Chapter 651


    Tonight, silver moonlight spilled across the earth, and a gentle breeze whispered through the trees


    outside, casting quivering. shadows.


    Under the watchful gaze of the crucifix, Cassius stood in solemn prayer, his eyes lowered, fingers


    sping the symbol of his faith. Ever since his beloved had passed away, he had sought sce in daily


    devotion, seeking redemption for sins he felt chained to the depths of his soul.


    Countless nights had been for him, and now, standing before the altar once more, Cassius found his


    heart obscured by a fog of confusion and helplessness.


    With a heavy sigh, Cassius turned to leave, but at that moment, the great doors of the church burst


    open with a resounding crash! A chilling gust swept through, scattering the sorrow from his furrowed


    brow. In the next second, the ethereal figure appeared through the mist: those piercing, luminous eyes


    cut through the dim solitude, reaching deep into Cassius‘ soul..


    “Cassius.”


    Chasel, his slender frame shivering in the cold draft, stood alone in the doorway, his elongated eyes


    brimming with tears. “You went looking for me. Why didn’t you wait just a little longer? Would waiting


    have killed you?”


    A profound jolt struck Cassius‘ heart. He felt as if encased in ice, the turbulent emotions in his


    bloodshot eyes ring violently.


    “Bastard. Do you have any idea how hard it was for me to find you?”


    Body trembling, Chasel fought back tears until he could no longer hold them in upon seeing his


    beloved, his face streaming with tears, “I lost my phone. I didn’t dare look for you at the K Group’s


    building, didn’t dare go to Silveke Harbor to find you. I couldn’t contact the Ashbourne family or my


    aunt. I’m afraid to cause trouble for you, for any of you.”


    His voice broke on thest word, “But I was more afraid of never seeing you again.”


    How many times had he uttered the word “afraid“? Cassius remembered when Chasel, the carefree


    second son of the prestigious Bright family, had firste to him – free–spirited, heedless of


    convention, never afraid of anything.


    What had reduced him to this state? Was it the feud between their families? Or was it Cassius‘ own


    wavering, his cold–hearted quenching of their rekindled passion for the sake of the greater good?


    Staring unblinkingly at Chasel’s tear–streaked face, Cassius‘ heart ached as if cleaved by an axe.


    “Cassius, I’m afraid that thest time I watched you from the window of my family’s estate, that distant


    glimpse of your silhouette, would be thest.”


    Chasel wept as though to exhaust all his tears in one lifetime, “But how could that be. I want to be with


    you, forever. I love you, Cassius. I love you!”


    “Dr. Bright.”


    Cassius‘ voice was hoarse, his words as stiff as if he were speaking for the first time, “This is a church;


    don’t speak of things that go against the divine will.”


    “I just did! If there are any gods, then let them punish me! Let them bring their wrath upon me!”


    Chasel stumbled forward, jabbing a finger at his chest, “It’s killing me here. I don’t care about the Bright


    family, about divine punishment. What are thosepared to you! If there’s retribution, then let it


    Eventually, Chasel’s strength ebbed; he closed his eyes, his body sumbing to gravity. But instead of


    pain, he was enveloped in a warm embrace, rich with the scent of a man’s hormones.


    The embrace he had been searching for.


    Through the thin fabric of his shirt, the heat from Cassius‘ palm seared through to Chasel’s feverish


    skin.


    “Are you feverish?!” Cassius‘ hand touched Chasel’s sweat–drenched forehead, rmed at the burning


    heat.


    “It’s okay.”


    Chasel wanted to hug him back, but his entire body ached, too much to even lift his arms, “Seeing you


    makes everything okay.”


    Cassius clenched his jaw tightly, “Stop this nonsense! You’re burning up; we need to get you to a


    hospital!”


    “No. My dad, my brother, they must be looking for me. All the hospitals in the country, even the


    Ashbourne family’s, as soon as go, they’ll get the news.”


    Chasel clutched at Cassius‘ shirt, shaking his head forcefully, “Just some anti–fever medicine. I’ll be


    fine.”


    Then, his consciousness waned into darkness.


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    Cassius‘ eyes brimmed with moisture as he held Chasel close, hisrge hand cradling the back of his


    neck, “My little fox, is there anyone more foolish than you?”


    Considering Chasel’s words, fearing to escte the families‘ troubles, Cassius decided to take him to


    his private vi in Elmsworth.


    The Bright family’s power was concentrated in Skyrim; in Elmsworth, they would be safer.


    Chasely in bed, a cold cloth on his forehead, Cassius feeding him anti–fever medicine and wiping his


    neck and arms with a wet cloth, to no avail.


    His cheeks flushed with fever, he babbled incoherently, yet every word circled back to “Cassius“.


    Cassius‘ brows were knitted tightly, his heart pounding with an anxiety he hadn’t felt in a long time.


    Atst, he picked up his phone and made a call to someone he hadn’t contacted in ages.


    “Who is this?” The voice on the other end was icy cold.


    Cassius swallowed hard, his voice a rough whisper, “It’s me.”


    Silence fell on the other end, then a voice, trembling with disbelief, “Is that you?!”