I know that I took too much time to update but I was going through major crisis. So I am sorry.

And thank you very much for reading the not an update and commenting on that. I know that was frustrating especially if you are waiting for an update but only to get an author's note. So, sorry for that. It almost over 3.5k so enjoy if you can..

**********

After reading Cassandra's letter..

They stayed silent. After her words. Cassandra does not have any idea what was going through his head. Coltrane just looked down, not bothering to answer anything for a while.

"You want a divorce?" He asked coldly. She glared at him, not going to back down.

"Yes" He smirked. She felt something akin to a cold shiver run down her spine. Did her answer amused him in any way? This does not seem to be good. 

It's good as long as she behaves strongly Coltrane could push her through her limits without thinking what will hurt her all the time.

"You want to take Cameron with you?" Coltrane asked again, this time his voice sounded blank. She glared at him flinching a bit when he held her hand pulling her awfully closer. She struggled as he put his mouth near her ear.

"You can't," She shivered, pushing him away as fast as she could.

"Why?" Cassandra asked.

"Do you actually think that your medical condition will allow you to adopt a child?" He asked. 

Cassandra felt hurt; she knew Coltrane never sugarcoated the truth. She smiles and mocks herself. She knows she is not fit to be a mother but hearing it out loud hurt her more than she could imagine.

"And another thing Cassandra" Coltrane's voice sounds colder as he holds her even closer.

"There will be no divorce" She struggled and pushed him away. He let her. She glared at him.

"Just because I can't have Cameron's custody does not mean I cannot divorce you" She said. Coltrane shook his head.

"If you think about divorcing me then Today will be the last day you see Cameron" He stares at her as her expression changes from angry to vulnerable. Coltrane flinched holding on to his urge to hold her.

"Listen Cassandra I don't want to do this" he gulped down trying to explain.

"Then why are you doing this?" Cassandra yelled as a tear rolled down her cheeks.

"Why can't you let me be?" She asked, crunching down on her stomach.

"I can't," He said coldly, rubbing his head.

"You are the only thing keeping me sane. Don't you get it?" Coltrane said, grabbing her hand and pulling her closer. He breathed down her face.

"You are keeping me stable on the ground. So, don't even think about going away. I won't let you. Do you hear me I won't?" Cassandra struggled as his grip tightened.

"I don't care" Cassandra yelled back tears that flushed her eyes. Lie. That's a big fat lie but she won't let him control her not anymore. She has had enough of them for once she wanted to live for herself and be selfish. He will not stop her from doing that no one will.

"It does not matter. It does not matter whether you care or not" that hurt him when she looked at him straight in the eyes telling him that she does not care but he won't let her go not anymore not now not ever.

"You will stay with me. That's final" Coltrane dragged her towards his car. She struggled.

"Let me go, Coltrane," Cassandra yelled, trying to break away from his grip.

"It's Flynn for you" Coltrane pushed her inside, locking the car. She was knocking yelling but he did not answer. He was just leaning on the door inside of the car from outside.

He closed his eyes, scared that he would lose her. 

"Coltrane opened the damn door" she knocked on the glass which he ignored for a while but that busted when he turned around to see blood on the glass.

Coltrane opened the door pulling her out, she slapped him right across his face, blood smudged on his face. She breathed heavily as angry tears fell from her eyes.

"Cassandra Coltrane Mayor, I warn you..." before he could continue she cut him off.

"That's not my name" She yelled glaring at him.

"I have had enough of this. Who the hell do you think you are? I don't want to do anything with you. Do you hear me? " Cassandra screamed.

"I don't care, I stopped caring" her voice sounded hoarse as she cried tears streaming down her eyes. Coltrane just stared at her as she crouched down taking a deep breath. 

Coltrane felt something akin to fear as if he will lose it. He crunch down in front of her. She looked up, her eyebrows furrowed. His hand went around her as he hugged her tight, not leaving a bit of space between them.

"I won't let you go" his voice still remained cold as he said forcefully burying his head on her shoulder as she struggled to get away from him.

"I can give you anything. Anything you want love , all you need to do is stay with me" Coltrane softly whispered as if she is a six years old kid.

