Here it is another chapter.

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

"No," Coltrane whispered, shaking harder as tears fell from his eyes. 

Those days were precious to him too. How could he forget? Those days where they don't hold back anything. They were happy to be in that class together. Forgetting their life problems for that instant. It was a slice of heaven for them. How is that heaven shattered.

"How could she say she does not want to live?" Coltrane asked.

"She needs to live at any cost"

Her blank hopeless eyes, smiled at him.

"Coltrane?" Catherine called, he flinched.

Everything is going to be fine Coltrane. 

His heart broke into million pieces. Catherine was already crying after reading the letter.

"Nothing is going  to be fine" He whispered.

"Please" Coltrane begged.

"Please, don't leave me" his begging chilled Jeremy as he took the letter from her hand and read it. As he read the letter a tear escaped from his eyes. This cannot be for real, he bitterly thought.

"I need to get out of here" Coltrane stood up hurriedly to get away from here. But Jeremy stopped him.

"Don't you dare run away" Jeremy's cold voice stopped him. Grabbing his collar pushing him to the side. Catherine's eyes widened as she hurried to him.

"You don't know how I feel damn it," Coltrane yelled.

"Jeremy?"

"I don't give a fucking fly about your feelings. You are going to stay here" he pushed him to the chair.

"Stay away" Jeremy ordered her. Catherine stepped back due to his temper.

"I have had enough of this bullshit" He told them coldly glaring at them.

"If she dies we need to take responsibility for her, Coltrane" Jeremy pushed him.

"She is not going to die..." Coltrane glared at him.

"Please" Jeremy begged him and let him go.

Coltrane sighed sitting on the chair, his face turned into a cold mask. As he fights with his inner turmoil. 

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

They waited for hours to get any news on her. As the time tricked everything seems more real. They felt cold as every hope shattered slowly.

Carson and Carina Walmart came too. Carson felt horrified after what happened today in the morning he felt guilty overwhelming him. Tears of regret fall from his eyes. He called Cassandra while coming here. He did not say anything about her condition. He has no idea how Carina will react? But does he care ? He does not. 

Carina glared at Catherine but Catharine ignored her. She has not said anything other than that. 

The defeating silence was telling a story no one wanted to hear.

Austin was standing and staring at the door. He has  not said anything after that. Not a word.

After that there were many times the doctors were in and out of the I.C.U. 

"How is she?" There was no positive response not once.

After sometime the doctor came out.

He looked at Austin. 

"What is it?" Austin asked.

"How is she?" Jeremy asked.

"I am sorry" the doctor shook his head. 

"We tried our best," Austin looked down as a tear fell from his eyes. Coltrane stood up.

"She is not responding to anything we do" The doctor said.

"24 hours if she does not respond we will need to remove her ventilation" the doctor precisely told them.

The ground slipped underneath his feet. A sob escaped through her sister. Everything felt heavy. 

They all stand there as if they could see her cold lifeless form. But Coltrane was rooted in his place, Not once did he move or blinked. He sat there, he couldn't believe his own ears. 

"Can we see her?" Jeremy asked.

"Yes you can, she will be shifted to a private bed, '' he said. Everything happened as they took her out of the I.C.U.  Her heartbeat was too low for a normal living person.

"She is not dead yet. Why are you all crying?" Coltrane asked loud enough for everyone to hear.

They all entered one by one to see her.

Coltrane feels a hand on his shoulder, Catharine's puffed red eyes drawn in what exactly is happening and he is going to lose her at any moment. He gulped down, unable to compromise his situation. He stood up numbly and entered her room. His eyes fell on her lying on the bed, not the woman who was a sobbing mess beside him. She is sleeping peacefully  if he ignores all those beeping machines. He made up his mind then why are they crying... 

"Coltrane..." He flinched. Jeremy was right beside him. It was another day at school. He was annoyed. He does not want to go to his class. Those obnoxious rich kids do nothing but just show off how much money they have. And bully normal class students. He also heard how they wanted Jeremy to notice them so that they could do anything, even play dirty. He does not know how Jeremy became famous. But that's not the problem here. He just does not like his class that's it.

"Where's the troublemaker going to class today?" Coltrane asked mockingly.

"She might already be in the classroom. As stupid as she looks she is good in studies. To good actually sometimes it seems the only thing she ever did in her life is study" Jeremy said.

"For real?" Coltrane asked, almost dumbfounded at his words.

"Don't you know she has the second highest score in our school entrance exam. I was first by a small margin" Jeremy raised his eyebrow. He was quite upset at that fact.

"Oh" Coltrane shook his head.

"If I take this exam I will be with you guys" He whispered. After thinking about it for a while he decided.

He was walking down the hall to the Principal's  office. He gets to know there is no necessity for a test ; he can simply apply for it and transfer out of his class. That's what he did.

"Flynn" that's the first thing he heard. His eyes settled on the last bench where she was waving her hand. Everyone in the classroom turned towards him. He forced a smile.

Jeremy raised his eyebrows as he walked in going to the last bench.

