Chapter 145 - Hundred And Forty Five
"Cassandra?" Ryan’s voice, rough with worry, broke the silence of the night. Suzy, startled, looked up from where she was perched on the edge of the pond, her heart pounding. He looked disheveled, like he’d been running. Guess she wasn’t the only one looking out of place.
She lowered the shoe she intended to toss, the impact on the floor jarring. Ryan was upon her in an instant, engulfing her in a tight hug. Relief and fear battled in his eyes, his grip almost painfully tight. Suzy could barely breathe, her own tears mingling with his.
He pulled back, gently cupping her face, his thumbs wiping away the tears. "Have you been crying?" he asked, his voice soft, his kiss warm, his lips lingering on her forehead.
Suzy remained silent, the weight of his touch heavy on her. He pulled her back into another hug, this time gentler, a murmur of apology escaping his lips. " I’m sorry."
"Did you hurt me... push me away... because of guilt?" Suzy finally asked, her voice trembling.
Ryan pulled back, his eyes searching hers. He saw the disappointment mirrored in their depths, a wave of despair washing over him.
"Why didn’t you tell me?" she pressed, her voice rising. "You were that seven-year-old boy... the one who saw my mother die, weren’t you?"
Ryan was speechless, the words caught in his throat.
"Was that why you had those nightmares?" she continued, her voice laced with anger. "Was the guilt... was it too much to bear that you were repeatedly hurting me, pushing me away?"
He remained silent, his head bowed, the silence deafening.
Suzy felt a surge of rage, her fists connecting with his chest. "Answer me! You bastard!" she screamed. "You knew how much I wanted to know what happened to my mother! You watched me run in circles, chasing shadows! I hate you! I hate you so..."