The man trembled uncontrobly.


    "I''m Mors," Cassius said, his eyes fixed on Chasel as he effortlessly stepped onto the tform.


    Fueled by music and alcohol, Chasel was in a state of euphoric delirium. He waspletely unaware of the man before him, whose eyes, filled with a mixture of tears and blood, were drinking in his every move. The gaze was searing, tender, andced with a profound sorrow that seemed to wash over Chasel''s form, blurring it and bringing it back into sharp focus, again and again.


    "You new here? What''s your price for the night?" Chasel''s foxy eyes curved into crescents as he reached out and traced the sharp line of the man''s jaw. "You''re handsome enough... but... why do you look so much like someone I absolutely despise?"


    A sharp painnced through Cassius''s heart, but he moved with the motion, wrapping an arm around Chasel''s waist and pulling him close. "I''m new. Would Mr. Bright do me the honor of helping me meet my quota?"


    Chasel''s eyes, shimmering like autumn pools, blinked at him, unfocused.


    Cassius''s own eyes reddened. His hand tightened on Chasel''s waist, his voice a low, husky tremor. "I promise, I won''t disappoint you."


    From his post by the stage, Winston''s jaw dropped. Was this the same Hex he knew? He wasying it on thick.


    Cassius''s maic voice and hot breath on his neck sent a shiver down Chasel''s spine. His vision swam, and the man''s familiar, heart-breaking face slowly came into focus. A sudden, violent wave of grief and anger exploded in his chest.


    "Get off me! Don''t touch me!"


    But Cassius wasn''t letting go this time. He swept Chasel off his feet and leaped off the stage, striding through the stunned crowd and out of the bar. Winston scurried after them like a loyal court eunuch. Hex had truly transformed himself, willing to do anything for this Mr. Bright.


    Cassius''s towering figure quickly disappeared from the bar. Just as Winston was about to follow him out, he paused, a strange feeling making him turn around. But there was no one there.


    *Weird,* Winston thought, scratching his head. He could have sworn he felt a pair of eyes watching him from the shadows.


    ...


    "Cassius... get lost... I don''t want to see you!"


    Cassius ced Chasel in the back of the luxury car. The beautiful man kicked and thrashed. Even drunk, he was strong, and Winston winged with every blow thatnded. But Cassius''s eyes remained gentle. Every movement was careful, as if he were afraid of causing the slightest difort.


    "Ugh-!"


    The sudden stillness after his wild dancing must have been too much. Chasel''s stomach churned, and he shot up, throwing his arms around Cassius and vomiting all over his expensive, custom-made suit.


    Winston, a notorious germaphobe,


    felt his own stomach turn. If it had been him, he would have lost his mind. But Cassius simply took handkerchief from his inner pocket and patiently wiped Chasel''s mouth,


    himsel


    devoted, it was almost painful to


    watch. He even seemed to cherish


    the soiled embrace.


    "Chasel, what do I have to do for you to forgive me?" Cassius gently gripped his shoulders, his gaze fixed on Chasel''s tear-filled eyes. His voice trembled with each


    word. “Tell me, what will it take... for you to give me one more chance?"


    "Hah..." ChaseNooked at him with cold indifference, his teeth clenched. "Forgive you? For using me as a substitute? As a ything to cure your boredom? As a bandage for the


    an outlet


    for


    hole in your heart? As someone


    your emotions? How can someone. as despicable as you have the audacity to ask for my forgiveness? Why don''t you just die? Go on and


    die! I''ll forgive you when you''re dead!"