Chapter 11: Chapter 11

Cassandra's POV

A few days later Anna took me to her house after work. I knew that she lived at her boyfriend, Stefan's house. Julian didn't live with them so the chances of meeting him weren't much although my heart couldn't stop hoping. I had to wear my work clothes and go there, not having the time to change. I returned home with only enough time to take care of Max. I sighed knowing that it was a futile hope. Who would see me anyway?

"Cassie, this is mom, Audrey Henderson," she said introducing me to a woman with jade green eyes just like Julian's. She smiled at me, her kind eyes drawing me more towards her, as she just seemed like aunt Caroline. "Mom, this is Cassandra, the one and only, with whom Julian is in love," Anna said grinning like a Cheshire cat.

I didn't know how to respond to that, my eyes widening at their comfortable rapport. "Hello, Mrs. Henderson, pleased to meet you," I said formally, blushing furiously. I was actually surprised that Anna knew about Julian's condition since I had never discussed my relationship with Julian, not that there was anything to discuss anyway. Her words gave me hope that Julian might not have forgotten me after all!

"Oh, just call me mom, dear. They all do," she said as she hugged me. I was touched by Julian's mom's loving nature which took me by surprise. I knew that all billionaires were vain and looked down upon others who were poor like me, so how were the Hendersons so different? How were they so kind-hearted? I felt overwhelmed by their warm welcome and a strange wish to belong to such a family just like Anna did, crept into my mind.

A younger woman with chocolate brown hair and ocean blue twinkling eyes came down the stairs with a baby in her arms, much younger than Max. She smiled warmly at me the moment our eyes met and I noted a little similarity in her features with Julian's.

"You must be Cassandra? I'm Claire, Julian's sister, and this is baby Alexander. Now I know why bro is so heartbroken. Patch up with him, or else that boy will surely kill us with his broken heart. We can't tolerate him anymore," said Claire as Anna and mom giggled while I gaped at them feeling more confused than ever. It was actually news to me since I had no idea that Julian was heartbroken, not having seen him for a long time. Suddenly my heart swelled with hope and I wanted to sing with joy. So he hadn't moved on? He hadn't forgotten me! He was heartbroken because of me!

"Yeah, he's here already for a month with his melodrama, just wait till you see him," Anna said looking at me and winking, making me blush profusely. Suddenly realization struck and I realized what Anna just told me. So, was Julian here? I looked around to check, making Anna smother a giggle. I wondered whether he told everyone about me. What did he tell them about me? Does he have a broken heart because of me? A million questions played havoc with my mind and I was totally jumbled up, not able to think straight. The thought of meeting him after a month was making my heartbeats go faster as if my heart would jump out of its ribcage. I hadn't expected this at all when I agreed to come here. I noted the looks that Anna, Claire, and mom shared amongst themselves. Were they plotting something against me?

"I'm not eating anything, give me back my drink or just get lost, bro," yelled Julian as he emerged from a room, making my eyes go wide with excitement while my heart thundered in my chest. I stared at him with wide eyes, taking in his face that looked like he was heartbroken indeed. It was covered up in a month's stubble, his hair looked disheveled and he reeked of alcohol. His clothes were dirty as if he hadn't changed for days. He simply looked a mess, a gorgeous mess and I wanted to do a happy dance seeing him suddenly in front of my eyes. He looked at everyone and then finally his eyes landed on me. My breath got stuck up in my throat as I waited for him to react. He blinked a few times and rubbed his eyes and again looked at me as I stood like a statue.

"What are you doing here, Cassie? Have you come here to check if I'm still alive? See, I'm still alive, so go away," he said as he staggered back to the room from where he emerged. I was dumbstruck by his words, a feeling of guilt washing all over me. I had no idea that unintentionally I had hurt him so much. My heart broke at his words and I couldn't stop the tears in my eyes from spilling over. I wasn't a weakling, I never cried but somehow today my heart just couldn't take in any more.

A few teardrops fell from my eyes, as I gulped and tried controlling myself. "It's alright, dear. Don't cry, just make it up to him. Go," said mom as she nudged me in the direction of the room where Julian went.

I opened the door and went inside, Julian was sitting on the bed with an empty glass in his hand while a man who looked similar to him stood in front of him, with a bottle of scotch in his hands. "No more, Jules, you've had enough. You need to stop this utter madness," he said grimly as he looked at me. "Cassandra?" He asked.

"Yeah," I said quietly as I approached them.

"Handle him, huh, I'm out of here. By the way, I'm his older brother, Tristan," he said with a smile. I nodded at him and he left, closing the door. I stood before Julian as he sat there with his eyes closed, "Leave me, alone bro," he said irritatedly. I was surprised that he wasn't aware of my presence in the room. Just how much did he drink?

"I'm Cassie, Julian," I said gently and he opened his eyes and tried to focus on me.

"Why have you come here? Go away," he said miserably.

"No, I won't go. Please stop this, I'm sorry," I said as I caressed his cheek but he jerked away angrily.

"No, Cassie, I don't want your pity," he said, turning to look at me.

"Why should I pity you?" I said honestly. "Max and I have missed you," I told him, making his eyes go wide as he realized just what I had told him. "You're lying," he whispered but I shook my head slowly.

"I don't lie, Julian," I told him. He gazed into my eyes as I continued to caress his cheek and he leaned into my palm at last. I released the breath that I was holding. "Stop drinking, please," I pleaded.

"No, I won't stop. You won't let me love you, you won't let me be Max's dad, you don't want me, I won't stop," he said as he turned his back to me.