Happy reading I guess..

************

"Jeremy, I am worried about her," Catherine looked at him frantically.

"There is no way she will stay here after knowing I am the owner" Jeremy said but his eyes still stuck at the door. Cassandra looked cold and pale almost as if she was dead. He was holding on to the urge and stopping himself from going after her and dragging her here. He has no right to do so.

"Why?" Catherine asked looking at him, and he knew that she wanted answers and without that she would never let it go.

"Something happened in the past" Jeremy closed his eyes those days where it was hurtful for everyone.

"What?" That something he never wanted to answer. 

"Jeremy?" Catherine asked again.

"Do you remember the reunion that happened 5 years ago?" Jeremy asked. 

Catherine froze how she could forget about those days. She gave him a brief nod.

"The day after that, Cassandra came to me crying and in a very bad state. She was wearing Coltrane's shirt which was torn in many places I don't want to remember. After that stupid reunion Coltrane came to my house in the morning he said something happened between them. And I was stuck between them. I don't know who to choose. But I knew Coltrane before Cassandra so I did choose him" Jeremy sighed. That is the result of his immaturity.

"So, I did nothing and let her go away" he looked down guilty as the only thing he felt about that day. He was being immature at that time choosing a friend over another. He should have dragged her in and let them confront each other. Let it out and be done with. 

Catherine looked at him and tears filled her eyes, "Why? She... I" 

Jeremy cannot meet her eyes as she stares at him in disbelief.

"Do you know what she has gone through that day?" Catherine asked him painfully.

Jeremy shook his head, "Grandma died, she was thrown out of her own house" He froze as he listened to her. 

*******************

Cassandra's eyes widened, when she noticed where she was. Her eyes wander to the gate of the park. She felt her life collapse again. What is she really doing here?

Cassandra looked up at the night sky. Her eyes blank, not even a drop of tears left to cry. It's not the first time she has nowhere to go. Feeling the cold breeze of the night froze her even more.

After a long time, she sighed sitting on the bench inside the park, where her cafe is located.

Her head stopped working a while ago. She rubbed her face,'this is all my fault"

Now what?
What can she do? Find another job? Cassandra chuckled at her thoughts. No one in their right mind will appoint her. That's understandable.

Cassandra rubbed her face, her shoulder shaking a bit. She needs to control herself before having another mental breakdown. She takes a deep breath trying to control her nerves. After a while she calmed down. 

She was again staring at nowhere while sitting in the same position for god knows how long time.

"I was wondering, where were you?" Cassandra looked up with her eyes blank, face not giving anything that she acknowledged him but she stiffed up hearing the voice.

"What do you want?" She asked coldly, getting straight to the point. Coltrane stared at her for a while. 

It is almost 4 a.m. in the morning the sun will be coming out any moment.  He had badges under his eyes, he looked older and tired. He stayed silent and did not answer her question.

Coltrane took a seat beside her.

"I wanted to talk to you?" He crossed his hand over his chest. She just stared off in the far distance with a bored look. 

Coltrane breathed in and out before saying the words he wanted to say for a while, "I am sorry" that words came out without any difficulty. What he did was a huge mistake. He should not have.

Cassandra sighed, having nothing left to say. The bitterness of the situation was not in her favour. The emptiness spread around her like a wildfire and the desire to burn someone in the same fire rose within her. 

"What I did was wrong. Never once I  never thought this would happen. I know what I did was a mistake. I am not going to make excuses but I was not in the right frame of mind"

The truth was even though he asked her to be Catherine, he was very well aware of who she was. He could not bring himself to call her Catherine.

 "I felt betrayed by my own best friend and fiance, they played me. I was not thinking straight, I just wanted to get rid of that pain and I did what I thought would help me cope up. I am sorry for what I did." Coltrane sighed, closing his eyes and rubbing his face then his eyes landed on the bag laying beside her.

Cassandra just listened to his words. 
Betrayed?

"Is this some kind of joke where I am supposed to laugh?" She asked Coltrane to freeze him in the process.

