Saying he went out was a clear end of conversation statement, at least in her eyes. So Cassie just nodded. It had been silly to ask but he’d been gone most of the day and when she’d gone to the rec center he hadn’t been there. There were times where it seemed like Dayton might love her on some level. Or at least like her more than he had in the beginning. Then there were times like this where she was dropped back into her place. She’d just picked up another towel to fold when he spoke again. Slowly she looked over at him both confused and a little hurt. “You... you want an annulment?” He wanted to make it like their marriage never happened. That was what an annulment was. What was worse, he was trying to act like this was for her? “That’s such bullshit.” Tossing the towel back into the basket she looked over at her husband. She wasn’t one to snap, not at him at least but this was infuriating. “Don’t put this on me, you wanting to get rid of me is not some wonderful thing you’re doing.”

He’d included her in the celebration which was a nice change and Cassie was doing her best to enjoy herself. It was better than being home and left on the outside of things. Though it was clear that Dayton was enjoying himself while she stayed more on the outside, until the other man started putting his hands on her. At first she’d just pushed them away and moved slightly hoping that would be enough of a hint but the man kept grabbing at her until she finally raised her voice and told him to stop touching her. No one else seemed to be paying attention until Dayton pushed the man back and was in between them. Taking a shaky breath she looked up at Dayton before he pulled her into his arms. She grabbed hold of the front of his shirt and buried her face in his chest. “I want to go home.”

Cassie didn’t like to call their marriage a business transaction but she was aware that was what it was. She might like to live in a fantasy world where situations like this ended in love but she knew that Dayton only tolerated her. Sure it was a little bit of a knock to the ego, because she refused to let any other emotion show, but at least he was still kind to her. That was something at least. She was always the type that liked to sleep in but the cool air on her skin when Dayton got out of the bed had her shifting in her sleep to slip further under the covers. When she finally decided to get out of the bed she looked at her phone and frowned. He really did get out of bed as soon as he could. After pulling her own pjs back on, since she’d rather not be told his shirts were for him and not them, she headed out of the bedroom as she ran her fingers through her hair a few times. “Morning.” She yawned before heading towards the kitchen. “What had you up so early?”

Well she looked happy in the pictures there was no denying that. Cassandra clicked through the images that the photographer sent over and at least they’d look good when she posted them and her parents would be happy. The entire situation seemed a bit archaic, but the blonde had gone along with the arranged marriage and was now realizing that having a crush on someone when you were a teenager didn’t translate into a perfect marriage. Sure they were civil and hadn’t had any fights but her husband didn’t love her. So that was something she was going to have to change. Leaning against the kitchen counter she flipped back and forth between a few pictures trying to find the one she lived the most and would be getting a print of for her husband’s desk when she smelled burning. “Shit.” Sitting up straight she looked at the oven and rushed over before pulling it open only to be greeted by a clearly burned chicken. Once it was out and on the stove top she sighed. “Well this sucks.”

Cassie was used to quiet nights at the bar but when it was this dead she didn’t understand why she had to stay open. The club next door was clearly making money but no one wanted to head into the bar so she’d been sitting on the bar checking her phone for the last hour waiting for someone to come in or for it to finally be time to lock up. Really it was probably because it was storming outside and no one really wanted to go out in something like this and if they did it was to look at the strippers next door. Which was where she would be the next night. Leaning over the bar she hit the sound system to skip the song that was playing before grabbing her soda and taking a sip as she sat up straight again only to pause when she saw someone come through the door. “Wow you must really need a drink. I haven’t had a customer in like two hours.” As soon as she finished speaking the power flickered and the song skipped before picking up again. “that could be why?” She pointed above her head before shrugging. “Anyway. Welcome, what would you like?”

Clara was the perfect baby and Cassie refused to be told otherwise. She had been terrified when she found out she was pregnant but now that the little girl was in the world those fears faded away. Sure it had been difficult finishing up her classes and taking her finals a month after she gave birth, early she might add, but it had worked out. “Are we gonna go for a walk?” The blonde cooed at the baby as she carefully hooked her into the carseat before moving to grab the stroller since she as going to have to carry it down the front steps before opening it. As much as she loved the house that she now lived in with Aaron and their daughter it didn’t make getting the stroller out easy. When the front door opened she looked up at Aaron and smiled. “You’re home early. We were going for a walk.”

Cassie had gotten used to people always being around when she left the house but the only time she wasn’t annoyed was when Ronan was there. Since she’d gotten him the job with Enzo she knew he was someone her husband trusted above anyone else to keep her safe. Bouncing down the stairs she looked around before heading towards where her friend usually sat when they were home before entering the room and closing the door behind her. “How long would it take someone to tell Enzo if we went somewhere and I didn’t want anyone else to come with us?” She smiled at him as her hands rested behind her back.

She’d been counting down until he came home and Cassie made no secret of that. Every visit for the past few weeks had included her telling him how it was almost time for him to be free. The plan had been for her to be waiting in the car when he came out of the building but the blonde had changed her mind. It would be too public and she knew damn well that he didn’t like her being out in the open when an area wasn’t secure. So while his men went off to pick him up she got ready. But there were too many choices. What was she supposed to wear when Enzo came back after being in prison? This would be the first time she could have her hands on him. 

The sound of a car pulling up made her pause and she rushed to the window and let out an excited squeal. “He’s back.” She didn’t bother with shoes and ran barefoot out of their bedroom and down the hall. The blonde had run through these halls so many times that she didn’t slip like she had in the beginning but even without Enzo following behind she could almost hear him in her head telling her to be careful not to slip as she reached the top of the stairs. She was halfway down the stairs when the front door opened making her pause. “Enzo.” Her voice was bright as she ran the rest of the way down the stairs and practically jumped into his arms as her legs wrapped around his waist and her arms wrapped around his shoulders. “Ti amo.” There were very few phrases she knew in Italian but ‘i love you’ would always be her favorite.