Chapter 15

Betrayal and Waiting

Major's barking grew more frantic.

The cargo door was fully open.

It was empty inside, save for the clothes I'd changed out of — a sports bra draped over them, still damp.

Cassian Vance froze for a moment, then said awkwardly as he closed the door, "I'm sorry."

"I was being difficult — my milk came in and it was uncomfortable. I had Doggie... I mean Juniper make a detour so I could use the truck to change..." I said. "Sorry about that. I'll try to make sure it doesn't happen again."

He shook his head and glanced at Valerian. "You shouldn't expose yourself like that in front of other people."

He crouched down and stroked Major's head, adding, "He probably smelled your scent in the truck. That's why he barked so loudly."

I knew the truth.

Cassian Vance was petting Major, but his peripheral vision was checking under the vehicle.

After confirming nothing was there, he stood up and said, "Let's go. I brought your things. Come check them with me."

I exhaled.

When we spotted Cassian Vance's boat from afar, Juniper and Valerian had rushed Quentin Vance out.

Worried he might wake up mid-transport, Valerian had even zapped him with a stun gun.

When the two boats were close enough and sightlines shortened, they stood on the truck's wheels and shoved Quentin Vance onto the roof, leaving him lying flat up there.

Fortunately, Major was so thrilled to see me that he kept barking, covering the sound of Quentin Vance being pushed up.

Cassian Vance couldn't very well jump up and inspect the truck roof in front of us.

He turned away. Juniper slowly closed the cargo door. Valerian had already disappeared — I knew he'd circled around to the other side, climbed the wheel, and dragged Quentin Vance back down.

So close...

I steadied my breathing and boarded Cassian Vance's boat.

In the cabin, many of my belongings were already there.

What struck me most was that he'd brought all my wedding photos.

I never expected that!

I stared at them blankly, reaching out to gently touch the frame, and whispered, "Thank you."

"I thought these mattered a lot to you..." he said. "There's more here too."

He produced a small cardboard box. I opened it and found photos of my baby.

My baby's one-month photos...

My emotions surged again, but I found myself too numb even to cry.

An empty hollowness, as if I'd become a walking corpse. I could feel the sadness but couldn't push the tears out.

I gently closed the box and said, "Thank you."

"You have a lot of things. You drove the truck back, so I'll help you load them."

"No need."

I sank to my knees and pressed myself against the wedding photos.

Closing my eyes, I whispered, "I'm so tired... I just want to hold these for a while and sleep."

He stood beside me in silence. After a few seconds, he said, "Understood. Get some rest. I'll arrange things for you later."

I wasn't just lying.

I was genuinely, utterly exhausted.

From losing my baby, to killing Landon Hale, to crying at the Badlands, through everything until now...

I hadn't slept at all. So tired, so drained.

Holding the wedding photos felt like being wrapped in my husband's arms. A blanket was placed over me, and I held the photos close, drifting into sleep.

When I groggily woke, Cassian Vance was still there.

He sat on the cabin sofa, looking down at me.

I realized I'd somehow ended up lying on the floor with the photos, but the floor was now covered with bedding, and Major lay beside me.

He looked at me quietly. I lay on the blankets and met his gaze.

I wanted to say... I know who you are.

But in the end, I didn't.

I already had the love of my life. Even though he was gone, the light he'd brought into my life, the passionate kisses, the memory of his nails scratching my back — those memories were carved into my soul.

Ethan Cole... my beloved.

Cassian Vance said, "The apartment has many Sin Hunters and escorts. Most are men, it's not convenient for you, plus you have a dog. You can stay at my place temporarily. I've had the second floor cleared out. Here are the keys."

He handed me a set of keys with a security door key. "Men and women should have boundaries. Here's the ground floor entrance key, and I installed a security door on the second floor for you. All the backup keys are in your room upstairs, untouched."

"Can you get a security door made this fast?"

"Not a problem. I had Valerian's door removed and brought over. The dimensions matched perfectly — just took extra time to dismantle the frame."

"Thank you."

He was still considerate, just like before.

I looked outside. A truck was already waiting.

We loaded everything onto the truck. I sat in the passenger seat while Cassian Vance drove. The wind tousled his bangs, letting me see his focused expression.

I looked at his striking eyes, my heart thumping.

I really wanted to...

I really wanted to gouge out his eyes and ask him why he'd been so blind as to abandon me.

I couldn't help but smile bitterly. Let it go — we'd loved each other, and we parted. Why be so petty about the past?

I'd let it go. After all these years, truly let it go. Couldn't even hate him anymore.

Damn it...

You lowlife. I hope sand blows into your eyes and you swerve into a tree and crash.

