Shattered Illusions: Love, Lies, and Redemption

"I'm just trying to comfort you, okay? Why are you getting all worked up? It's like you actually want there to be a problem," Cassius huffed, his chest heaving with frustration.

"If something really goes wrong, you're stuck with me for life! Just thinking about that possibility makes me feel hopeless. It's like life's lost all its meaning!"

Yolanda paused her brisk cleaning, caught off guard.

So, the thought of spending a lifetime with her made him this upset and hopeless, huh? Well, that was quite something.

"Don't worry. If there really is an issue, I'll sell everything I own to get you treated!"

Cassius let out a sarcastic laugh. "Like I need your money for treatment."

Yolanda, irritated, shot back, "Then what do you want?"

"Yolanda, what's with your attitude? You injured me! I could charge you with assault, you know."

Cassius was clearly displeased. Here he was, suffering, and Yolanda couldn't even muster a bit of patience or pretense of concern. He was so annoyed he wanted to drag her to bed, pin her down, and show her just what it meant to take responsibility.

No, he had to stop thinking like that.

His blood was pumping, and the pain from his not-yet-healed injuries flared up again.

"So, what do you want me to do?" Yolanda frowned, feeling a bit helpless.

He'd been the one to say, with an expression of agony, that he didn't want her responsible for life.

And he didn't want financial compensation, so what else was there?

Suddenly, Yolanda's eyes widened with realization.

"You hurt your leg. You're not planning on taking my leg as revenge, are you?"

Cassius was dumbfounded. "What would I do with your leg? It's too short to even make a decent specimen!"

Yolanda bristled. "You're calling me short? My proportions are perfectly fine!"

As an idol and actress, she couldn't tolerate being called short!

Cassius's eyes darkened. "Who are you calling short?!"

She'd injured him and now was adding insult to injury. Was this woman just asking for trouble?

Cassius suddenly grabbed Yolanda's

such force it felt like he

wrist Wit. His entire demeanor

might

was dangerous, and Yolanda, for

once, was genuinely afraid.noveldrama

She quickly tried to soothe him. "I didn't mean it like that. Don't get so worked up.

Let me just check if the doctor is here yet..."

She tried to stand and escape, but Cassius didn't let go.

"Don't think you can just run away! Otherwise, I'll call the cops right now."

He leaned forward, reaching for the phone on the bedside table, and Yolanda panicked.

If Cassius really called the cops, this would blow up, and the Sterling family's lawyers would certainly make her life a living hell.

She couldn't afford that.

With a swift move, she threw herself onto Cassius, grabbing his reaching hand.

"Don't call the police. The doctor hasn't even seen you yet. Besides, you can't entirely blame me. I was just defending myself, right? You were the one trying to suffocate me."

Cassius raised an eyebrow at the woman now sprawled over him. Seeing she

was actually afraid, he scoffed internally.

"Suffocate you? Ha! And why would

do that? Does Mr. Sterling Movie

Star Cassius want to trade his

career for a murder charge?

Yolanda, you've got quite the ego."

His tone was scathing. "You don't seriously think I'm madly in love with you, do you?"

His words cut deep, and Yolanda felt a sting in her chest.

She knew Cassius was just playing around with her. Of course, what was she thinking, believing Cassius would actually want to suffocate her?

She really overestimated herself.