"I don't want anything. I just want to get away from all these emotions and heartbreak. Why can't you understand?" Cassandra said, closing her eyes as he tightened his hold.

"I just want to give myself a chance to love me. I don't want any baggage from the past to hold me down" her voice breaks as she says those words. Her words only increase his fear of  losing her.

"Don't you love me?" Coltrane asked. She kept quiet. That's not something she could reply to.

"I know you do," he said.

"Stay with me, please" his voice was vulnerable which pieces her. She felt another tear slide down her eyes.

No she can't just go back into the circle of getting hurt, then hurting herself.

Cassandra tried to push him away before she gave him what he wanted.

"I  am sorry," she said, which he did not want to hear.

Coltrane pressed a kiss on her shoulder slowly trailing up to her neck. He licked her skin as she struggled to hold back a moan.

"Please" Cassandra choked as her cold exterior cracked a bit.

"Please let me go Coltrane. I cannot take this anymore. I am tired too tired to fight with anything" there she is trying to collect the last bit of self attachment she has with her life.

"I am broken. I can't do this to myself anymore" her words were more painful and heartbreaking than she let on.

"I will collect every piece and put it together. So please.." Cassandra cut Coltrane off as he was about to finish the sentence.

"What about the cracks? They will always remain" she stared off. 

"What about Cameron?" He asked.

"If I am not legally available to take care of him then you decide" Cassandra choked on her words.

"What if I decided to send him to an orphanage?" He asked coldy pulling her at a bit of distance. She froze her eyes widened but she said something even more heart wrenching.

"At least he will have a better childhood than me" Coltrane pressed his lips on her. Holding her nape. That was the last stroke as a tear fell from his eye.

He pressed his lips against her, not getting any reply. 

"Stay with me if you don't have anything else to do" Coltrane pleaded again. She smiled as a tear trailed down he knew she had nothing left to do. Asking her to stay on that basis was cold even for him.

"I can't" she pushed him away.

That was it, his last restrain broke. He stood up and grabbed her hand pulling her up. She was too shocked to react. 

He pushed her inside his car and locked her door. Coltrane walked around and opened the door.

"What the hell do you think you are doing?" She yelled at him but he did not reply. She tried to open the door. Her voice sounded hoarse after talking so much.

He sped his car towards his house. He  stopped the car.

"Coltrane??"  He opened the door. She glared at him.

After waiting for a while he grabbed her hand and dragged her inside. She struggled.

Ben was shocked looking at them. 

"Let go of me this instant" Cassandra yelled.

Coltrane pushed her inside the room before stepping in.

"I won't let you go"  He yelled back.

"Don't you dare think I am letting you go in anyway" Cassandra's eyes widened and she stared at him in shock for a while. This is the first time he told her that. As much as she wanted to relish this moment but her brain just blocked that feeling.

"I want a divorce" She glared at him. His jaw clenched as he pulled her towards.

"Enough of this stops pulling me. Who the hell do you think you are?" She said angrily, trying to twist her hand out of his grip.

"You want a divorce then you will get a divorce. I will call Jeremy, talk to him. But don't think for once I will let you go" 

"Have you lost your mind?" She  was getting frustrated saying the same thing again and again. Her voice sounds even more hoarse.

"Coltrane" Cassandra started to warn him but he cut her off.

"It's Flynn. It's Flynn for you. How many times do I need to tell you that?" He glared at her. She was being stubborn unnecessarily.

"Why can't you stay with me? It's not like you have anything better to do" Coltrane blurted out. She froze and nothing came out of her mouth for a while.

He regrets the moment those words left his mouth.

"I..." Coltrane tried to apologize but she stopped him.

"Don't! What you said is true though I have nothing to do" she laughed a bit.

"Cassandra"

"How can I forget what I really am?" She asked herself looking down, taking a deep breath and glare at him.

"I know I am useless, you don't have to tell me that. Just let me go and you won't have to deal with me" Coltrane closed his eyes and held his hold on her tight.

"I am sorry I didn't mean it" Coltrane said softly pressing a kiss on her forehead. Cassandra looked at him. He pressed his forehead against her. Breathing down on her. For a while she forgot to struggle at this. Something pierced her. This was the first time he was being like that. For a fleeting moment she wanted to let her believe but her past was enough to give her the warning she needed.

