Chapter 487

Adrienne didn’t coddle Cassandra or try to force her to stop crying. She let Cassandra sob until her tears ran dry before finally speaking.

“Ready to talk now?”

Cassandra wiped her nose with the tissue Adrienne handed her, her eyes still damp. “You know he’s about to get engaged, right? And I don’t even know who the woman is.”

Adrienne exhaled sharply. “That’s what this is about? Seriously?” She rolled her eyes. “I thought it was something major. He’s just getting engaged, not married. And even if he were married, divorce rates are sky-high these days. Why are you acting like this?”

No one had ever spoken to Cassandra like this—not her parents, who tiptoed around the subject, nor her brother Sebastian, who bluntly told her to move on. But Adrienne? Adrienne made it sound trivial. For a moment, Cassandra just stared at her, stunned.

“Is… is that really how it works?”

“Why wouldn’t it be?” Adrienne bent down, picking up two cups of fruit tea. She handed one to Cassandra and cradled the other in her hands, warming her fingers. “Cass, I’m not trying to be harsh, but look in the mirror. You’re a catch. Do you have any idea how many people are obsessed with you? Your fans, your movies—hell, half the city would kill to be with you.”

She took a sip of her tea before continuing. “You’re fearless. You love hard, you fight hard. That’s what I’ve always admired about you. But this?” She shook her head, sighing. “This isn’t you.”

Cassandra’s cheeks flushed. “I have been pursuing him,” she insisted, frustration creeping into her voice. “For years. You know that. But he’s always been indifferent. What else am I supposed to do?”

She had put in so much effort—more than most would. She’d clung to the hope that her persistence would eventually break through to him. And yet, here they were.

Adrienne arched a brow. “You call that pursuing?” She let out a disbelieving laugh. “Cass, be honest with yourself. What you’ve been doing isn’t pursuing—it’s waiting.”

Cassandra stiffened. Her grip on the cup tightened before she slammed it onto the coffee table with a sharp clink.

She shot to her feet—or tried to. Her legs, numb from sitting cross-legged for so long, buckled beneath her. She stumbled forward, crashing into Adrienne. Tea splashed everywhere, soaking both of them.

“Adrienne!” Cassandra snapped, though the effect was ruined by her unsteady stance. “I came to you because I thought you’d understand. But if you’re just going to mock me—”

Adrienne glanced down at her ruined blouse, unimpressed. “Get mad if you want. Truth hurts, doesn’t it? Fine. If you don’t want to hear it, I’ll stop.”

She turned toward the stairs, fully prepared to walk away.

Panic flared in Cassandra’s chest. She needed Adrienne—needed someone who wouldn’t sugarcoat things. Someone who’d actually help her figure this out.

“Wait!” She lunged forward, grabbing Adrienne’s wrist. “Don’t go. I didn’t mean it like that. I’m not angry—so why are you storming off?”

Adrienne paused, then turned back to face her. “So. Are you still mad?”