"Can you stop shouting?" Coltrane snapped taking an empty seat before her.

"Why?" She gives him a confused expression. 

" Because it's annoying," he glared at her. He is not much of a people person.

"Ok.. Ok stop acting like you would have pissed your pants", Cassandra laughed. He stares at her eyes widened, mouth half open trying to find a retort.

His mouth lifted at an upturn grin as he sat beside her chair. Grabbing her cold hand in his warm ounces. Then he felt a warm hand on his cheek, forcing him to look at her. 

"Snap out of it. " Coltrane slapped her hand away and glaring at Catharine. He ran his hand through her cold hand. He was wondering why she was getting colder. He stood up to cocoon the blanket around her. 

When he put it. Catharine just stared at him horrified. Austin already told them people don't return from life support. Those machines around her were the reason she was breathing.

"How did it come to this?" Catherine asked, tears falling freely.

"We were late. When we admitted her she was already in a coma due to the huge amount of blood loss" Austin answered blankly.

"You know she was not going to make it" Jeremy said.

"This is the reason you never entered the I.C.U" Austin shook  his head. 

"No but I thought this could be a result" Austin said, he was quite aware of the situation. But he desperately tried to hold on to the fact that she can be saved. A tear rolled down his cheeks. He cannot watch her body slowly growing cold. 

Coltrane silently sat there staring at her. He takes her hand in his, holding on to it as if his life depends on it.

'Heart beat is slowing down' his eyes widen.

" No this can't be happening" Realisation hit harder than he expected. Tears fall out of nowhere. Catherine hugged him but he felt nothing, no warmth. A shiver ran down as he could feel her cold hand. 

Coltrane stood up there in a still position, a pin drop silent echoing throughout the room, a hollow echo. The only sound came from Catharine as she sobbed tears mixed with pain flowing out to dissolve the heartache. After all only she has the right to cry. 

No one cried, Carina stared at her daughter, the burning hatred dimmed at last but the blank feeling , Is it worth it? 

Carina slid down, fell on the floor, 'off course , mom' the sweet whisper will haunt her till death. Never once did she see her as her daughter but the copy of her decisive sister. But now that she sees through the curtains of hatred only to see a life less doll. Because it's too late to see the person anymore.. 

"What are you doing here?" Carina scolds her, glaring at her with pure disdain. 

"Mom, Is Dad here?" The thirteen year old girl asked looking at her mother with a smile, it's been 2 months since the last time she saw her because her daughter was sick. Now that Catherine recovered she did not want to see her. But Cassandra came to the main house. How dare she ? Even though she knows that she is strictly not allowed here. 

"No, he is not? Why?" Carina asked a permanent scowl itched on her face. As much as she wanted to yell at her she stopped as the servant was all over the house.

"I need some money, I will pay it as soon as I get my payment." little Cassandra said gleefully a bright smile crossed her face, she became excited about grandma's birthday. She specially worked at the cake shop so she could save some money. But the cake aunty got sick and now on bed rest. She cannot ask her for money so she came here as the last restore.

"HOW DARE YOU COME HERE AND ASK FOR ALLOWANCE?GET OUT OF HERE.. DON'T SHOW YOUR FACE HERE ANYMORE."  She hissed at her daughter. Her eyes widen as recognition set in, she is not needed here. Not anymore.

"I am sorry, I am so sorry " Cassandra bowed her head as tears fell from her eyes...... 

"I am sorry, I am so sorry " Carina bowed just like her daughter but no response but only a cold silence.. Everything fell apart. 

Her world turns upside down. She wanted Cassandra  to suffer the life of loneliness as she suffered and till going to.

She felt a hand on her shoulder, "It's my fault" Carson whispered, after 25 years he put his hand on her. Carina usually flinched at his touch but today she let go. After all, the price had been paid. She shrugged her shoulders and walked out on everyone, dragging herself out of the suffocating place. At least the relation between her daughters is good. 

Carson stared at her, never once did he open his mouth or try to stop the thing because guilt always eroded his sense to think, 'what was he thinking?' He can never be forgiven but he didn't know that her life will be the price of his mistake.

************ 

Jeremy stands there staring at her. He feels cold. Catherine was crying. He pulled her closer letting her cry. She sobbed.

"Shut up," Coltrane yelled, glaring at her.

"She is not dead yet. Jeremy took her home" Coltrane was at his end wits. He can't let himself break not right now but her constant crying makes it harder.

"No... I " Catherine whispered in a hoarse voice.

"Why don't you take a rest while we wait? I can ask for a rest bed, "Jeremy said. Catherine shook her head but Jeremy did not hear anything. He went to the receptionist and asked for a sick bed. Then he forced her on the bed. 

After telling her to rest even if she can't fall asleep. He sat down beside Coltrane who was staring at Cassandra for a while.

"I wished I was not so late" Coltrane looked down. Jeremy stared at him not knowing what to say. He,  himself, was not in the position to console someone else. He kept silent and let him open up. 

