A week and four days had passed since Harrison Williams returned to Santa Motes after he disappeared for all those years. She had finally agreed to be Harrison's girlfriend and arrived at her house with so much happiness and contentment. Then he appeared out of nowhere, running not only her night but almost the whole week.

When Harrison had finally left, after much convincing from her side, that's where she stood, listening to his self-contained speech of redemption. All the prayers for control that she had been chanting in her head that night drowned as he continued with his speech, so it was not surprising that she punched him before he got to the end. She felt guilty about not feeling the guilt, but she put all the blame on his idiotic come back explanation.

It did not seem to deter him from sending her flowers, chocolates, and teddy bears four times a week. Cassandra was not exactly sure what he was playing at, but each attempt on his part made her more frustrated and annoyed.

Sadly, no matter how many instructions she gave to keep him out of her house, no matter how many of his gifts she sent back, he didn't stop trying. In honesty, she wasn't surprised when she noticed him sitting on a bench when she walked into the church with her mother. Of course, Harrison arrived with his mother, and he took a seat by her side, which seemed to get his attention off her for a while.

"I hope the sermon isn't slipping past your ears." Harrison looked at her with a think smile, he rested his arm behind her, slumping in the seat. "It's a good one too. Would be even better if he is here, staring at me."

"Ignore him." She chided, using her finger to turn his face so she could kiss his cheek, "We have nothing to hide, and it's not like he is my parent, so he has no right to be following me."

There was no argument after that because he nodded and allowed her to rest her head on his shoulders as they listened to her uncle's sermon. A new relationship had officially started the same day an old curse walked in, and she would admit that she was rattled.

On the plus side, her mother took the announcement of her baby steps relationship well. Although she got scolded for running away before her trip, her mother's only request was that she didn't jump totally into the relationship without caution. She agreed immediately. Harrison sitting beside her was oddly calming; they sat in each other's arms while the time passed little by little.

"You know I always think of what the bible says about forgiving and forgetting. Wonder if I would ever get to be that person that forgives and forgets as well. Sometimes I tell myself that I have done both, O have gotten over it, but then, I realise that I haven't."

Lifting her head from his shoulder so she could face him again, she kept her voice low, so she disturbs the others. "Is there a reason you are saying that?"

"Yeah. I forgave Josephine after she lied to me about her parents and her entire life in general, but I can't forget it. Each time she calls, just like your friend over there..." he pointed his thumb towards Harrison as he sat four rows back, "I am reminded of how she lied and used my weakness to get me to date her; my blood boils."

"I read about the woman who forgave her daughter's killer and so many other stories. From everything, I learnt that forgiveness is a different process for everyone, no matter the life experience and time. At some point, even anger and resentment gets too heavy for the people carrying it, so forgiveness becomes the only option."

Eyebrows rising high up on his head, he kissed her on the forehead, "You spent a lot of time with your uncle before the sermon, didn't you?"

"Jerk. No, I just thought of all the anger I held towards my ex since he left. Carried it everywhere like a badge an honour, and because of that, he always lived rent-free in my life. When I saw him again, we argued, then I felt nothing but a need to wash him out of my life."

"Well, when you put it that way," a smile brightened her face as she watched him act as if he was thinking about it. "I believe you are off to a good start, and I hope I can have the same luck with Josephine."

They left the issue hanging but there was no doubt that everything that what she needed to say, she said already. The mass ended two hours before twelve, and they all quietly filed out of the church when her uncle walked out of the door. While her mother walked towards the car ahead of them, Cassandra kept a slow pace as she walked arm in arm with her week-old boyfriend. It took a while for them to reach her car, but as soon as they stopped at the open door, he used his hand to spin her around, so she faced him.

"I'll call you tonight before I go to sleep, and hopefully, you'd be awake as well."

"Definitely. Don't forget to remind Maria about scheduling the meeting with Mr Cooper. Some of the lines are ready as well as two of the stores, so we have to start planning the events for advertisement before it is too late."

"Cassandra," he sighed, sparing a glance at her mother before pecking her on the lips. "You can take a breather. Just because I show you my sweet side doesn't mean you killed my hard going, competitive spirit. I still remember how to run my company."

"Keep tempting me, and I'll revert to destroying and taking over your company again." Taking joy in his pout, she returned the kiss on his lips and wiped away the smudge of lipstick before stepping into her car and driving away from the church.

The air all around her was electric, and she knew that her mother was probably biting her tongue, so she didn't say a thing. When the pain of not making a comment reached its peak, her mother would say whatever was on her mind. It wasn't long; her mother was already tapping on her hand.

"Yes?"

"You haven't said much on the topic of Harrison being back in town while you are dating again. I don't want this to affect your health in any way."

Scoffing at her mother's comment, she rested her elbow on the car door while she bit her nails in frustration, "He means nothing to me. I am not letting him make me regress after I have done so much to get ahead."

"I just want you to take care of yourself." The sigh reached her ears before her mother held her chin and turned her so she could look into her eyes. "I am going to be by your side; I'll always try to support whatever decision you come up with. That said, if any madness makes you decide to go back to him, we will not be on good terms. Understand?"

No matter her age, her mother remained her boss. Laughing, she returned her arm to its resting place on the door and continued discussing with her mother when a car in the side mirror caught her eye. Shocked, she pulled her nails from her lips and leaned forward so she could make sure she wasn't seeing things.

"Dylan stop the car," she ordered, waiting for him to steer the car in a safe place, but she pulled on the door handle and used her body to push the door open before Dylan parked. "Stay in here, mother. I am going to take care of this once and for all."

Tossing her coat into the car, she slammed the door shut and walked, angrily, towards the black car that parked right behind her own. Without waiting for a second, she stopped at the tinted window of the driver's seat and rapped her long nails against it repeatedly.

"Get out of the car right now, get out. I am tired of having you as a shadow, and I want you to leave me alone." She tried the door, and it moved, to her surprise. She yanked it open and indicated for him to step out, which he did, slowly.

"Calm down, Cassandra." He requested as she shoved him away from her again. He tried to get closer again as she weaved away, pushing him firmly out of her path, using her eyes to communicate to him that she was serious.

She pushed the stray hairs from her face the rested both her palms on her hips, "It is not your place to even ask me to calm down because I am not even upset yet. I will file a restraining order on you if that is what it takes to keep you out of my life because it is my life. If I don't want you in it, I don't want you in it. Accept it, and move on."

"I am just trying to explain something to you. Why won't you just give me a chance?"

"Let me say this as slowly as possible because I am not sure you are even listening to me anymore, but here it goes. Stay. Away. From. Me." Stepping forward, Cassandra looked him in the eye as she continued to speak, "I want to make this as painfully clear as humanly possible. If I was alone, without Harrison or anyone to want me, I would rather die single than allow you to walk into my life again. Be careful with me; you don't know me."

Ignoring the shocked look on his face, she dropped her arms from her hips and turned on her heel as she stalked back towards her car. Dylan, wearing a weary look on his face, stepped forward, pulled the door open, and waited for her to sit before he closed the door gently. She noticed him staring at Harrison for a while before he stepped back and slid into the driver's seat.

Before they could drive away, she heard Harrison scream aloud, "You don't even know why I left. I love you, Cassandra!"

"Ask me if I care." She retorted although, she knew he couldn't hear her.

Cassandra meant every word she said to him; shedid not need him in her world anymore, not for a single second. She had her company,friends, her mother, her family. Even if she didn't have Harrison, she stillwouldn't welcome him back because loneliness would be a much better fate thanhaving him in her life again.