Chapter 4
1765 Words
Cassandra’s Pov:
The drive from Melbourne to Canberra is almost 8 hours long, something that Jasper and Layla hate but never complain about. Because they know I hate flying. Aerophobia is something I have had since I was a kid. I tried to overcome this many times, but it never worked.
But of course, I got better at bearing and acting okay because we had to fly all over the world once every three years for the trip. Except that, I try to avoid planes and flying like my life depends on it.
After hours of driving, we finally reached Canberra. After dropping Jasper home, Layla and I head home.
“Finally, the familiar smell of home!” Layla exclaims as we each enter the living room.
Did I mention that Layla is my cousin? From my dad’s side actually. When she was only three, her parents died in an accident, and my parents didn’t even hesitate to adopt her.
Many people outside say that it’s because of the huge fortune she is going to inherit when the time comes, but no one knows that my parents took her in all because of love. Even Layla knows it. After all, my dad being the CEO of the Steel Corporation means we have wealth that we won’t be able to spend in a few hundred years.
“Familiar smell of home? Seriously?” I ask chuckling as i tell the maids to take my luggage to my room.
“Ahh, my babies are here!” Mom says, engulfing us both in a tight hug.
“Easy mom, don’t kill them so soon.” Shaun, my annoying brother, says munching on an apple. His dirty blond hair slightly messy and his casual attire that he would never wear outside, tells me that he must have just gotten out of bed.
“Nonsense. Let me take a look. You two have gotten so thin. Don’t you girls eat anything there? I even sent three chefs to your place last month so you guys could eat properly. How come you two have gotten this thin?” Mom nags, and I roll my eyes.
“Mom, we live in an apartment. We don't have extra rooms for chefs. And it’s too troublesome if they come and go three times every day. We can cook on our own.”
“Exactly, Aunt. We aren’t that busy that we can’t cook.” Layla echoes with me.
Mom frowns in displeasure. “Your dad already bought two villas and a mansion for you in Melbourne. Jasper too has a villa there. Those are all in the high end area, it’s very safe and secure there. But you three still insist on living in a three room apartment near college. What's so good about it?”
“Our apartment is also in a high end area aunt.” Layla says, and I nod.
“Yeah. We just prefer to live in a small and cozy place.”
“Tsk, she just doesn’t want to be monitored by your spies 24/7 mom.” Shaun taunts, and I glare at him.
Mumma’s lackey.
“You shut up. Aren’t you her biggest spy?” I say and turn towards mom. “Mom, do you know your son changes girls like clothes? He has already slept with half of our college.”
“Don’t talk nonsense in front of mom. It’s called getting to know each other. And it’s not my fault that girls willingly come after my handsome face.” He says smugly, and I look him up and down with a disgusted face.
I don’t even understand what girls see in him.
“He is that popular? Thank god, I almost thought he swung the other way. It would be my good fortune if he brings home a girl anytime soon.” Mom says with a displeased frown, and Shaun chokes at her words.
“Heard this, brother? Start getting serious.” I say, wiggling my brows, and he frowns.
“What's the rush for? I am only 22 for gods sake.” He says and escapes before mom can start lecturing him.
“He is going to graduate this year yet he is as unserious as Queen.” Mom says, shaking her head.
And for the fact, Queen is our very lazy and arrogant cat. She can lay in the same spot for the whole day without moving.
Seriousness level -100
“Aunt, Cass i will go to my room.” Layla says
“Me too. I am tired.” I say, and mom nods.
“I will send some snacks and drinks for you girls. Go get some rest.”
~~~
Kayden’s Pov:
“You bastard. You didn’t even tell us that you were coming back.” Shaun says, punching my chest playfully before pulling me in a hug.
“It was a sudden decision,” I reply, and Aiden snorts.
“It’s always sudden with you.”
Aiden and Shaun, my best friends and partners in crime. We were always causing chaos when we were studying in the States.