Never mind — his mother was innocent.

Life couldn't always be smooth sailing. For instance, Cassian Vance drove steadily and arrived safely at his house.

We got out and entered the room he never let anyone else into.

The interior was simple, spotlessly clean.

A shoe cabinet at the entrance held several pairs of similar shoes, plus hand sanitizer and no-rinse soap.

Beyond that, his belongings had been rearranged on the ground floor — all clean, simple-colored shirts and pants, neatly stacked on the table.

"Upstairs and downstairs each have a bathroom, so we won't bother each other, but..."

Cassian Vance washed his hands, then bent to get me slippers. I'd already stepped inside with my muddy shoes. His words died in his throat as he stared at the dirt ground into the floor.

I dragged my feet further, grinding dirt into the floor gaps, then asked innocently, "But what?"

Beneath the mask, his breathing grew ragged.

When he finally steadied himself, he said, "But there's only one washing machine. Fortunately mine has twin compartments, so you can separate..."

"There's a washing machine? Great."

I fished out my old clothes and tossed them into the lower compartment.

Then I took a towel, wiped Major's paws, and dropped it in the upper compartment.

I said, "People and pet stuff get washed separately. Very convenient."

"I'll have them bring a new one and install it in your upstairs bathroom. You're a woman — running up and down to do laundry isn't convenient."

"Oh, thanks."

I walked in my sneakers to the sofa, sat down, and patted the cushion.

Major trotted over, leaped up, and curled into my lap obediently.

"Good boy. You're all I have now..."

I scratched Major under the chin. He panted contentedly, drooling on the sofa, then rolled over and left a patch of fur.

I petted Major and asked Cassian Vance, "But will staying here really not bother you? I feel a bit awkward. I'm not used to living in someone else's home..."

As the words "living in someone else's home" left my mouth, I fell silent.

Memories flooded back.

My entire life... I'd lived in other people's homes.

Cassian Vance's eyes softened too. He said, "Take your dog upstairs and get settled in."

"Mm..."

My mood dipped again. I quietly led Major upstairs.

The second floor had been cleaned spotless.

A full box of disposable chopsticks sat on the dining table. Disposable toothbrushes and shower caps in the bathroom. Thoughtfully placed tools in the corner.

I lay on the freshly made bed, looked at the empty room for a moment, then picked up a hammer and nails from the corner and started tapping away.

I hung photos of my husband and baby all over the walls, surrounding myself with them, then curled up alone hugging a pillow.

Years ago, I'd dreamed every night of finding Cassian Vance.

God... I wished I could take back that wish. Could I please just wake up?

Now I only loved my husband... loved him so, so much.

After a while, a knock came at the door.

I opened it. Cassian Vance stood outside.

He glanced at the wedding photos covering my walls, then held out a bowl of rice. "It's late — the canteen only had leftovers. I'll come back later."

I took the bowl. He turned and left.

A bowl of leftover rice, with a few slices of meat and vegetables.

It reminded me of the past.

He used to bring me leftovers. He still did.

I sat at the table and picked up the disposable chopsticks.

The rice was cold, as cold as my heart. But I... I don't know why, even though I had no appetite, I found myself wolfing it down like the little girl I used to be.

Cold rice and cold vegetables, washed down with warm tears, filled my stomach.

I smiled bitterly.

Perhaps this was my destined fate.

After eating, I didn't want Cassian Vance to come clean up. I didn't want to owe him anything.

I washed the bowl myself and threw away the chopsticks.

Then another knock.

I opened the door. Cassian Vance stood there holding a bowl of steaming noodles. He said "Move aside," and I stepped back blankly.

He set the noodles on the table and said, "There are disposable chopsticks on the table."

He noticed my empty bowl, patted Major's head with satisfaction, and went back downstairs.

I stared at the empty bowl, then the noodles, then Major.

Wait...

This...

He couldn't be more obvious about it?

He'd brought all my bags and boxes but forgot to pack the dog food?

So what I'd eaten through tears was this?

I gritted my teeth, set the noodles on the floor, and patted Major's head. "Sit. Wait till it cools."

Major sat up straight obediently. I lay back on the bed, my mind drifting back to earlier questions.

Why did Cassian Vance want to kill Quentin Vance?

Why had he become a Sin Hunter?

From what I remembered, Cassian Vance had finally made it to college and found a new girlfriend. He should have been doing well, taking care of his wife and mother.

Maybe... Quentin Vance knew the answer.

I picked up my phone and texted Valerian: "Is it handled?"

"Not sure. Juniper is dealing with it... My door is gone!"

"Let's skip the irrelevant stuff. When can I see Quentin Vance?"

