Cassius'' pupils contracted sharply, and his eyes were rimmed with the deep red of pain.


    He had thought those bone-chilling memories had been gradually buried under his almost masochistic restraint and the passage of time. Even after he and Chasel became an official item, he never touched the treasured keepsakes of that person again.


    But when Evadne angrily used him, demanding he burn the pictures as a show of loyalty to his lover, his heart twisted in agony.


    It was as if she was asking him to burn not just the pictures, but his very flesh and soul.


    Evadne stared at Cassius, her anger evident. His sorrowful, pained expression said it all-He couldn''t let go.


    He still held onto his past love.


    Even though that person had died years ago, they still held a significant ce in Cassius'' heart. Significant enough to leave the usually stoic man in utter turmoil, his heart in chaos.


    "Evadne, I haven''t touched those things since Chasel and I got together. I''ve moved on from him, I really have," Cassius pleaded, his eyes brimming with tears. "Please don''t do this. He was, after all, my savior."


    "But you loved him. This ''savior'' excuse is just a noble reason you''ve concocted to keep him in your heart."


    Evadne shook her head in disbelief. "If Thaddeus was with me because I reminded him of his past love, even if he did fall in love with meter, I couldn''t ept it. I can deal with his indifference when he doesn''t love me, but I can''t ept a love filled with someone else''s shadow from start to finish. It''s too impure, too unfair to the stand-in, like a deceitful love, I can''t ept it. Just the thought of burning those pictures pains you so much. But Cassius, have you ever thought about how much it would hurt Chasel to know you''re this heartbroken over a past love? To know he''s right there in front of you, yet he can''t rece someone who''s been gone for so long? He''s such a proud man, how could he stand such a blow?"


    Her words struck Cassius'' already fragile soul.


    "Fine, I''ll do it," Cassius resigned, his voice heavy with sorrow as he finally looked down at the picture of the man. "I''ll burn it, and I won''t think about him anymore."


    Evadne sighed, her frustration evident.


    Truthfully, finding the root of the problem sooner was a good thing.


    The things Cassius kept of that person weren''t limited to just this photo. If Evadne could find them, then Chasel, who was almost always by Cassius'' side, would inevitably discover them too.


    When that happened, it would be like setting off a bomb.


    The aftermath was unthinkable.


    "Cassius, are you in the study?"


    Chasel''szy voice came from outside, causing a moment of panic.


    "Quick, hide everything," Evadne urged, immediately running to the door, taking a deep breath before opening it.


    "Chasel," She greeted with a sweet smile, positioning herself in the doorway to block his view.


    "Oh, Evadne, it''s you."


    Chasel appeared, wearing a matching set of pajamas with Cassius, rubbing his sleepy eyes. The open cor revealed a set of beautiful corbones, marked with traces of love, too eye-catching, "When I saw it''s you, I''m relieved."


    Evadne quickly diverted her gaze from his neck, feeling her cheeks heat up, "Ahem, Chasel, Cassius is inside. I didn''t mean to intrude, didn''t realize you guys were still in bed. Cassius got up first, just chatting with me."


    Chasel chuckled, "Why are you so nervous, as if you''ve done something wrong?"


    Evadne''s cheeks burned hotter, her heart racing.


    "Chasel."


    Cassius appeared then, his voice tender, though his face was pale.


    Chasel''s eyes narrowed, eagerness evident as he wrapped his arms around


    Cassius'' waist and sealed his lips with a passionate kiss.


    Having lived abroad, Chasel was ustomed to the open-minded culture there, and his deep love for Cassius meant they often shared intimate moments whenever they could, as if trying to merge into one another.


    Cassius'' eyshes fluttered as he responded to the embrace, the kiss.


    Evadne turned away, finding their affection too much, even more so than between her and Thaddeus.


    "What''s wrong?" Chasel broke the kiss, breathing heavily.


    "Hm?" Cassius seemed distracted.


    Chasel blinked, his sharp intuition, honed from their close rtionship, sensing something off in his lover, "You seem out of it, are you feeling alright?"


    Cassius'' heart sank, his voice hoarse, "No, it''s nothing."


    "Chasel, I actually have something important to discuss with you."


    Evadne quickly diverted his attention, pulling him towards the living room, "Cassius, what are you waiting for? Go make something for Chasel to eat."


    "Alright." Cassius didn''t hesitate, heading out the door.


    Chasel looked back at Cassius'' retreating figure, feeling something was off but unable to pinpoint what.


    In the living room, Evadne ced the medication she brought on the coffee table. "Chasel, could you analyze theponents of this medication for me? You''re better equipped in this area, and you have all the necessary equipment."


    "What''s this?" Chasel frowned, examining the blue pill.


    "Recently, there have been several sudden deaths in Elmsworth, suspected to be caused by drug overdoses, but autopsies revealed no signs of drug use. Before dying, these victims would convulse uncontrobly, acting as if they had lost their minds, with terribly gruesome death scenes. Our investigation found that these victims had all taken this medication before their deaths. This is a serious matter, involving Aviana''s family''s S-Star Group, so I''m asking for your help to find out what harmful substances are in this medication."


    Hearing it involved S-Star Group, Chasel immediately became serious,


    "Mark from S-Star Group helped me before, and Aviana worried over my issues quite a bit. If it involves them, I''ll see it through to the end."


    Evadne felt a lump in her throat and bit her lip.


    She couldn''t bear the thought of someone as wonderful as Chasel being wronged by Cassius, not in any way.


    And she wouldn''t forgive Cassius if he did.


    Chasel reassured her, "Don''t worry, I''ll tell you the result soon."


    Evadne nodded, getting up, "Well, I won''t intrude on your cozy world any longer. I''ll head back now."


    "Evadne, is Cassius okay? He seemed a bit down earlier," Chasel called out to her, his clear eyes clouded with concern.


    He cared too much for Cassius, his world revolved entirely around him.


    Just like how Thaddeus was with Evadne, any slight change in her mood, even when she thought she had masked it well, was inly visible to those who cared enough to notice.


    Evadne met Chasel''s gaze, feeling her heart ache.


    The poor guy was head over heels for Cassius.


    He deserved the purest form of love there was.


    "It''s probably nothing. Cassius has just been overworkedtely, hasn''t had time to catch his breath. Getting on in years, you know."


    "Ah, yeah."


    Chasel bit his lip, feeling guilty, "I''ve been too demanding, pestering him all night yesterday. I''ll be better, keep myself in check next time."


    "Chasel, you and Cassius seem really close."


    Evadne kept herposure, though her breathing deepened, "Years from now, ten, twenty years, if you find out that Cassius isn''t quite the man you thought he was, that he has ws, some even shockingly contrary to your belief. Would you ever resent him, Chasel?"


    "Hey, I could never resent him. I''m more worried about him resenting me."


    Chasel squinted his eyes, casually picking up an apple from the fruit basket and taking a bite, "Like that time we went abroad, ran into an ex of mine. The guy was still hung up on me, said some outrageous things, even lunged at Cassius. But Cassius decked him, knocked out two of his teeth right there on the street. It was so epic, felt like we were heroes for a moment."


    Evadne didn''t know what to say.


    "After that, I was walking on eggshells, terrified of making him mad. But then." He stopped, his cheeks flushing a delicate red.


    "Given my wild past, Cassius still epted me. What right do I have to resent him? Evadne, Cassius took me in, gave me the love I desperately sought but could never find."


    Chasel''s gaze burned with passion, "I''ll never give up on him, not even in death."


    Meanwhile, just on the other side of the wall.


    Cassius stood in the empty hallway, overhearing the conversation, his hands trembling as he held the breakfast tray.