"Betrayed??" Cassndra looked at him, her eyes blank as she stared at him coldly. 

"Who betrayed who?" She asked, chuckling coldly, for the first time he felt a shiver run down his spine.

"What are you trying to say... " Cassandra cut him off.

"You are talking about betrayal and this and that.. " She shook her head.

"How did they betray you? Isn't it either way around?" Cassandra raised her eyebrows mockingly. Coltrane froze for a while, he abruptly stood up.

"What the fuck are you saying?" He asked, gritting his teeth. Even though he heard her words quite clearly but his mind is not ready to register what she just said.

 But he will not sit here and let her put salt in his wounds even if he was somewhat at fault.

"I am simply saying that you have come between them," Cassandra said.

This was the same thing she wanted to say to Jeremy but she doesn't know what happened in the past. So, she kept quiet. But sitting here hearing him play the victim was not something she will let him do. And now it is confirmed that Coltrane has no idea about Jeremy and Catherine's past relationship.

"What the fuck are you say? Did you lose your memories due to those medicines you.....?" He glared at her. She flinched, seeing her flinching, he trailed off. Cassandra glared back at him.

"When the fuck did I ever come between them?" He asked coldly.

"Are you faking it? Or did you seriously have no idea?" Cassandra asked, raising her eyebrow, staring at him coldly.

"Do you think I can fake it?" Coltrane asked calmly.

"I can fake this sleepless night? Do you know how I feel? Do you know how much I wanted to….? Don't sit here spout nonsense when you have no idea, what the fuck I am feeling?" Coltrane yelled at her, breathing down on her face.

"Catherine has loved Jeremy since high school. They even dated each other. You are the third wheel. You came between them so don't sit here and act as if you are the victim. You are never the victim not even once in your life. If you don't trust my words go ask someone else " Cassandra glare at him.  Coltrane blinked , his anger rising.

"You are lying"  He punched the bench he was sitting on a while ago.

"Am I now? That does not change the fact that they are already married" Coltrane stared at her, eyes widened. Her eyes held weird kinds of emotions.

"What?" He felt the same numbness he felt before when he got to know they were having the child together spread through him. He was breathing hard.

"I am not going to sit here listening to your lies" Coltrane snapped and rushed out of there as fast as he could. A feeling of suffocation surrounds him. He needs to get far away from her. 

"She is lying, she has to be lying. I did  not come between them…." Coltrane  punched his car and took out his phone, pain is the only feeling, he is feeling. He takes out his phone and dial the number.

"Aaron speaking" he sighed almost grateful that Aaron picked up in one call.

"Hey! This is Coltrane" Coltrane gulped down.

"Hey! Bro what's up?" Aaron said.

"I want to ask you about Jeremy and Catherine. Where are they dating in high school?" He asked him abruptly.

"Where does this come from?" Aaron laughed, feeling a bit weird at that question.

"Answer me" Coltrane demanded.

"Yes" he cut the call the moment Aaron answered for some reason the anger he was feeling a moment ago vanished. He felt exhausted and the pain which he was not feeling a moment ago rushed back. He clutch his hand with his other hand. 

**************

Jemery stood there frozen, as Catherine cried "I .. I did nothing for her".

"It's alright. Calm down" He softly wrapped his arms around her pulling him into a hug.  He slowly ran his finger through her hair trying to calm her down. 

Catherine took a deep breath and calmed down after a while. Jeremy picked her up settling her on the bed, 

"Go to sleep" He covers her with a blanket before walking out of the room. She closed her eyes trying to sleep, clutching the blanket with her hand.

Jeremy sighed, sleep was still a dream for him. He remembered the conversation he had with Cassandra Walmart.

Jeremy rubbed his head even though he came to know the truth telling Coltrane will be another matter. 

The last thing Coltrane would want to do is see his face.

And now that he literally married Catherine, he would not be able to face Coltrane.

"Hello" He picked up his phone dialing his secretary's number.

