Chapter Eight
I dug into the food the maid had prepared for me.
My stomach had begun to rumbled earlier making me realized I hadn't eaten anything the whole day, so she decided to get me something.
Cassie had wanted to say something, but one glance from me made her go quiet.
After the maid gave me the food, she called it cereal. I didn't know what it was, but it tasted damn amazing. I loved the taste in my mouth.
As I ate, Cassie fumed across the room, but I didn't care. She paced back and forth with a temper, like she was waiting for someone, and maybe she was.
The door suddenly opened, and a man rushed in, panting lightly. Judging from the way he stared at me, the little memories flashing through my head, and the ache I felt in my chest the moment he walked in, I could easily tell who he was.
Neo.
The one who broke her heart and betrayed her with her best friend.
He was nothing different from my Rhydion.
My Rhydion?
He was never even mine.
"She slapped me, Neo. She slapped me," Cassie cried, rushing over to him as if she hadn't tried to slap me first.
The man walked closer, staring deeply at me — especially my eyes.
"She can see? She's really not blind?" he turned to Cassie.
I saw the fear that crossed his face at just the thought of it.
"Yes, but that's not the matter right now, babe. She slapped me," Cassie curled into him, acting pitiful.
"How can you say that's not the matter right now? Do you have any idea what's going on?" Neo's voice rose slightly, sounding frustrated.
Cassie immediately let go of him and shifted away with guilt.
I kept eating like nothing was happening.
Neo dragged Cassie slightly away from me. It was a little far from where I sat, but I could hear them clearly because of my sharp hearing.
Part of what mermaids possessed was heightened hearing.
And I immediately guessed my powers were still within me.
"D–did you think she tricked us? Has she been lying to us?" Cassie stuttered, glancing at me in fear.
She bit her fingers nervously. "T–there's no way. I made sure to confirm every day that she was really blind."
She pulled something out of her pocket that caught my attention.
"Even the doctor confirmed it. H–how did she—"
"That thing in your hands… where is mine?" My voice suddenly echoed across the room, interrupting them.
Both of them froze.
"What are you talking about?" Neo asked.
I pointed at the glowing thing in Cassie's hand. I had seen it earlier with the maid too.
Neo followed my gaze and raised a brow. "A cellphone?"
"So that's what it's called." I stood and took it from her before she could react.
They both stared at me like I was crazy.
Maybe I was.
"She's suffering from amnesia. A severe one," a calm voice said from the doorway.
It was Noah.
The moment I saw him, something in me softened without permission. I rushed over to him immediately, still holding Cassie's phone.
"Teach me how to use this, Noah."
Neo and Cassie stood there in stunned silence.
Later, Neo handed me my own cellphone, and Noah taught me how to operate it before leaving. I was quite sharp, so I picked it up quickly. It was exciting.
Days later…
I lay on the bed — my bed.
I had taken the room back from Cassie without hesitation.
The mattress was soft. Too soft. I rolled slightly, enjoying the strange comfort.
Neo hadn't defended Cassie when I reclaimed the room. Of course he hadn't. He was too busy pretending to be the perfect husband — thinking Estelin had forgotten everything.
Unfortunately for them…
Estelin was gone. And I am not weak.
I scrolled through my phone, though boredom crept in. Noah said I could talk to anyone.
But I had no one.
My thoughts drifted to Aunt Lyra. Strangely I missed her
Even though she wasn't my real mother, she had raised me after mine died.
If the king discovered I had escaped, Would she be punished? Locked away in the dungeon?
The thought made my chest tighten.
"She will be fine."
A voice suddenly echoed in my head.
I froze.
What was that? But soon ignored it.
My stomach rumbled, and I instantly knew I was hungry.
I stood to get something to eat. As I walked down the hallway I noticed Neo's door slightly open, enough to see.
Cassie was lying on his chest on the bed.
Shameless.
"When is she finally leaving our lives?" Cassie complained softly. "She even forced me out of my room, and you said nothing."
"I had no choice," Neo replied. "Once I become chairman, everything will change. As a director, my hands are tied. I still need Estelin's signature to finalize the transfer."
Transfer?
"So I have to wait longer?" Cassie scoffed.
"Not long," Neo chuckled. "Someone like her won't suspect anything."
"Still…" Cassie hesitated. "She feels different. She scares me."
At that moment, I pushed the door open and stepped in.
Cassie immediately jumped away from Neo.
"Estelin?" she asked carefully. "You shouldn't be here, I thought you were resting. The doctor told you to."
"I think I should be asking that," I said calmly. "Why are you here?"
"I just needed to discuss something with Neo. You know he's like a brother to me."
"No," I replied evenly. "I'm asking why you're still in this house."
Her expression shifted.
"I'm your friend."
"I don't remember that," I said. "Friends don't leech off married couples."
I sat on the edge of the bed beside Neo.
Cassie's jaw tightened.
"Are you seriously asking me to leave?" She scoffed.
"I'm not asking. You're leaving. This is my house."
"Neo, you're going to sit there and let her talk to me like that?"
Neo said nothing. He didn't defend her.
She slipped on her slippers and stormed out.
After she left, Neo sighed. "That wasn't necessary. Cassie has always been here. She helped you when you couldn't see."
"Do you want to leave with her?" I asked calmly.
He went still.
"I'm just trying to talk to you… as your husband."
Husband?
I ignored him and try to lay on the bed But I couldn't.
The sheets stink of Cassie.
Bastards.
I will teach them a lesson.
"I need to show you something," Neo said, walking toward his drawer.
I didn't wait to see what it was.
I left the room and slammed the door behind me.
I hadn't taken many steps before I saw Cassie, waiting.
For me?
She gave me a warm smile.
That snaky smile.
"What you saw earlier isn't what you think, Estelin. You're my friend, and Neo is like a brother to me." She grabbed my hands and gently caressed them.
All pretense.
"I never said anything. Is your conscience judging you?"
"I… what are you talking about? I just felt you might have gotten the wrong idea."
"Then let me ask this straight. Have you been sleeping with your brother Neo?"
Her face paled.
"What? Of course not! Why would you say something so absurd?"
"Just joking." I gave her a faint smile and walked away.
"I know you were, you will never think such." Cassie said nervously after me.
I ignored her and placed a call to Noah instead.
"Pick me up. Now."
Behind me, Cassie's voice sharpened. "You're going somewhere?"
"Yes," I replied without turning. "And when I return… I don't want to see you here."
I finally faced her.
"You disgust me."