“What can I say? I am special like that.” I say with a grin, which makes them snicker.
But then, they decided to come back, and I was left alone there. So I did what I had to. I almost killed someone and put him in a coma for the rest of his life. In my defence, I did make sure to choose a criminal as my victim so I wouldn’t harm any innocent person.
But it didn’t matter as it was still an attempt to murder. And of course, my dad will not let his perfect image be ruined because of me, nor would he let his only son have a stain in his perfectly planned life. So he allowed me to come back so I wouldn’t dare do anything like this again under his monitoring.
Trust me, a misunderstanding it is if he thinks he can control me.
“I heard you even went to a party yesterday and had some problem with Marcel?” Aiden asks, taking a seat, and my eyes darken for a second, remembering that waste of a human.
“Broke both of his hands, I heard. You know he is going to get back to you, right?” Shaun asks, and I shrug carelessly.
“He can try if he wants to be buried underground.”
“Did you guys have an argument or what? You don’t usually get violent in public.” Aiden asks, and I tilt my head, giving him an innocent smile.
“His face made me angry. Is that reason enough?”
Shaun snickers and shakes his head with a calculating smile. “Fair enough I guess. I have wanted to punch his face for a long time.”
His eyes turn a little cold as he turns towards me.“I heard you started messing around with girls as soon as you arrived?” I can even hear the bitterness and anger in his voice.
I raise both my hands in mock surrender. “In my defence, I did not know she was your girl. I broke up with her when I found out.”
He snorts coldly. “Quite a breakup you did. A single text would have been enough instead of a public post no?”
Well, well, well, seems like he likes her quite a lot if he is speaking up for her.
I take a sip of beer and offer him one with a smile.“I thought you would like it if the guys stayed away from her for a while. And breaking up with her in public does just that no?”
“You don’t know, man. Our friend here has been doing that just fine for years.” Aiden says, rolling his eyes, and I look at Shaun in surprise.
“That long? Why don’t you just ask her out?”
Shaun grumbles in frustration and crosses his hands over his chest. “It’s like a mutual understanding at this point. She doesn’t do relationships, nor do I. I can’t even imagine being with the same girl for a week. Relationship is not my thing.”
I snort mockingly. “So you would rather see her with different guys than be with her? I heard she changes boyfriends every few days. Doesn’t that bother you?”
“How can he complain? They are cut from the same cloth.” Aiden says, laughing, and I smirk.
“You guys don’t understand. It’s just... I don’t want to be tied in a commitment. I love my freedom too much for that.” He says, frowning hard as if it’s a matter of great frustration for him.
“Whatever. Just keep beating up her boyfriends and stalking her then.” Aiden says.
My phone rings at the moment, and I see the name Jaslyn flashing on my phone.
“Jas,” I say, keeping the beer on the table. “Is the work done?”
A proud and seductive laugh comes from the other side. “Boss, do you think I am so incapable? That Matt forgot all about his girlfriend the moment I kissed him. Bastard didn’t even hesitate to agree to break up with his girlfriend and be with me.”
I smile in satisfaction and chuckle. “You have worked hard, Jas. I will have Nathan give you a long holiday and a generous bonus.”
“Geez, no need. I will be bored to death if I have to stay at home for a few days. I would rather work. Just have Nathan pick me up in the morning.” She says, and I agree.
“Fine. Oh, and make sure to take some ambitious pictures and send them to her with the breakup text.”
“Consider it done.” She says, and I hang up.
The moment I look up, I realise two sets of eyes are fixed on me, looking at me strangely. “What?”
Shaun’s brow turns into a frown as he says. “Why do I feel like you are doing something wrong even though I don’t know what it is?”
I blink and smile innocently. “What could I possibly do?”
“Kill someone?” Aiden says this time, and I chuckle.
“Well, I still haven’t decided on whom to kill. So it’s a no for now. Rest assured.”
Except that trash boyfriend of hers.
Ah, it should be ex-boyfriend now.
- Writer