"Boss just because you are nocturnal that does not mean  I am" James groaned, making him roll his eyes.

"I want you to keep tabs on Coltrane and Cassandra" Jeremy ordered him ignoring his comment. This is all he could do now.

Jeremy walked into the spare room before falling asleep on the bed. He closed his eyes breathing softly. 

Catherine tried to sleep but nothing calmed her down. She gets out of the bed looking for Jeremy. When she did not find him in the kitchen or the bathroom she entered the spare bedroom.

Jeremy was sleeping peacefully. She felt a pang of pain in her heart but she could understand his reasoning. He needed time to accept her as his wife. Catherine slowly sat down beside him, staring at his face pressing a kiss on his forehead. 

Jeremy wakes up in the morning feeling something heavy against his chest. He slowly opened his eyes to look at the mop of hair on his shoulder. He softly settled her down on the pillow before getting out of the bed. 
Jeremy softly brushes her hair out of her face, stares at her face. He should be angry that she invaded his privacy but he was not.

Catherie wakes up after sometime. She looked around the room, her eyes widened when realization hit her, "Jeremy?" 

"Here you go" She looked up from the hand who presented her with a glass of milk. Catherine blushed a bit awkwardly before silently taking it from his hand drinking it in one go. Her inside flutters as she realizes that he did not say anything to her.

Catherine takes a deep breath sighing a bit.

"Good morning!" She greeted him.

"Good morning" Jeremy said as he looked away thinking about things he should focus on. Catherine looked at him biting her lips giving him an awkward side glance.

"We are visiting my mother," Jeremy said blankly. Is this a good idea he wandered as bitterness filled him.

Catherine nodded her head. This was the only conversation she had with him. He did not say anything to her after that. They went to the nearest restaurant for breakfast. She ate silently for some reason Jeremy seems colder than ever. He has the same impassive face. Is this because of his mother?

How will Jane react?

"Are you thinking about Jane?" Catherine asked, her heart beat increased and she felt something bad was going to happen. He did not reply to her question.

The car drive was silent too Catherine gulped down before asking,
"Jeremy?"

"Hm?" He was staring right ahead.

"Are you alright?" His face stilled

Is he alright? That is quite a difficult question to answer but he gave her a subtle nod. 

Jeremy parked the car outside and went inside.

Catherine pressed the bell looking at her back where Jeremy is standing.

Jane opened the door. Her eyes widened looking at them. She sharply looked at Jeremy when her eyes landed on the ring.

Jane's facial expression relaxed as she smiled at them. Tears filling her eyes.

"Come in!" She opened the door wider and hugged Catherine than Jeremy.

"I am so happy for you son" but Jeremy did not react nor did he hugged her back.

Jane moved back her eyes shone with hurt, Jeremy turn to Catherine, "Take care of yourself, I will pick you up later"

Jeremy was ready to leave. He should not have come here not now when he is still hurting and he noticed how his mother looked at him.

"Jeremy, where are you going?" Jane asked.

"Away from you" Jeremy said coldly.

"Jeremy, Why? Why are you saying that?" Jane softly grabbing his hand.

"Are you really telling me this?" Jeremy asked, removing his hand from her.

"Jeremy.. How could you..?" Jane blinked her eyes.

"Did you forget what you said?" He asked.

"You told me not to show my face that you don't want me here. Did you forget?" Jeremy asked bitterly, feeling him. Jane's eyes widen.

"Did you think I would forget everything and pretend that everything is fine?' Jeremy asked, staring at her.

"Why did you think I tried not to visit you?" Jeremy asked.

"Say in the past after everything happened if I successfully died would you regret it? Jane's eyes filled with tears. Catherine gasped  her eyes widened as tears filled her eyes. 

Jane looked down.

"I remember what you said, it would have been better if I died before coming to this world" 

"How much do you think I could take this? How much should I take this before it stops?" Jane her lips, she felt guilty.

"Jeremy, You are my only son, I love you very much" Jane cried out.

