Chapter 163
Cassian was roaming to find Anastasia when he spotted her looking totally bummed out. His chest tightened painfully, like someone was squeezing his heart in a vise. Even though he had Anastasia now, he still lived in constant fear of losing her. Who would’ve guessed that in this marriage, Cassian—who always seemed so untouchable—was actually the one who'd fallen the hardest?
Just then, he watched Anastasia shake it off and put her smile back on. Seeing her brighten up made Cassian’s face light up too; he couldn’t help grinning along with her. His mood instantly lifted, like storm clouds clearing to reveal sunshine. He headed over to her.
Hearing those familiar footsteps, Anastasia immediately knew it was Cassian. She turned around, and there was that ridiculously gorgeous face that never failed to make her heart race. Watching Anastasia stare at him with those stunning eyes that seemed to sparkle like water, Cassian felt his pulse kick up. He walked right up to her.
Anastasia beamed at Cassian with a smile that could’ve powered the whole hospital. “What are you doing out here? I thought you were chatting with Grandma?” She’d picked up on the vibe that Elisabeth and Cassian needed to talk privately, so she’d made herself scarce.
Thinking about Elisabeth’s words, Cassian chuckled. “Your grandma basically told me to get lost and go find you. Said she’s got nothing to say to some young hotshot like me.”
Anastasia rolled her eyes and playfully shoved his shoulder. “You’re so full of it. Grandma would never say that.”
Cassian laughed and smoothly wrapped his arms around her. “Oh yeah? What would she say then?”
“Knowing Grandma, she’d never talk like that,” Anastasia said with absolute conviction. Other people might not get Elisabeth, but Anastasia did—her grandmother had been her rock her entire life. Elisabeth was old-school classy. She’d grown up wealthy and been raised with serious manners. Even during the roughest times, she never trash-talked Sharpson. She handled life’s curveballs with dignity and strength. Someone like that would never say something so harsh.
Cassian and Anastasia walked away together, laughing and talking.
Jasper stepped out from behind a pillar, staring at their backs with eyes that looked like they could cut glass. What the actual fuck? How long had it been since he and Anastasia broke up, and she was already this tight with Cassian?
Valeria caught Jasper’s murderous expression and smirked with satisfaction. This was exactly what she’d been hoping for. She knew Jasper would totally lose his shit seeing Anastasia with Cassian, which is why she’d deliberately lured him here—she wanted him to finally get over Anastasia! Only when Jasper completely moved on from Anastasia could Valeria really have him all to herself!
Jasper, how did Ana get over you so fast? Did she ever really love you? Or maybe they and Creslan were already...
“What the hell did you just say??”
Jasper spun around and locked onto Valeria with eyes that had gone completely psychotic, like he was ready to tear her apart.
Valeria jumped, the words dying in her throat. “Jasper… I was just…”
“Shut the fuck up!"
Jasper completely snapped, charging at Valeria and wrapping his hand around her throat, practically lifting her off her feet. Valeria had never seen this side of Jasper—she was too scared shitless to even move.
“Keep your mouth shut,” Jasper growled through gritted teeth. “You don’t get to talk about what Anastasia and I had.”
“Jasper, what the hell are you doing?!”
Megan came running over in full panic mode, frantically talking him down until he finally let Valeria go. Valeria was completely wrecked, her legs giving out as she crashed to the floor, gasping and coughing like crazy. For a second there, she seriously thought he was gonna kill her—her lungs felt like they were about to burst!
“Jasper Hale, have you completely lost your mind?!” Megan screamed at him.