Chapter 26 A Dream
When Juliet finally stirred again, it was not sudden but slow, like she was rising through something heavy and distant that didn’t want to release her.
Her lashes fluttered once, then again, before lifting fully as she drew in a faint, unsteady breath, her senses struggling to settle into the unfamiliar brightness above her.
The ceiling was white. Clean.
Her head turned slightly on the pillow, heavy and disoriented, and it took her a moment too long to understand where she was. The faint scent of antiseptic, the distant beeping of machines, the soft rustle of movement somewhere nearby—all of it slowly pulled her back into awareness.
Hospital.
Confusion crept into her expression as her gaze drifted sideways, unfocused at first, then slowly sharpening.
A few feet away, Cassian stood beside one of the chairs, completely unaware that she was awake. He had just grabbed a shirt from the back of the chair and was pulling it on, his broad shoulders flexing as he slid one arm and then the other into the sleeves.
Juliet's sleepy eyes instantly widened.
The morning light streaming through the window fell perfectly over him, outlining every hard line of his tall, muscular frame.
His arms stretched as he adjusted the shirt over his shoulders, the movement making the muscles beneath his skin ripple effortlessly.
A thin trail of dark hair disappeared beneath the waistband of his pants, drawing her gaze lower before she could stop herself.
Heat rushed to her face.
Cassian began buttoning his shirt, his long fingers moving from one button to the next with practiced ease.
Juliet watched every movement, her heart beating a little faster despite herself.
Annoyance and anger still lingered inside her, yet none of it stopped her from appreciating the unfairly attractive man standing in front of her.
As if sensing her gaze, Cassian tucked the last part of his shirt into his pants and turned around.
Their eyes met.
He immediately stilled.
For a brief second, neither of them spoke.
Then, to Juliet's immense satisfaction, a faint flush crept across his face.
"You're awake already," he said, clearing his throat.
Without waiting for her response, he quickly turned away and busied himself adjusting his cuffs, acting as though she hadn't just caught him half-dressed.
Juliet bit the inside of her cheek, barely stopping herself from laughing at his obvious embarrassment.
A few moments later, after composing himself, Cassian walked over to her bedside.
The teasing warmth in her eyes faded slightly as he reached out and gently brushed a few strands of hair away from her forehead.
Bending down, he rested his hand lightly against her head, his expression softening with concern.
"How are you feeling now?" he asked quietly.
Juliet didn’t answer right away.
Her body tightened almost imperceptibly under Cassian’s gaze, like his voice had pressed against something still sore beneath her skin. She turned her face slightly away, lashes lowering as if she could hide the weight in her eyes, and muttered under her breath, “I’m fine.”
Cassian exhaled, soft but already resigned, and reached for the medicine on the bedside table without breaking his focus on her.
“Take your meds,” he said, voice low.
He picked up the glass of water and the tablets, then closed the small distance between them in one smooth step. Sitting on the edge of the bed, he slipped one arm beneath her shoulders, steadying her with controlled care. “Sit up,” he added, guiding her as he tried to lift her gently.
But Juliet resisted immediately.
Her hand came up weakly, pressing against his forearm with stubborn refusal, pushing away his support as her head fell back into the pillow again. A faint frown creased her face, irritation flashing through exhaustion as she turned away from him.
“I don’t want to. I’m fine,” she repeated, sharper this time.
Her arms folded tightly across her chest, protective, refusing even the comfort of his presence as she avoided his eyes completely.
Cassian studied her in silence for a brief moment, his expression unreadable, his hand still hovering near her as if deciding how far she would be allowed to refuse. Then, without warning, he slipped a tablet between her lips.
Juliet froze.
The bitter taste spread instantly, her eyes widening as she instinctively tried to pull back. But Cassian was already there, one hand supporting the back of her head, lifting her just enough to stop her resistance from turning into struggle.
“Drink,” he said quietly.
He brought the glass to her lips.
Juliet’s expression twisted in protest, but her body, drained and unsteady, betrayed her stubbornness. She swallowed reluctantly as the water washed down the bitterness, her throat tightening before she finally sank back against the pillows.
Only then did Cassian ease his grip.
The moment she could move freely, Juliet turned her head sharply toward him, shooting him a glare that was both offended and exhausted.
Cassian didn’t react at all.