"I love you too, Mother" he wiped her tears which escaped.

"I love you too, that 's the problem mother. I don't want to abandon you, that's why I married her against my better judgment..." Jeremy closed his eyes gritting his teeth trying not to let it out and have a complete break down.

"I don't want to abandon you like that man. You spend your whole life bringing me up. But the moment I do something or you hear something. You accuse me. Not once you listen to my side." He gulped down painfully. Jane looked at him and her face hurt. He felt hurt too.

"You do not trust me. I can never turn to you too have my back. You do not love me enough to believe in me. You never give me a chance to explain myself"

"You know what you are still stuck in the past, comparing me with that man at every chance you got. I am a tired Mother. I am tired of this. I have had enough Mother. Why do I always have to replace everything about myself to be with the person I love. Am I not good enough? Can I never be good enough for you?" 

"Jeremy" Jane cried out but he turned and walked away leaving Catherine and Jane behind.

Jane stared at Jeremy back, closing her eyes before turning to Catherine.

"It's all my fault" Catherine said looking down tears filled her eyes. Jane knows what he is saying. Who he is referring to?

"No, It's not your fault" Jane shook her head.

"Don't cry, it's not good for your health" Jane rubbed her tears away pressing a kiss on her forehead.

"I am sorry, I am so sorry. I am so sorry" Catherine said repeatedly. Jeremy was hurt how many times would she hurt him? How many times would he get hurt because of her?

"Breathe" Jane yelled at her, forcing her to look at her.

"Come on, come inside" Jane pushed her inside the door making her sit on the couch. She brings a glass of water for Catherine.

Who was in her own mind..

************

Cassandra was sitting the same way Coltrane left her. The next moment she felt his hand on her shoulder as he pulled her up him forcefully. Coltrane turned her to him.

"Why the fuck did you say that?" Cassandra looked at him, his eyes red. He was glaring at her.

"I want to hurt you. Is n't this reason  good enough?" Cassandra asked him blankly.

"I wanted to end this matter and find peace and you...." Cassandra did not let him finish.

"When will you stop behaving like a fucked up brat? You are just running away." She spared venomously 

"Find peace? You wanted peace? How dare you? when other people are suffering because of you?" Cassandra pulled herself away.

"Oh! And you think I am happy" he gritted his teeth.

Cassandra takes a deep breath sighing a bit.

"No one is happy. No one, I even forget the meaning of happiness" She laughed but this time a tear made it way down her cheeks.

"But at least I am not making a show out of it. I just wanted to be away from those fucking melodramas. I never wanted to marry you. I never wanted to get involved with the people in my past. I just wanted a closure damn it. Is that too much to ask?" Coltrane was stunned to silence.

"I never wanted this but I am suffering with you all. Why? Why is it always me who is suffering without any fucking reason? I just wanted to live my life peacefully " Cassandra said as tears fall from her eyes unchecked. That's not true she knows, she is the one who fucked her own life up.

Coltrane froze, his hands fell down to his side. The words he wanted to say, remain forgotten.

His eyes softened, without another word he slowly wrapped her in his arms. And she let him. Tears she thought dried up a long time ago were falling again. She couldn't hold it anymore.He hugged her tightly as she snuggled closer.

"Flynn" Coltrane turned when she flung her hands around him hugging him unconsciously then awkwardly backed away.

Coltrane laughed at her awkwardness before hugging her tightly. Cassandra struggle, her face heating up, "let me go asshole" 

"You are the idiot in here you know. All you need to do is tell me if you have any problem. I am always here to help you. So, stop worrying" Coltrane put his chin on her head. 

"Hmm" Cassandra mumbles snuggling close to him.

Coltrane blinked his eyes, shocked at what he just remembered.

How long has it been? When was that? When did he actually say that? 

The question swirled around his head.

*************

Thank you for reading dear readers..

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Until next time.

The next chapter is almost completed 🤭🤭🤭.

I will update it as soon as I can..