Always Been Mine
Bella’s eyes shimmered with something... sympathy, maybe. Maybe guilt. She looked like she wanted to reach for me, to offer comfort, but she knew I wouldn’t take it. So she kept her distance and simply said,
“Please. Just go home, Sarah.”
She paused and added gently, “I talked to Cyrus. He’s going to take you home. He’ll make sure you’re okay.”
Before I could respond, the door creaked open again. Cyrus stepped inside, calm and quiet. He was probably eavesdropping on us.
“Come on,” he said softly.
Without another word, he took off his jacket and gently placed it around my shoulders. Then he held the bathroom door open.
I walked out, feeling more hollow than relieved. He silently led me through the hallway, out into the night where a car was already waiting at the curb. He opened the door for me, and I got in. A moment later, he followed, shutting the door behind us.
And that’s when I knew.
That was it. That ride, that silence, that numb retreat away from everything... I wasn’t going home. Not really. I was just going back to the same cold place that wore the name home but never felt like it.
I had achieved nothing but another night of humiliation. Another reminder that no one saw me.
We didn’t say a word the entire car ride home. Silence sat thick between us, not heavy with tension, but with something else. Resignation, maybe. Or quiet defeat.
The moment we arrived and Cyrus opened the door, my body gave up on me. I collapsed forward, heaving violently, and blood came up with it. The water Cyrus had given me spilt out of me in red, cruel waves. Cyrus froze. The silence around us shattered.
“How much did you drink?” he asked in shock.
But I couldn’t answer. My head spun. My body felt like it was made of stone, heavy, aching, too tired to even exist. I wanted to sleep. I was so thirsty. So exhausted. All I could do was cry. Hot, silent tears poured down as the weight of everything pulled me further into myself.
Then everything blurred. I heard my name 'Sarah' and then Cyrus’s voice, firm but gentle.
He scooped me up in his arms like I weighed nothing, carrying me through the house. I couldn’t fight it. I didn’t want to. I rested my head against him, letting the warmth of his body distract me from the pain.
He laid me down on my bed and left the room, his voice fading as he made a phone call. I couldn’t hear the words. I drifted between wakefulness and sleep, the world tilting in and out of focus.
Then, gentle pats on my cheek brought me back.
“Sarah,” he said softly, his voice hovering just above me.
My eyes fluttered open.
“Cyrus…” I whispered, my voice dry and cracked. At that moment, he looked like an angel. Like the one person in the world who might save me. The only one who saw me as something worth saving.
I opened my mouth to speak, I didn’t even know what I was about to say but Cyrus cut me off.
“Here. Take this. Sit up,” he said, easing me into a sitting position.
He placed a small tray over my lap. On it sat a bowl of soup, some bread, and water.
“Come on, try it.”
I tried to lift the spoon, but my hands were trembling. I couldn’t even manage that.
“Fuck it,” Cyrus muttered under his breath. “I have to do this.”
Then, without hesitation, he sat beside me and began feeding me himself. Spoon by spoon. Sip by sip. Gentle and patient.
It was humiliating. It was heartbreaking. But it was also something else.... something warm. Something I didn’t dare name.
He helped me until I finally regained enough strength to feed myself. When I did, he leaned back and let out a small sigh of relief.
“I’m going to help you with a bath,” he said.
That surprised me. I blinked at him. “Uh… thanks.”
“No problem,” he said casually. But as he walked toward the bathroom, I heard him murmur something under his breath.
“What did you say?” I asked curiously.
“Oh, nothing,” he said with a smirk. “Just… the things we do for love, right?”
Then he winked and stepped into the bathroom. I sat there frozen, staring at the door.
Did Cyrus just say he loves me?
Is Cyrus… secretly in love with me?
When he returned, his voice was light, teasing.
“The water is ready, milady,” Cyrus said with a playful little bow that made me smile despite myself.
“I’ll be outside when you’re ready.” Then he left, the bedroom door clicking softly behind him.
I remained seated on the edge of the bed, staring at the spot where he’d stood, where he’d winked at me like he knew all my secrets. That moment alone confirmed it.
Cyrus likes me.
There’s something there. I was sure of it now.
I could have jumped up in joy.
Bella always walked around like she owned everything like being Mrs. Cyrus Cincinnati made her untouchable. Like she could have my husband, take my place, take everything. But now… now I saw the truth. She didn't have it all, not really.
Her husband liked me.
It made me think about everything people said Cyrus did to Bella, the way he treated her, and how it all made sense now. Maybe he was forced into it. Maybe he always knew I was the one he was meant to marry...
The original agreement was for us, Cyrus and me. That’s how it was supposed to be. Bella must have done something. She had to. Because she wanted to be the princess. She wanted to marry the heir. And somehow, she got her way. But she never had his heart.
Cyrus has always been mine. Always
With new resolve burning through me, I stood up. Purpose gave me strength I didn’t have minutes ago. I walked into the bathroom and lowered myself into the bath he had drawn for me, letting the warmth wrap around me.
I enjoyed every second of it. Not just because it was soothing, but because I knew his hands had prepared it. Because it was he who cared enough to do this for me.
But I didn’t want to take too long. I didn’t want to keep him waiting and risk him leaving.
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