Cassidy stares at the screen of her phone, reading Bryan's reply over and over again.

It seems like he is able to handle the situation somehow. As for how exactly, he left out on purpose. He probably did not want her hearing more of Adrian and the state he was in.

​​

"It's a relief that Bryan is there..." Cassidy sighed to herself and put her phone back in her purse.

"I don't know what I'll do if Asher and the others find him in front of their bar."

Apparently, her husband and childhood friend are still holding on with their disputes even after their common enemy has already been apprehended. The same goes for their respective groups as well. It's something that she can no longer control since they've got their own ways of settling their matters.

Though her family respects her decision to leave everything behind and start anew, their grudge and resentment toward the Millicent's will probably persist forever.

'That huge dumbass... I know that he knows how bad it will be if they happen to meet each other back there. Still, he went to see me - all on his own, no doubt. I thought for sure that he was finally starting to move on from me...' Cassidy pondered heavily, staying still and quiet throughout the ride.

'A little longer and I could've moved on from you too, Adrian.'

It's not really easy, though.

Three months of separation are still nothing compared to five years of devoting her whole heart to him. She knows for herself that she has genuinely loved him, and she even thinks that she still does even after everything that has happened. But this time around, she has chosen another kind of happiness - one that can't be given to her by a man or anyone else for that matter.

Cassidy will be the one to make herself happy this time.

"I ain't gonna go home without you! I wanna be with you, Cassidy...!"

"You are such a sweet little cinnamon roll, my love..."

"So, you do care about me? That makes me happy to know..."

"You know what, Cassidy? I want to be with you forever and ever and ever..."

And yet, here she was recalling all those things that Adrian told her a moment ago.

As much as she wants to remain indifferent about it, she can't help but be affected. She can't keep herself from heating up as she thinks more about those words. And the harder she tries to snap out of it, the stronger its effect becomes.

Then again, he's supposed to be a man of unparalleled prestige and affluence who singlehandedly made an entire conglomerate fall before raising it back up again - he's an incredible, otherworldly figure. To see him acting like a little kid and uttering all those sweet-nothings to someone like her is kind of bizarre. She has no particular skill or outstanding talent or whatsoever. He should've given up on her already.

'Ughhh... And why am I getting some kind of inferiority complex all of the sudden...?' Cassidy brooded in silence before slapping both of her cheeks with her hands.

'Okay, cut it out already! Pull yourself together! This is no time to be losing confidence! I'm doing good so far, anyway! I have a job, a place to belong to, and everything! It's gonna be fine.'

While she was trying to cheer herself up, the rain finally let up. Much to her relief, there were no thunder nor lightning. And as if that wasn't enough to lift up her mood, a rainbow suddenly appeared in sight and brought colors to the dull-looking sky, taking her by pleasant surprise.

"Woah! I've never seen a rainbow in a long while," Cassidy breathed out in awe as she peered through the window of the vehicle.

At last, she can finally find it in herself to smile. The uplifting scenery is enough to reassure her - she feels like everything is going to be alright. In fact, she knows that it is going to be fine.

Rainbows are said to be symbols of new beginnings, after all.

---

Two eventful years have passed, and Cassidy finds herself in a better shape than she has imagined.

Many things happened throughout the course of time. What probably stood out here the most was her journey of becoming an independent and self-sustaining woman. She got to step out of her comfort zone, learn more about the world around her, and meet tons of new people.

Now, she has even started her own business - a local family diner, which was born from her desire and longing to have her own family herself.

Never did she think that she would want something like managing a restaurant, though. But then again, life could be unpredictable. Not once did she expect that she could come this far. For a good portion of her life, she was made to believe that she was a good-for-nothing, parasitic deadweight, after all.

Aside from these, there were other things that really shocked her and got her thinking that it was not only her who had been wanting a new beginning all along.

"There is nothing to worry about, Cecilia. I've got it covered."

At the moment, Cassidy, dressed in her red-and-white manager uniform, is talking on the phone.

The day has just begun for her and everyone else in the diner when she suddenly received a call from a certain someone. Cecile, her former maid and secret assistant, is at the other end of the line.

"You still have a few more years to go, right? As I've promised, I'll be providing for your family's needs until then," Cassidy reassured her, earning a sigh of relief in return.

"Thank you very much, Ma'am. I really don't know what I'd do without you. I hope I could repay you soon," Cecile replied - her smile could be heard even from the other side.

"Don't sweat it. How's life there, by the way?"

"Really tough. But knowing that I deserve this, it's bearable."

Apparently, the place Cecile is staying in now is not really a good place to live in, but still it's a good opportunity to start anew - it's life in a prison.