWO?!

YOU CAN START VIXEN (Adrian and Vina's book) after reading BOOK 1