Every single second since he had broken up with Cassius felt like a jagged knife carving into his heart. He had been living like a hollow shell of a man.


    Yes, he regretted it. He was pathetic. Even knowing he was treated as a recement, even knowing Cassius harbored the memory of a dead lover, he had epted his fate. He was hopelessly, irreversibly in love with him.


    If Cassius was poison, he would dly drink it down. If he was a de, he''d press it right against his own throat. He loved him. He just wanted to hold his hand and grow old with him.


    "And... what''s the other half of your n?" Chasel forced out, his throat raw and scratchy from the agonizing pain in his chest.


    The amusement vanished fromn''s face. He clenched his jaw. "I want him dead."


    "Don''t you dare!"


    Chasel''s blood ran cold. He thrashed against his chains, screaming at the top of his lungs, "If you touch so much as a hair on his head... I swear to God I will do whatever it takes to butcher you, you sick bastard! And if I don''t get to you, the Ashbournes and the Brights will tear you to pieces! If you have any balls, kill me right now! Even as a ghost, I''ll drag you to hell!"


    "The Ashbournes? The Brights? They''re both an absolute mess right now. Nobody cares about our little feud,"nughed abruptly. "Oh, wait. I forgot. You have no idea what''s been going on out there, do you?"


    "What... what happened?" Chasel''s face went rigid, his nerves pulling dangerously taut.


    "Your beloved aunt, the great Suri Bright Ashbourne, got into a nasty car crash. Her car rolled off a cliff, and they don''t even know if she''s dead or alive right now. And old Emeric''s brain ispletely fried. He woke up, sure, but he doesn''t remember anyone. Not even his precious little Evadne. So tell me, who exactly ising to save you? Stop acting like you matter."


    "Aunt Suri... Uncle Emeric... Evadne..."


    Chasel trembled violently, tears spilling over hisshes as hisposure shattered.


    But amidstn''s derangedughter, he fought back a suffocating wave of panic, forcing himself to anchor his racing thoughts. "How do you know all these intimate details about both our families.I get you knowing about my family, but Chairman Emeric has been locked down in the hospital. Outsiders can''t get anywhere near him. How the hell did you find out about his amnesia?"


    "I know exactly who''s pulling your strings," Chasel snarled, his reddened eyes shing with lethal rity. "It''s Alexia, and that


    1.n


    self-proimed Sir. Hes


    but a two-faced, venomous snake Chad Abernathy, right?"


    "Shut your damn mouth! Don''t you dare insult Sir!"n roared, his face flushing with rage.


    "Haha... hit a nerve, did I?"


    In that instant, everything clicked into ce. A tidal wave of regret and devastation crashed over Chasel, and hot tears streamed down his cheeks "So your entire reason for approaching me... was on Chad''s orders. You were sent to drive a wedge between Cassius and me, to make us hate each other You'' wanted to iste me from the Ashbournes so your boss and that bitch could swoop in and poison Chairman Emeric! You slimy, despicable cowards!"


    "Spot on. But it doesn''t matter now. You''re toote. After tonight, the Ashbournes


    and the Brights will belong to Sir. He''ll take whatever he wants from them!"<pn mmed a hand against the railing, the loud bang echoing in the cavernous space. "And that''s not all. I''m going to make you watch Cassius die right in front of you! I''ll use his blood to avenge my Ethan!"