Chapter 25: Chapter 25

Louis strolls through the park filled with memories. The man had his hand in his pocket and a cold glance across the street for the one who screamed his name. It was the paparazzi again. 'Can't they just leave me alone?'

Sighing, he takes quicker steps to reach his car. The Land Rover... he briefly remembers how Cassandra would be so excited to ride the car with him. That puts a smile on his face.

Driving off, head steaming with anger, he reaches his mansion and strips away from his clothes right away. The door of his room springs open just when he was taking off his pants in the living room. Being naked in his comfort let him steam off his troublesome thoughts. He did that all the time.

Through the door of his room, he sees Sharon walking outside wearing his clothes. It was normal for them to be at each other's places, before Cassandra happened, too.

"Hey..." Sharon sees his stressed out face. Approaching him, he lays down on the couch without hesitation and spreads his arms apart. Sharon is quickly enveloped when she falls upon his chest, softly. Stroking her hair, he smiles and kisses her head. The action reminds him of this puppy-like reaction of Cassandra.

Her again.

"Loving two people is god damn hard." He says, gulping. Sharon knows that his feelings are divided between two women. The new and transformed Cassandra and herself. Everything that's happening with him, Sharon knew because he believed Sharon was his therapist.

"I don't even know I was in love with her-"

"You told me that." She cuts him off, slightly angered. No woman shall accept another woman in her man's life. So far, Sharon has been vaguely understanding of him but it seems she cannot handle it anymore.

"Ah. Must've forgotten."

"I'm not in the mood to cook today, and judging from your end, you won't be able to either." She says, stroking his arm.

"Let's eat something spicy and enhance your mood, hmm? I'm sure you'd feel better." Her care for him makes him smile. He nods his head, not knowing that her intention was to shut him up and stop talking about Cassandra.

Cassandra this, Cassandra that... she was tired.

As they move to the restaurant for a takeaway, Louis sees Darla with an aged man again. He shakes his head. But for a reason, he felt the uncomfortable atmosphere burning around the highschooler. Darla wasn't smiling.

"Sweetheart, stay here please."

"Wait. Where are you-" Sharon looks at Louis and he was looking at her student.

"Is that Darla?" Nothing shocking. She knew Darla was the type to play with men and boys, left and right. She too understands the situation when Darla starts squirming in her seat.

"Wear your mask, will you?" Instantly on her feet, she was concerned for her student as they both walk inside the restaurant. They've only observed through the glass.

When the geezer sees someone approaching their table, he retrieved the hand to himself. He gave Darla an angry glare she didn't even deserve. The young girl looked up, shocked to see the two people over the table.

"Sharon Ma'am! And... and..." Louis signals her to shut up.

"You okay there, Darla?" Sharon asks her.

"Yes..." she answers. Unsurely.

"If you wanna go home, we'll drop you on our way-"

"Hey, Hey! Can't you see?" The geezer snaps his fingers like he was calling a prostitute. Darla looks at him and he points his eyes down to her seat- telling her to sit down. "We're on a date."

The nerve...

Louis was already wanting to let off some steam. Maybe beating up this old man would suffice, he thought.

"Can't you see? We're talking to her." Sharon snaps back. She didn't want Louis to create a scene when things can be handled quietly.

"Come, Darla." It was surprise the man let's her go. After awhile, all three get into the car, smelling aromatic with the food in the package.

"What happened right there?" Louis asks her daringly.

"That man was my mom's boyfriend. She... she often... Well, he had eyes for me since the beginning and he forced me to come here. I didn't like coming... but he's the one feeding our family."

"Wasn't your mother in the hospital, Darla?" Sharon asks. She was suspicious of how Darla was un-hesitently speaking about her family.

"He said if I don't spread my legs for him, he will stop all supplies to mom in the hospital..."

"Oh god..." Sharon closes her mouth in shock. This was pretty uncomfortable. Louis was considering to take a u-turn and beat the crap out of that man.

"I'll pay for everything. It's a breeze for me. But never, ever let yourself in a situation like that again. You know what I mean." Louis says to Darla, sternly without assessing her emotions.

"You don't have to..." she says, even if she was crying and wanted desperate help to get out of such a filthy situation.

"Shut up. I'm arresting that bastard. You will reach home safe." Saying that, through the drive to her house, Louis makes sure the old guy receives harsh punishment considering Louis' position. He could do anything with his powers.

Dropping her home safely, the two silently leave after.

"The food's gone cold." Sharon mentions.

"Hmm..." he hums and look at the takeaway between them.

"Louis, WATCH OUT!!" Sharon screams. Louis steps on the breaks with all he had as the car comes to a halt right before a wretched figure under the drizzling downpour. It wasn't raining heavily for the weather.

"C- Cassie?"