Page 134 of Cruel Deception

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I stared at him. Really stared.

Saw the boy with bleeding knees.

The broken man with haunted eyes.

The monster who held my throat like it was love.

And in that moment, I realized—none of it excused what he was doing to me now.

I can’t take this anymore.

The emotional blows.

The veiled threats.

The bruises I carry in places no one can see.

Men like Cassian don’t stop.

Not until you leave them bleeding with your absence.

And I can’t force him to change by staying.

He will never see me—only Seraphina’s shadow.

He will never love me—only punish what her blood left behind.

And if I stay... I won’t survive it.

So I won’t cry.

Not this time.

I didn’t beg.

Didn’t scream.

I straightened my spine, lifted my chin, wiped my tears with the back of my hand like a girl done grieving.

“I’ll show you what a woman’s made of, Cassian Moretti,” I said, voice low but unwavering.

“You think I can’t leave? Watch me.”

And I walked out.

Head high.

Heart shattered.

But soul intact.

And this time—

I didn’t look back.

Chapter 21

CASSIAN

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