CASSIE'S POV
Cassie stretched in bed, eyes fluttering open. The light was already creeping through her curtains, warm and annoyingly peaceful. But something felt… off.
Why did it sound like everyone was busy?
She rolled out of bed, pulling on an oversized tee and fuzzy slippers before making her way downstairs. The scent of something warm—cinnamon, vanilla, maybe a hint of nutmeg—filled the air.
She stepped into the kitchen and blinked.
Maddie was at the island, carefully icing what looked like homemade cinnamon rolls. Jazmine was helping prep fresh fruit in a huge bowl. And Lily—Cassie's stepmother—was all smiles, hair tied in a silk scarf, apron on, hugging a mixing bowl to her chest.
Cassie rubbed her eyes. "Did I… wake up in a romcom? Why is everyone cooking?"
Lily turned around, her smile glowing. "Good morning, Cass." She walked over and pulled her into a quick hug. "I planned a surprise for Blair today. I invited two people from her hometown—her best friend Amanda, and her boyfriend Cole."
Cassie blinked. "Boyfriend? Blair has a boyfriend?"
Lily tilted her head. "Wait… she didn't mention that?"
Cassie slowly shook her head. Jazmine glanced up from her fruit bowl. "Nope. Not a word."
Maddie stopped what she was doing. "Definitely not."
Lily's smile faded just a little. "That's… worse than I thought," she murmured. "Maybe they've been having trouble. Either way, she needs cheering up. She's been trying so hard to hold it together."
The kitchen went quiet for a moment, until the front door opened.
James walked in, sweaty from his morning run, tank clinging to his chest, damp hair pushed back.
"What's going on?" he asked, heading straight for the fridge for water.
Cassie folded her arms. "Lily's throwing Blair a surprise."
James raised a brow. "Why? Is it her birthday?"
Cassie gave a scoff. "Why do you care?"
James shut the fridge. "Who said I do?"
"Then stop asking questions," she snapped, eyes narrowing. "We need to talk, by the way. Blair was in your hoodie. Since when do you hook up with family?"
James's expression went cold. "I didn't sleep with Blair."
Cassie raised a brow. "Could've fooled me."
James stepped closer, voice low. "Even if I did, I owe you no explanation. We're not dating."
He brushed past her and started up the stairs. "And thank God for that," he added under his breath.
Cassie clenched her fists. "Ughhh," she growled, pulling out her phone and storming outside onto the patio.
She opened her girl group chat
Cassie:
> Tell me why Blair showed up in James's hoodie
Tell me why James defended her and walked away from ME
Tell me why I feel like my own house ain't mine anymore???
Mary:
> WHATTTT
Are you sure they didn't—
Cassie:
> He said nothing happened.
But like… that's exactly what a liar would say.
Grace:
> Brooooo. That's shady.
Judy:
> Nah this girl is plotting. Stay sharp.
Inside, Jazmine raised her brows as she watched Cassie stomp out.
"Yikes," she muttered.
Caleb walked in right behind James, already dressed and biting into toast. "What I miss?"
"Dramaaaa," Jazmine sang, popping a grape in her mouth.
He chuckled. "As usual."
---
BLAIR'S POV
The sun filtered in through the curtains, soft and warm, but Blair didn't feel it. Her chest still felt heavy from the night before. The image of that video—the betrayal—played on a loop behind her eyes.
She sat up slowly, rubbing her eyes. The room was quiet, too quiet. Maddie's side of the bed was empty. Blair glanced at the clock. She was late, but it was a Saturday. No school. Just… thoughts.
Dragging herself into the bathroom, she peeled off her clothes and stepped into a steaming shower. Let the water try to wash it all away.
She emerged in an oversized beige knit sweater tucked into fitted light-wash jeans, clean white sneakers, and her hair pulled back into a neat low ponytail, with strands softly framing her face. A thin gold necklace around her neck. Casual, effortless. But inside, she still felt broken.
Blair picked up her phone and padded downstairs. "Good morning," she mumbled as she entered the dining room.
Her voice stopped.
Her feet froze.
The phone slipped from her fingers and hit the floor with a clatter.
No. No. No.
Standing right there, like ghosts she never wanted to see again, were Amanda and Cole.
Her best friend.
Her boyfriend.
Her heart stuttered. Her breath hitched. Her mouth trembled. "What… what are you doing here?"
Lily smiled warmly, confused. "Sweetheart, I invited them. I thought you missed them. I wanted to surprise you."
Blair's eyes never left Amanda and Cole. Her voice was ice, but shaking. "You have the guts to come here? Both of you?"
Cole took a step forward. "Blair—"
He reached for her waist.
SLAP!
The sound echoed across the room like a firecracker.
Everyone gasped.
Blair's hand shook as it dropped back to her side, her chest heaving.
"You've been sleeping with Amanda before I moved," she said, tears spilling fast now, voice cracking. "You come here pretending like you love me? You used me. I was so in love with you I didn't see anything."
Her voice grew louder, pain crashing through every word. "I changed myself to please you. I stepped out of my comfort zone to make you happy. I gave you more love than you ever deserved—and this is what I get?"
Amanda looked down. Cole stared blankly. No one could speak.
"You ghosted me. You both did. And you think you can just show up here and smile like it's okay?"
She turned to amanda, voice breathless. "I hate you both."
Then she ran.
Out the room.
Out the door.
Gone.
The silence was deafening.
Lily stood still, tears welling in her eyes. Her voice broke. "I didn't know. I didn't know any of this. I… I thought she missed them. I just wanted to cheer her up."
Victor wrapped his arm around her, gently pulling her into a hug. "You didn't do anything wrong. She hides her pain well. We all missed it."
James, who had been leaning against the wall, arms crossed, finally spoke.
"She found out yesterday," he said flatly. "That's why she was crying. I saw her walking down the street—crying her eyes out. I took her to my house, and she cried until she passed out. That's why she had my hoodie."
He pushed off the wall, fury in his eyes.
"I'm going to find her."
He grabbed his keys, storming out before anyone could stop him.
---
CASSIE'S POV
Cassie sat on the stairs, frozen. Her chest burned with shame.
I'm such a horrible sister.
Blair had mentioned crying last night.
She knew Blair was off… she saw it in her eyes. But what did she do?
Obsessed over a damn hoodie.
She had been so wrapped in jealousy, in assumptions, that she didn't ask her sister if she was okay.
Tears filled her eyes. "I didn't even ask," she whispered to herself. "I just closed my eyes and made it about me."
She remembered Blair's voice just moments ago—breaking, trembling, raw.
I hate you both.
Cassie blinked hard, clutching her phone, heart breaking.
The one person who had started to stand by her… the one person who never judged her, who defended her even in silence…
And she let her down.
Again.
She wasn't angry anymore.
She was disgusted—with herself.
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