Done Hiding as Your Backup Plaything I'm Shining Golden as a Queen - Chapter 145: Chapter 145

"Gone? Gone where?"
Marcus was stunned, his anxious expression freezing in place. The shock was clear on everyone else's faces too.
None of them had ever considered the possibility that Mara might leave.
Over the years, they'd watched Cassian go through dramatic ups and downs after that accident, seen people come and go from his life.
Even they hadn't had the courage to stay by his side during his unpredictable moods back then.
Only Mara had been there from start to finish. She'd come to him at his lowest point, giving him endless patience and understanding. No matter how he lashed out or berated her, she never once thought of leaving.
Why would she suddenly...
Just then, his phone rang again. Almost instinctively, Cassian answered immediately.
"Mara? Where are you—"
But before he could finish, Juliette's voice came through: "Cassian, I twisted my ankle. Can you take me to the hospital?"
In the past, Cassian would have rushed over immediately. But maybe Mara's sudden departure had rattled him, because he reflexively refused:
"I'm busy right now. Find someone else."
Even Marcus and the others looked at him in surprise, though they were naturally pleased to see him distancing himself from Juliette.
Juliette hadn't expected such a blunt rejection either. She bit her lip, her face stiff and dark, but still forced herself to sound understanding, her voice heavy with disappointment.
"Okay... did something happen with Miss Collins? You seemed so panicked earlier..."
Only then did Cassian remember that he'd apparently knocked something over in his rush. After a moment's hesitation, he spoke again: "Wait, I'll be right there."
After hanging up, he headed back toward the ballroom, leaving the others exchanging bewildered looks.
At the hospital.
"It's just minor bruising. Apply some ointment and rest for a few days."
After reviewing Juliette's test results, the doctor handed them back to Cassian. Knowing she was fine, he finally relaxed.
Just as he was about to take Juliette home, a familiar figure suddenly caught his eye.
"Mara!" His face changed as he rushed forward, ignoring Juliette beside him, and grabbed the person.
Maybe because of the message he'd received earlier, Cassian gripped the person with all his strength, as if afraid they might escape again.
But when he turned them around and saw a stranger's face, he realized his mistake.
Suddenly grabbed by a stranger, pain shot through the woman's wrist. She hissed and looked annoyed: "What the hell's wrong with you?"
"Sorry, I mistook you for someone else."
He awkwardly released her and apologized in a daze, watching her walk away without snapping out of it.
It wasn't her.
Had she really left?
"Cassian, what's wrong?" Juliette had barely managed to suppress her frustration, forcing a smile as she limped over to him. Seeing him still staring in the direction the stranger had gone, she couldn't help speaking first.
He shook his head and helped her toward the ward. After settling her in, he stepped outside and called his assistant.
"Find out where Mara Collins went."
That evening, Cassian returned to the Whitmore family estate at his mother's request.
Just as he was thinking about how to explain Mara's departure, Margaret seemed completely unsurprised by his arriving alone. She smiled warmly and pulled him inside.
"Perfect timing, dinner war ready. Since it's your birthday, she made all your favorites. Come try them."
Margaret led him to sit at the dining table. When he looked up, he saw an unfamiliar woman sitting across from him. An odd feeling crept over him as he looked at his mother and asked casually, "And this is?"
"This is Uncle Stanford's daughter, Clara Stanford." After introducing her, Margaret looked at Clara with a beaming smile, even serving her some food. "This is my son, Cassian Whitmore. Just call him Cassian."