"Even though I am telling everyone that she is still breathing. I don't know myself" A tear fell from his eye. Even he has doubts. Jeremy thought. 

"I love her," Coltrane said. 

"Who?" Jeremy asked bitterly. 

"Cassandra" he whispered. Jeremy felt somewhat relieved but why is he this way? Shouldn't they be happy? If only Jeremy  knew what he did to her he would have punched him in his face. 

"She is not the way she was. She is not the Cassandra I know" 

"I overlooked her changes but now that I see. This Cassandra is the shell of that Cassandra '' Coltrane mock himself. He shook his head as painful memories flooded his head. 

"I make sure she knows that I will never love her even if she is the last person on every occasion" Coltrane's eyes turn red in pain and hurt. 

"How ironic I told her so many times that I love Catherine and she stands there silently listening to me? If she said that she loves someone else. I don't know what I would have done?" His fist clenches in what he has no idea. But he knows that he will do something horrible. 

"You are not in love with her, Coltrane. The right word is obsession" Jeremy said coldly.

"Am I now?" Coltrane chuckled coldly.

"I won't let her go" He said smirking.

"Aren't you being unreasonable now?" Jeremy asked. 

"I know I am," he laughed. 

"But I don't care as long as she stays with me with or without her consent" Coltrane rubbed his head. 

"She is mine, she is supposed to be mine. She is my wife and She will love me and me only like she always did. Once she opens her eyes, I will not let her go. So tell her to wake up" Coltrane said those words coldly. 

"Snap out of it Coltrane" Jeremy punched him tight on his face. 

"Are you out of your mind? Did you hear what you just said?" Coltrane blinked his eyes and turned his face away. 

"You can't force her like that if you love her" He yelled. 

"You are being insane" Jeremy glared at him.

"Insane?" Coltrane  laughed. 

"I can't be sane Jeremy" he said shaking his head.

"If I start being sane, guilt will eat me away. You don't know what I did to her" his words broke off.

"You don't know how I ask her, Why is she breathing? You don't know how I used her. I slept with her and asked her to pretend to be Catherine" his words shocked Jeremy. Austin was standing here, walked up to him and punched him right across his face.

"w...a..a...a..t..e..e..r" the soft unbearable whisper. Stopped their breathing.

"Cassandra?"

They called the doctor. The doctor said it was a miracle. That she woke up. They sedate her and she will again wake up tomorrow morning.

Austin looked at them," How is it possible that she woke up?" 

The doctor smiled at him nervously, "Are not you happy that she woke up?"

"No I am but this looks suspicious" his cold calculation eyes looked at them. Before calling the doctor he checked her eyes and pulse. Everything was normal. And she does not have any damage from the blood loss. He should have checked it out earlier but he was too busy grieving and the report does not seem suspicious at all because he thought this could happen due to the blood loss.

"The reports were false. Isn't it?" Jeremy was standing there and for the first time he put his input.

"Will you start speaking the truth?" Austin asked the doctor.

"Someone asked us to do this," the doctor said nervously.

"Who?" Coltrane asked, he pointed behind him.

"It can't be me," Carina said. 

They know it can't be her. Because she was with them all the time. And before that she was with Carson. A dread filled them as the answer clearly indicates.

"Let me guess," Carina Walmart said.

"It was my sister right" her cold calculative voice spoke through the room the words they don't want to believe.

"What are you saying?" Carson said.

"Don't you think it's weird that you called her and she is still not here" her words make sense but they cannot rely on that.

"I don't believe you," Coltrane said.

She smirked, "It's not like I want you believe me" 

Carina sighed, " I heard that she is not in the family register. It's not possible. My father loved Cassandra. He will never do something like that" She looked down. 

"He made sure nothing unfair happened to Cassandra so he divided the property into equal halves. And write it under Cassandra and Catherine" 

"The one who was thrown out of the register was Cassandra Walmart, her mother," Carina looked at them.

"Do you actually think that woman who left her daughter all of a sudden came back because she felt guilty?" Carina words make them flinch.

"She wanted to do that. The first try was 5 years ago. When she was misinformed about her family register." Her words were true, they knew that. Even though they want to deny facts.

"Why would your family lawyer lie?" Jeremy asked.

"It's easy to lie when that family lawyer is your husband" She stared at Jeremy.

"I am talking about your father Jeremy,  Jordan Gautier" Jeremy froze.

"Your mother was a first class prostitute, who got pregnant. And your father refused to marry her. I still remembered how she begged him crying saying that she was the first woman" Jeremy stared at him shocked. Everything he heard just shook him.

"Catherine knows that. That's why she pitted you" her words did not hold any malice. According to her, she was stating the truth.

"That's when Cassandra has an affair with Jordan. He threw Jane out and married Cassandra '' Carina said.

"How do you know all that?" Carson asked, stepping closer to her, grabbing her hand. 

"You know why. Don't you?" She smirked. Carson glared at her.

"Because I am Cassandra," she said.

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

To be continued...

Thanks for reading.

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Until next time....