Cassidy who accidentally found out about her father's unfaithfulness, spent the rest of her life carrying that secret - which she took with her to her next life.
It was a heavy burden, and she had always felt remorseful for her mother because of this.
Cassidy stomped out to the hospital parking lot and threw the lunch pack to the ground malignantly.
The food arrangement must be in a mess already but she did not care.
Her father did not deserve her mother's loyalty.
Cassidy felt weird.
Previously, she would have never thought this way.
Whenever her mother scolded her, she would frown in self blame, making her hate herself even more - it felt like she wasn't worthy of consolation or support.
The more she hated herself, the lower her self esteem became.
It was like a never ending vicious loop.
But now, with each word coming out of her mother's mouth, her heart grew colder.
She could hear something snap inside her.
Memories of her previous life flashed across her mind.
Mrs Nicholas watched how her daughter didn't utter a word against her and only looked down.
However, she thought her daughter must have realized her mistake and her tone softened.
" Cassidy, don't think too badly of it. If you stay obedient and be a good girl, I'm sure your father would be thankful, and he'd like you too eventually."
" No, he won't."
That sentence had slid out of her mouth before she could stop it.
Her mother was taken aback by her sudden answer.
" What?"
Cassidy didn't want to hurt her mother.
She knew that her mother was also put in a difficult position - being a wife to a cold and oppressive scum.
Mrs Nicholas' gaze met with Cassidy's and she shuddered.
Today, there was something about her child that she couldn't wrap her head around.
Cassidy turned around firmly and treaded to her room.
Sitting on the bed, she tried to initiate another plan that would assist her in finding her entire world ( her Devin.)
Even though they might have lost tonight, the skyline would always remind them of a different time.
With a broken smile, she closed her tired eyes and fell into deep unconsciousness with the thought to wake up in a different time.
*****
Cassidy felt icy fingers grip her arm in her sleep.
Wandering through the dream land, she flung open her eyes reluctantly.
" Hmmmm," she groaned.
Mrs Nicholas glanced at her daughter emotionally.
She could see so much of herself in her child and it frightened her.
The thought of her child making the same mistake she had made caused her heart to bleed.
But most of all, the thought of her child finding out the truth was what hurt her the most.
She would have to continue to conceal it until it was time to reveal the secret.
Although, it was heartbreaking to watch her daughter suffer for her mistakes, she didn't have a choice.
She only needed to buy more time.
" Good morning, child," her mother smiled broadly.
Cassidy only stared but didn't answer.
She could discern from her mother's smile that there was some pain - something she couldn't wrap her head around.
" Mother, do you want to say something?"
She took her mother's hands in hers while she sat upright on the bed.
Mrs Nicholas felt her face was burning.
She shifted her gaze downwards while trying to blink back tears.
" Mother, you can talk to me about anything," Cassidy assured her mother.
Mrs Nicholas took a deep breath and let it out in a shaky exhale.
" I... I.. I'm...." she stuttered.
The doorbell rang.
" Welcome home, dad."
Kevin howled in glee and ran in for a big dad and little son hug.
" How have you been?"
Mr Nicholas Peters pulled his soft cheeks in admiration as he bent over to pull him up.
Kevin blushed and looked away with a tender expression on his face.
" Now, let's go to welcome your father."
Mrs Nicholas coughed to regain composure.
" But, promise you'll tell me what you wanted to say later."
Cassidy pulled out her pinky finger and held it opposite her mother's face.
Her mother smiled weakly.
Cassidy hadn't changed at all.
She'd always been fond of the pinky swear and always held whoever that promised to it.
She let out a heavy exhale and smiled again.
" Okay. Pinky swear."
She intertwined her finger with Cassidy's.
With this done, Mrs Nicholas hugged her daughter and plodded out of the room and towards the sitting room.
" Welcome home," she greeted and smiled widely.
She patted her husband's back lovingly when she came closer to the couch he was sitted on.
Cassidy who saw this happen stared in bewilderment.
There was something she just couldn't understand about her parents.
Her father responded by smiling at her.
" How was your day?"
" Stressful. We had to perform so much operations today in the hospital."
She giggled.
" I'm sure you're famished. Go and take a shower, I'll make a quick breakfast for you. Kevin, let dad have his rest, please."
" But, I've missed him," he said sulkily.
She patted his head sympathetically.
" I know you've missed him, but let him have rest. He just returned from work.
He'll play with you after he's finished."
Kevin let go reluctantly.
She led him to his room while he stared back at his father.
****
" How do you like it?" she asked her husband coyly.
She crossed her legs and glanced over her husband's shoulder.
One who saw her that way would think she was newly married.
He winked at her and hummed delightfully.
" This is beyond delicious."
He stretched his hand towards hers and held it compassionately.
Mrs Nicholas felt her stomach knot and her heartbeat increased rapidly.
This was the exact time and opportunity she had been waiting for ( the perfect time for her to chip it in again.)
But, what would happen if he refused again?
She couldn't risk being pessimistic about it.
She would just have to try again.
" Sweetheart, there's something I need to discuss with you."
She held his hand with her other hand and rubbed it soothingly.
" Go on."
He sipped his Orange juice in a gulp and dropped the glass to give rapt attention to his hardworking wife.
She coughed to regain composure and blinked longer.
How was she even going to start?
She would start anyways since she had gotten the attention she needed.
" Well...well...well... I... don't you think she should be part of your will..I mean... she's still one of us.... you can't leave her to go empty...without a little token...."
Mr Nicholas pulled his hand from hers quickly.
He hissed and dropped the spoon in fury.
" I won't do that.
" She isn't of me and you expect me to transfer to her almost half of the properties. What about my own blood?"
" I know she isn't your blood but please for my sake, she mustn't know. Please, give her at least a part of it... let her be part of your will."
He stomped his feet in fury and slammed the table.
" For your sake, I've let her stay here. I won't do any more favors. Do not infuriate me more. I don't want to discuss this again."
Cassidy who was standing behind the door swiftly trudged towards the bathroom when she heard her father brush his feet on the ground in an attempt to leave.
She held her breath unconsciously until her father was out of sight.
Although she wanted to go back into the room and ask her mother why she sounded as if she wanted to cry, she couldn't muster enough courage to do so.
As for the moment, she would continue her search.