He simply set the remaining medicine back on the table with calm precision, as if her anger didn’t register as anything worth responding to. His attention shifted back to her.
He immediately closed the distance between them, leaving no space between their bodies as he leaned down without hesitation. His fingers brushed gently over her cheek, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear before he lowered his head and captured her lips in a soft, lingering kiss.
But the moment their lips touched, Juliet turned her face away and pulled back. Folding her arms tightly across her chest, she scooted a few inches away from him, her cheeks puffing slightly as she glared at him with stubborn indignation.
"I'm still angry about yesterday," she huffed, deliberately turning her head to the side so she wouldn't have to look at him. "And don't try to kiss me."
Cassian remained silent for a moment, studying her sulking expression. Then, without a word, he climbed onto the bed beside her. The mattress dipped beneath his weight as he shifted closer, and before she could move away, he slipped an arm around her waist and pulled her firmly against his chest.
Juliet immediately began to struggle.
"Let me go."
She pushed against his chest, twisting in his arms as she tried to free herself, but Cassian refused to budge.
Instead, he tightened his hold, his arm locking securely around her waist while his other hand slid to the back of her head, gently but firmly pressing her against him as though he couldn't bear even the smallest distance between them.
"No," he said simply, his deep voice leaving no room for argument.
Juliet lifted her head and glared up at him, only to find that he looked just as unhappy. His brows were tightly furrowed, his jaw clenched, and there was a storm brewing behind his dark eyes.
“You're angry?” he asked at last, loosening his hold just enough to look directly into her face. Jealousy still burned in his eyes, but beneath it lingered a trace of hurt that he couldn't quite hide.
“You went home with that fucking piece of shit ex-boyfriend of yours. You kept calling his name all night, even though you were sick,” he said, his voice low and tight. His jaw clenched before he continued. “I'm the one who should be angry.”
Juliet blinked at him in confusion before a frown immediately appeared on her face.
“My ex?” she repeated, staring up at him. Her brows knitted together as she searched his face. “You're talking about Vincent?”
The moment his name left her lips, Cassian's expression darkened further. The muscles in his jaw tightened, and although he said nothing, the possessive jealousy radiating from him answered her question.
Realization immediately dawned on her.
“I didn’t go home with him! Didn’t your men tell you that he dragged me there?”
Cassian's gaze sharpened instantly.
“They told me,” he said coldly, “how lovingly he threw you over his shoulder and took you home. How you were alone in that house with him. How you didn’t come out for ten fucking minutes.”
His grip on her tightened slightly.
“And then you still expect me not to be angry?”
The thought alone twisted something inside him. Vincent’s house. Juliet alone. Vincent touching her. Talking to her. Trying to get close to her.
The image made his expression harden dangerously.
Juliet let out a sharp breath, then suddenly leaned forward and bit his shoulder hard.
Cassian flinched.
A low sound left him, but he didn’t pull away. He simply held her there until she released him, the faint mark of her bite visible against his skin.
When she finally lifted her head, she was scowling.
“I wasn’t alone with him,” she said firmly, her voice rough with irritation. “His dumb friends were there. I only went into his living room. He slapped some papers in front of me, saying Alexa wasn’t pregnant and trying to act like some saint who didn’t cheat.”
Her lips pressed together in disgust.
“And then I made him sign our engagement’s annulment papers. That’s it. I walked out. I didn’t even drink a glass of water in his house.”
She exhaled sharply.
“Nothing happened between us.”
Cassian’s arms tightened around her almost instantly.
But the anger in his eyes didn’t fully leave.
“You were dreaming about him last night,” he said, voice lower now. Dangerous. “Do you miss him?”
His grip tightened again.
“And you called out my name too,” he added bitterly. “You told me to leave.”
Juliet let out a soft sigh.
“I wasn’t dreaming about Vincent the way you think.”
Cassian didn’t look convinced.
Her lashes lowered slightly, fingers absentmindedly playing with his shirt as her voice softened.
“I was dreaming about that night at the club… when I last saw him,” she admitted. “When I was injured. Bleeding. He left me there.”
Her throat tightened.
“And in the dream… you left me too.”
She lifted her eyes to him, something vulnerable flickering in them.
“I wasn’t missing him,” she said quietly. “I was scared you would leave me.”
A pause.