"Come over and wait for Juniper's update. Just don't let Hemlock find out."

"Got it."

I waited for Major to finish eating, washed the bowl, and took it downstairs.

When I came down, Cassian Vance was measuring the door with a ruler. I asked, "What are you doing?"

He said, "Putting up some boards, building a temporary wall to the hallway. Separate our areas completely. It's more convenient."

Fair enough.

As long as I was living here, he could never take off his mask at home. A wall made sense.

"You're building a wall but not a door? The boards are too thin for a security door..."

He pointed to the backyard. "Valerian's bathroom door is already removed. It's right there — perfect for reuse."

"Why are you always stealing Valerian's doors? The man needs to sleep."

"Doesn't matter. He sleeps in Juniper's room every night anyway. Other rooms are used by others."

I suddenly understood — that's why he only dismantled Valerian's door. They were living together. I'd assumed he was just picking on Valerian.

When we arrived at Valerian's room, he was moving his things into Juniper's. Indeed, they'd moved in together.

Seeing me arrive, he enthusiastically waved me over. I went inside and found Juniper had already returned.

I asked her, "Is Quentin Vance settled?"

"Settled. He's in the innermost workshop. It's tough the first few days, but someone will make him behave soon..." Juniper said. "Sister, if you want to see him, don't go during the day. Go at night after the factory shuts down, so you don't draw attention."

"When does the factory close?"

"Usually six AM to eight PM shifts. But elderly workers get off at six. It's his first day — he probably won't last long."

I checked the time. Two hours until Quentin Vance's first shift ended.

I waited at their place. When it was time, Juniper took me to the sinners' dormitory.

It was a makeshift shelter with rows of thin, black-cotton-stuffed blankets crammed together, almost no room to move.

Behind the shelter was a pit with two wooden planks laid across it — the latrine. When it filled up, someone would haul the waste away.

Quentin Vance seemed dazed by the sudden upheaval. He sat alone in a corner. When he saw us, he flinched.

The other residents hadn't returned yet. I sat across from him and said, "Do you know why that man wanted to kill you?"

"I don't know..." Quentin Vance stammered, shaking his head. "I've never done anything to offend him. He grew up in our village — I watched him grow up. Miss, do you know him? Please don't tell him I'm still alive. He must have misunderstood something."

I thought for a moment, then told the other two, "Can you step out? I need to talk to him alone."

Juniper nodded. "Of course, Sister. We'll keep watch."

They left the shelter. When only the two of us remained, I sat across from him and said seriously, "I want to help you. Answer everything honestly."

"I will! I swear!"

I said, "Cassian Vance left the village after getting into college, right? He should have been doing well. How... does it seem like things aren't going well for him?"

I chose my words carefully.

Because I knew — Sin Hunters didn't choose this life if they had better options.

Quentin Vance said in shock, "Doing well? I'm amazed he even came back!"

"What do you mean 'came back'? That's his home village. Why shouldn't he go back?"

"Because he got sentenced to life in prison!"

I froze. "What?"

Quentin Vance said, "His woman was sold by her adoptive parents — sold into the mountains to some bachelor. Later she escaped, went into the mountains, and was never found. Everyone said she must have died in there... When Cassian Vance found out from people in town, he went to her house. The bachelor had paid 100,000 for a wife who ran away, so he went and caused a scene at her adoptive parents' house. They were all there..."

"Then what?"

"The three of them were arguing, and Cassian Vance suddenly charged in with a knife and hacked them all up."

"..."

"I heard from people who saw it — he killed the bachelor and her adoptive father first. Her adoptive mother panicked and grabbed a kitchen knife, swinging at Cassian Vance. First she slashed his eye, then another cut across his body — a really brutal slash — but he still killed her in the end. Right after he finished, the police who'd been tracking the traffickers arrived."

"..."

"He had three bodies on his hands. Sentenced to life. His mother couldn't take it — she went crazy. She wandered around town every day saying she was looking for her son, waiting to pick him up from school. A group of thugs targeted her... her body was found in a drainage ditch by the county road, not a single piece of clothing on her."

"..."

"Then he only served five years. Some people said he escaped, others said someone who looked like him sat on the park swings every week wearing a hat and mask. Nobody dared approach to confirm. We all figured it was a rumor — if he came back, the police would arrest him immediately. Nobody thought he'd actually escaped... and then he came for me." Quentin Vance wiped his tears. "I really don't know what I did to deserve this. Where even am I? Can I ever go home?"

My mind went completely blank.

But... but Ethan Cole hadn't told me this.

The fifth year was when we went from lovers to husband and wife.

My vision darkened. I couldn't catch my breath, and I collapsed.