"Don't do this to me," She said, pleading him. He froze hearing the hurt in her voice.

Coltrane put her on an arm distance. The urge to hold her was strong. Even if she was putting up a fight. He is scared that she will break down again. 

"Let me go" Cassandra said again now she feels like a broken record.

"I can't," He sighed.

"Why can't you?" She snapped.

"I just can't" 

" I  am not Catherine," she said, going back to square one. He glared at her.

"I know that" 

"Then why? I feel suffocated. I don't want to do anything with you" she said.

"Shut up," he yelled.

"Don't you dare say that again?" Her words hurt him; this might be how she feels whenever he hurts her with his words. He closed his eyes trying to control his emotions.

"I don't want to do anything with you. I fucking don't care" she yelled.

"Does it actually matter?" Coltrane asked her coldly as she flinched.

"It does not matter what you want. And do I look like I care about that?" Coltrane asked her coldly.

"I.." before she could say anything, he pulled her in, kissing her roughly. She struggled but he forced her. This was not like any kiss he gave her before. It was strange, which scared her. She does not want to feel anything different. She wants to make a stand for her and that's what she did. 

Cassandra pushed him with all strength slapping him across.

"Don't touch me" her voice failed her and it came out as whispered. A tear trails down her cheek. 

Coltrane felt something piercing him, her eyes held hurt. He closed his eyes the more he tried the messier it became.

He walked out, closing the door, locking her inside. 

"Ben don't let her out at any cost" he ordered Ben.

"Where is Cameron?" Coltrane asked him not to see anyone.

"In his room" Ben answered only to get a nod in reply. Coltrane stood there after a while and decided to check on him before going out. Cameron was sleeping; he was glad. That kid might have cried himself to sleep.

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

Coltrane went to his office trying to get some work done but everything seems to be crashing down on him. He closed his eyes and everything seemed like a mess. His concentration was everywhere except work.

He closed his eyes for a while then picked up his cell phone.

"I am coming" Coltrane said before rushing out. 

Jeremy was sitting on his bed inside his penthouse after what happened today he can still hear that I love you..

He felt his heart flutter and the uneasiness with that increase. That when Coltrane came bargaining in his home.

Jeremy was a busy man. He is well known in his profession. But never in his career did he think that the man he knew for the last two decades would stand in front of him saying those words. 

When he got the call he was a bit shocked. His personal life is a mess he does not want to add on but it is not like he will do anything about it either so he did not object when Coltrane said he was coming but hearing those words shocked him to core.

"You did what?" Jeremy asked, unable to believe he was hearing those words. For the first in his life he was feeling speechless. Nothing came out of his mouth.

Coltrane glare at him, clenching his teeth he repeated, " I caged her" 

"Who?" Jeremy asked, he had a very good idea whom he was talking about.

"Cassandra " Coltrane looked away. 

Jeremy stared at him in shock, "Are you listening to yourself?"

"You can't force her to stay with you and cage her????" Jeremy said, glaring at him.

" Have you lost it?" He yelled trying to keep his voice down. 

Coltrane glared at him, the idea of coming here and talking to him was useless. Jermy was busy criticizing him. He takes a deep breath.

"Well, it's not like I did something illegal," he said coldly.

"This is illegal damn it keeping someone against their wish is illegal and for once" Jeremy rubbed his head frustrated.

"She is my wife, I can keep her wherever I want" Coltrane hissed.

"No you can't damn it" Jeremy bite back. After seeing her in that condition, how could Coltrane do something like this to her?

"She was asking for a divorce" 

"So?" Jeremy grit his teeth.

"It's her choice and her decision"  Coltrane glared at him.

"You are no one to say anything on that. If she wants a divorce then she gets that" Jeremy said.

"Do you actually think I will let her go even if she gets a divorce?" Coltrane said coldly. Jeremy stared at him.

"She will stay with me with or without her will" Coltrane said his voice was coldly so was his eyes. Jeremy closed his eyes as he felt the same shiver. He was behaving the same way he did in the hospital.

Jeremy still remembers his words.

"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.

"Coltrane?" Jeremy called him, Coltrane was just staring at nowhere, his jaw clenched.

