CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY TWO - Words Left Unsaid

Cassius stopped, his back to Mara. When he spoke, his voice was barely audible. "I can't go through that again. I can't let her hurt us." Mara stood, crossing the room to wrap her arms around him from behind. "I know you're scared. But what if this is real? What if she's really changed?" Cassius turned in her embrace, meeting her eyes. "And what if she hasn't?" "Then we'll face it together," Mara said firmly. "But don't you think it's worth trying?" Cassius sighed, resting his forehead against hers. "I don't know, Mara. I just don't know." Mara reached into her pocket, pulling out an envelope. "She wrote you a letter. Will you at least read it? You don't have to decide anything right now." Cassius eyed the envelope warily but took it. "I'll think about it." Mara nodded, pressing a kiss to his cheek. "That's all I'm asking." Days passed, and Cassius made no mention of the letter. Mara watched him carefully, noticing how his eyes would occasionally drift to the drawer where he'd