Chapter 59

Cassie wanted to scream in anger because Peter was being a dick and nothing else. She buried all her igniting, firing up emotions and jumped off the table. Cassie adjusted her clothes and hair before walking out of the storeroom. When she reached the dorm Steven was not in there.

Cassie asked his friend they told her he went to say goodbye to the coach and his teammates. Cassie didn’t understand but she nodded and stood outside his dorm. She crossed her legs to send every single heat ball back inside her. Steven didn’t know Cassie was standing while he was talking to his lawyer.

When Steven turned around upon Cassie’s tapping and her question, he was taken aback. “Come inside I need to tell you something.”

Cassie while walking inside. “Yeah, you need to tell me something that you already told Daniel…”

Steven asked. “Did they tell you anything?”

Cassie shook her head. “No, they sent me here to talk to you in private.”

Cassie had never seen Steven pace back and forth like this before. She knew he was struggling with something very personal, and she prepared herself for what he was going to share.

Steven started, a little shaky in his voice. "I've kept too much about my past to myself."

With a pounding heart, Cassie nodded, urging him to go on.

"I was in a serious relationship with a girl a few years ago. We were young and in love, or at least that's what I thought. She became pregnant when she was sixteen and I was seventeen."

Although Cassie had always known that Steven wasn't all that he seemed to be, she wasn't expecting this.

"I told my Dad about it, we didn't know what to do about it. He sabotaged my relationship. Make some excuse and send me away. when I came back he told me the baby didn't make it."
Tears filled Cassie's eyes.

“In reality, she paid her millions to take my baby and flee the city along with her parents. This was the reason Cassie I didn’t get involved with any girl for the past five years. I was afraid, angry, or hopeless.”
Cassie squeezed his hands.

Steven asked. “Do you wanna know the name of the girl and the baby?”

Cassie nodded. “Her name is Elena and the baby is Raven.”

Now Cassie started to comprehend the conversation she heard outside the dorm. Cassie gasped. “Why didn’t you tell me all this when we were in Denver?”

Steven responded with a faded smile on his face. “I was shocked to see her because I tried to find her for five years.”

Cassie asked. “You lied to me about that coach’s sudden meeting?”

Steven nodded. Cassie removed her hands from his hands. Steven didn’t notice her disappointment instead he continued to tell her his story. Cassie wanted to run away because Steven told her everything but forgot to mention that he still loves Cassie, not Elena.

Cassie interpreted his attempts to get in touch with Raven as an attempt to get back in touch with Elena. Cassie’s phone started to ring and it was Daniel. She immediately picked up. “Cassie, come fast in a hospital. Ruth is getting worse.”

Cassie dropped the phone and Steven picked up and spoke to Daniel. Steven drove Cassie to the hospital. The doctors had been honest from the start. Ruth's health was rapidly declining, and they were at a loss for what to do despite their best efforts. Cassie had spent many hours in this room, seeing in vain as the woman who had always been her pillar of support got frailer by the day.

She broke into a whisper, "Mom, I'm here." "Don't leave me, please, please."

Ruth's eyelids briefly flickered open, showing anguish and bewilderment. She managed to mumble, "Cassie," in a scarcely audible whisper. "I'm exhausted."

The sight made Cassie's heart hurt. It was nearly too much to watch her like this, helpless and weak. Tears were running down her cheeks as she gave Ruth a gentle squeeze.

She whispered, "I know, Mom." Please just hang on a little while longer. They are doing everything they can.”

Dr. Ryan, entered the room as the door opened. His face was serious, and Cassie felt a knot in her stomach from fear. He gave Ruth a quick glance before turning to face Cassie, his eyes glowing with compassion.
"Cassie, could we just have a little chat?" Quietly, he questioned.

Reluctantly letting go of Ruth’s hand, Cassie nodded. With her legs feeling like lead, she trailed behind Dr. Ryan into the corridor. He cleared his throat and met her gaze directly once they were out of earshot.
Gently, he stated, "Your mother's condition is worsening faster than we anticipated. She is in excruciating pain and her organs are deteriorating. She can remain comfortable with us, yet…”

With trembling in her voice, Cassie cut in. "Is there anything more that you can try?"

After hesitating, Dr. Ryan shook his head. "We've run out of options. My apologies, Cassie. Currently, the most important thing is to make sure she is not in pain.”

It seemed as though Cassie's world was collapsing around her. She wanted to yell and get angry at how unjust everything was, but she knew that wouldn't make a difference. She nodded, taking a deep breath and trying not to lose her cool.

"Doctor, thank you," she murmured. "Can I stay with her?"

"Obviously," he answered, putting a comforting hand on her shoulder. "We'll see to it that she feels at ease."

Cassie came back into the room with a troubled heart. Feeling the coldness of her mother's flesh, she took her hand once again. "I'm here, Mom," she muttered.

Minutes turned into hours, and hours became eternity. Cassie observed Ruth's breathing becoming more difficult as she began to lose her hold on life. She could sense the terrible, inevitable time approaching when Ruth would pass away.

And then it took place. For a brief period, her mother's eyelids fluttered open one last time. "Cassie," she muttered. "I love you."

Cassie gasped out, her voice heavy with tears, "I love you too, Mom."

Ruth's breathing slowed till it eventually ceased when her eyes closed. Cassie held her breath in the vain hope that a miracle would appear, but none did. The beeping of the cardiac monitor became a continuous, constant tone.

Cassie realized it was too late even though Dr. Ryan and the nurses raced to help. Though she was numb as they attempted to revive Ruth, she knew in her heart that it was all wrong.
Dr. Ryan led Cassie to a chair with gentle guidance shortly after. "Cassie, I am sorry," he uttered gently. “She is in a coma now.”

With tears clouding her vision, Cassie nodded. Her heart broke as she reached over and planted a kiss on her forehead. "Mom, I will wait for you. I promise.”