"Why are you so obsessed with Cassandra?" Jeremy asked him. He blinked his eyes and stared at him in confusion. As if why was he even asking him this question.

"She loves me" Coltrane replied.

Jeremy stares at him, noticing his facial expression change, " What if she stops loving you?" 

Coltrane stared at Jeremy, "She won't" his answer was blank.

"What if she really does fall in love with someone else?" Jeremy said away trying to push his button.

Coltrane laughed as if he said something funny for a while before saying coldly, " She won't, she is not going to fall for anyone. For the last 10 years she loved me and the rest of her life she will love me only"

"You are no one to dictate about it, Coltrane" Jeremy glared at him.

"You want to ask her? Then let's go" Coltrane said.

"I don't want to ask her, I want to ask you. Answer me how you will take it? Coltrane? Why are you so obsessed with her? Why? Why cannot  you let her go and give her peace?" Jeremy yelled.

"Because I love her" Coltrane yelled back.

"That does not answer anything. Just because you love her does not mean you can snatch her freedom. You are obsessed with her and not in a healthy way" Jeremy said. 

"So tell me Coltrane, What if she stands  in front of you and tells you that she loves someone else? And ask you to let go" Coltrane glare at him.

"I will lock her up. She is mine" Jeremy stared at him wide eyes a cold shiver ran down his spine as he heard his answer.

"She would not fall for anyone. Do I make myself clear?" Coltrane asked coldly before walking out. Jeremy walked behind.

"I want to talk to her," Jeremy said. Coltrane did not say anything as he let him.

The drive was silent but they entered the mansion everything was a mess.

"Coltrane Flynn Mayor opened the damn door"  Cassandra yelled, knocking down the door. Cameron was standing there shocked. He tried to open the door but Uncle Ben stopped him.

"I will burn down the whole house if you don't open this damn door" She yelled as her voice sounded different.

"Cameron why don't you go have your dinner?" Ben said calmly trying to ignore the fact that Mrs.Mayor was on a rampage.

"But.." Cameron tried to protest but was cut off by Coltrane. 

Coltrane rolled his eyes shaking his head,"Cameron go have your dinner" he ordered looking at Ben.

He opened the door calmly. Cassandra glared at him, her eyes red. Her hand was bleeding and the room was a mess.

"Are you alright?" Jeremy asked.

"I am fine," she said coldly.

"I am fine with this but not those"  Coltrane pointed at his room when he said this than her hand when he said those.

"Oh! Do you think I care?" Cassandra asked as her voice choked. The anger she was feeling washed away for a while as she slowly slid down exhaustion built not only that she was trying to keep her emotions in check but tears rolled down her cheek which shocked both Coltrane and Jeremy.

The moment Coltrane tried to touch her.

"Stay away" She yelled, wiping her eyes. She stood up. Coltrane was just standing in front of her when she slapped him right across his face.

"Who the hell do you think you are?" She said.

"I have had enough of you"

"I am more determined to get a divorce from you. Do you hear me? I want to get the hell away from you and I will take Cameron with me" she said coldly.

She directed her cold eyes on Jeremy, "How can I get Cameron's  custody?" She asked.

"You need to see a psychiatrist for at least six months to get a green card. After that you need to..." Jeremy could not get to finish his words.

"What did you just say?" Coltrane's voice was controlled when he grabbed her hand, turning her towards him.

"You heard me" her eyes burn with anger as she struggles. No way in hell she will back down.

He was towering over her, "I will get...."

"I will give you the divorce you want" Cassandra froze for a while.

"Jeremy filed for a divorce" Coltrane said but his eyes were still staring at her as she struggled.

"But remember the moment you signed those divorce papers you will sign your freedom away" Coltrane let her go. He walked out. Her heart skipped a beat, she stared at Jeremy who just looked at him. 

Jeremy sighed that he needed to tell her exactly what he said. Something about this whole situation is off because Coltrane Flynn Mayor does not throw out threats he cannot fulfill.

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

Hello dear readers, sorry for the late update but trust me I will update the next chapter faster I promise.

Thank you very much for commenting on my not an update chapter. I am really grateful.

Thank you for read and waiting.

Do share your thoughts and comment...

Until next time which will come soon  I promise..