★Cassandra★
The silence that followed Timothy’s words felt like a punch to the chest. For a few seconds, no one moved. The world seemed to stop, even the ocean breeze through the balcony doors. Everything just froze. My mother’s hand was still halfway to her glass, her eyes fixed on Timothy as if she hadn’t heard him correctly. My father stared straight ahead, unblinking, his face unreadable. And me? I felt like I couldn’t breathe.
“Timothy,” I whispered, my voice breaking. “What…why…?” he looked at me, and I could see the regret in his eyes. But it was too late.
“Cassandra,” my mother said slowly as she lowered her hand. “Please tell me he is joking,”
“I…no, he isn’t,” I answered, and I swallowed hard. My father’s jaw tightened.
“You and Nathan?”
“Yes,” I said quietly. “We have b
