The air left my lungs as if I had been punched. But I refused to let him see the pain he had caused. I stood there in silence as he walked away, each step echoing like a nail in the coffin of whatever we once had.
After he left, I rubbed my face vigorously with both hands, trying to shake off the stiffness that had settled over me from holding back my emotions. The ache in my chest was suffocating, but I wouldn't cry. Not for him.
***
The next day, I met Catherine.
It was by the lake, a picturesque spot with clear water that reflected the azure sky and lush green trees surrounding it. Cayden had brought her here for a leisurely outing, while I had been tasked with ensuring her safety as her bodyguard.
Catherine was everything I wasn't—elegant, poised and radiating the confidence of someone who had always lived a life of privilege. Her dress, an expensive designer piece, swayed gracefully in the breeze as she walked. Cayden stayed close to her, his gaze soft and attentive, the way it used to be when he looked at me.
I kept my distance, watching them from the shadows like an outsider. But then, out of nowhere, Catherine let out a startled cry and stumbled. Her arms flailed as she tumbled into the lake, the pristine water rippling violently around her.
"Help! Somebody, help me!" she shrieked, her voice laced with panic.
Instinct overrode my hesitation and I dove in without a second thought. The icy water soaked through my thin clothes instantly, chilling me to the bone. Fighting against the resistance of the water, I reached her in a few powerful strokes and pulled her to the surface.
Catherine clung to me, coughing and gasping, but the moment we reached the shore, her demeanor shifted. She pulled away from me and collapsed dramatically onto the grass, her sobs exaggerated as if she were performing for an audience.
Before I could process her act, Cayden arrived. His footsteps were rapid, his face a mix of panic and fury. He didn't even glance at me as he rushed to Catherine's side.
"What happened?" he asked, his voice soft and filled with concern as he knelt beside her.
"I-I slipped," Catherine stammered, tears streaming down her face. "Aubrey saved me, but—"
Cayden didn't let her finish. He stood and turned toward me, his expression darkening.