Lunar Legacy: Rise Of The Beastlord-Chapter 287: Broken

The question hit Jayden like a physical blow. His entire body went rigid, the tray suddenly feeling impossibly heavy in his hands.

His mind raced. "How much does she know?" he thought.

"What... what did she tell you?" he asked carefully.

"Nothing specific," Jessica said, watching his reaction closely. "Just that you hurt her. She wouldn’t tell me details, but Jayden... I’ve never seen her like that before. She was really, really hurt."

Jayden let out a breath he felt like he’d been holding for days. "She didn’t tell them," he said to himself, relief washing over him.

If Jessica or Tasha ever found out what really happened, he didn’t know what he’d do. The guilt of it was already eating him alive. Having them know would be unbearable. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

"I don’t even want to know what happened," Jessica continued, her voice gentle but firm. "That’s between you and her. But Jayden... you need to apologize. Whatever you did, whatever you said—you have to make it right. You beed to fix this."

Jayden nodded slowly. "I will. I’ll... I’ll talk to her," he murmured.

"Good," Jessica said, before leaning to press a soft kiss to his cheek. "I’ll see you later."

Then she turned and walked away down the hallway toward her own room, her nightgown swaying with each step.

Jayden stood there, the spot on his cheek warm from her touch, but his mind elsewhere. Jessica was right—he had to apologize. But Cassandra... would she even hear him out? Forgiveness didn’t come easy, especially not after how badly he hurt her. He knew trying was the only option, but doubt gnawed at him.

With a heavy sigh, he turned and headed down the hallway toward the kitchen, his mind already churning through what he’d say, how he’d approach her.

It wouldn’t be easy. Cassandra had every right to hate him.

But he had to try.

.....

Moments later, after freshening up— a quick shower to wash away the morning’s stickiness, dressing in his usual jacket and jeans—he slipped out of the house quietly. He mounted his bike and guided it toward Cassandra’s neighborhood, the city blurring below.

When Jayden arrived at the Isley estate, he spotted a figure just outside the gate—long hair catching the breeze, dressed casually but with an effortless grace. It was Cassandra. She was about to step inside the compound.

Jayden landed his bike swiftly, hopping off and calling out, "Cassie! Wait!"

But Cassandra didn’t respond. She didn’t even glance back. The gate swung open upon recognizing her biometrics, and she stepped through, shutting it with a firm click before continuing up the path.

Jayden rushed to the gate. "Cassie, please!" he pleaded, his hand reaching for the bars. "Wait!"

Cassandra stopped walking. But she still didn’t turn around. Her back remained to him, her shoulders tense.

For a moment, hope flared in Jayden’s chest. But then...

"I thought I made myself clear," she said, her voice eerily calm. "that you shouldn’t come back here."

"I know," Jayden said quickly, pressing closer to the gate. "I know you did. But Cassie, I just... I need to talk to you. I need to—"

"There’s nothing to talk about," Cassandra interrupted. "What’s done is done. Just... leave me alone, Jayden."

"I can’t." Jayden said. The words came out more desperately than he’d intended. "Cassie, please. I’m sorry. Okay? I am so sorry for hurting you."

Cassandra let out a short, bitter laugh that made Jayden’s stomach twist. Then slowly, she turned to face him.

Jayden flinched when he saw her. Her eyes were red-rimmed, but dry. There was no anger in them. Just a deep, hollow coldness that reflected a broken heart.

"It’s too late for that," she said quietly. "An apology can’t fix this, Jayden. There are some things that... that you can’t just say sorry for and make them go away."

Jayden’s chest tightened, the sadness in her voice cut like a knife. "Then tell me what can," he pleaded. "Tell me how to fix this."

Cassandra stared at Jayden for a long moment. The wind rustled the leaves around them, filling the quiet. Then she spoke.

"You can’t," she muttered indifferently.

Jayden refused to accept that. "Wait, I can—"

"Goodbye, Jayden," Cassandra added, her voice shaking just slightly. "Don’t come looking for me again. Please. Just... stay away."

With that, she turned and started walking toward the house again, her pace quicker now.

"Cassie!" Jayden called after her, desperation clawing at his throat. "Please!"

But she didn’t stop. Didn’t turn around. Didn’t even slow down.

Jayden stood at the gate, his hands gripping the iron bars so hard his knuckles turned white, watching her walk away.

He kept watching, hoping, praying—that she’d look back. That she’d change her mind. That she’d give him a chance.

But Cassandra reached the front door, opened it, and walked inside without a single glance backward.

The door closed behind her with a soft, final click.

Jayden stood there for another minute, staring at the closed door, before finally releasing his grip on the gate. His chest ached in a way that had nothing to do with physical pain.

He’d expected this. He knew Cassandra wouldn’t forgive him easily. Maybe wouldn’t forgive him at all.

But knowing it intellectually and experiencing it were two different things.

He walked slowly back to his hoverbike and stood beside it for a moment, not quite ready to leave. As if staying near her house would somehow make things better.

It didn’t.

Finally, with a heavy sigh, Jayden swung his leg over the bike and started the engine. The hoverbike hummed to life beneath him, lifting slightly off the ground.

Jayden took one last look at the mansion—at the window that he knew was Cassandra’s room—then engaged the throttle.

The bike shot forward, carrying him away from the area, away from Cassandra, away from any chance at fixing what he’d broken.

At least for now.

As the house disappeared behind him, Jayden’s jaw clenched with determination.

"I’ll find a way," he thought fiercely. "I don’t know how yet. But I’ll find a way to make this right."

He had to.

Because losing Cassandra—truly, permanently losing her—wasn’t something he could accept.