Done Hiding as Your Backup Plaything I'm Shining Golden as a Queen - Chapter 148: Chapter 148

The group shrugged, none of them daring to speak up.
What were they supposed to say? Tell the one person who might actually be able to reason with Cassian that he was falling apart over another woman?
Fortunately, Juliette didn't think too much about it. Seeing his wasted state, she was mostly concerned and went over to gently wake the unconscious Cassian.
"Cassian, Cassian? How are you feeling?"
A woman's voice reached his ears. He groggily opened his eyes but couldn't make out the speaker's face clearly, just felt an odd sense of familiarity.
So when she leaned closer, Cassian didn't resist, letting her help him up.
"He's way too drunk. I'll take him home!" Juliette naturally took on the task of getting him back. Marcus and the others quickly nodded, more than happy to pass off this hot potato.
Watching the two figures leave the private room, Carter spoke up: "What do you think Cassian's really thinking?"
Marcus shook his head with a long sigh: "Who knows?"
If Cassian loved Juliette, and had only hesitated before because of his gratitude to Mara during his paralysis, he should be happy now that Mara was gone.
But if he loved Mara, then why did he say he only saw her as a sister, and why did he always favor Juliette?
No one understood what Cassian was thinking—not even Cassian himself.
Cassian woke up the next day.
Harsh sunlight streamed through the open window, and a crushing hangover headache hit him like a tidal wave. Frowning, he rubbed his temples and instinctively looked toward the nightstand, where sure enough, a bowl of hangover soup sat waiting.
Something sparked in his mind, and hope surged through him. He threw off the covers and rushed out of the room, heading straight for the kitchen.
The sound of clinking dishes filled the air. He pushed open the door, and a name escaped his lips: "Mara?!"
The person froze momentarily, but quickly resumed their natural movements. She turned around, acting as if she hadn't heard anything: "Cassian? You're awake. There's hangover soup by your bed—did you drink it? Um... actually, that one's probably cold now. Let me get you a fresh bowl."
She turned back around and ladled out a new bowl of soup, smiling as she handed it over.
Cassian looked at it, stayed silent for a moment, then accepted it.
"How is it?" Seeing him take it, Juliette asked with hopeful eyes.
The large bowl of hangover soup did ease his headache somewhat, but something about the taste felt off.
It was different from the hangover soup Mara used to make when he'd had too much to drink.
Thinking of Mara's name, he fell silent again, finally nodding: "It's good."
After his words, they both fell into silence again. Just as Juliette was about to say something, he suddenly spoke: "Your parents should be back in the country by now, right?"
The question was so sudden that Juliette didn't even process what he meant before nodding: "They came back three days ago."
The next second, she heard him say: "I let you stay here before because your family wasn't around. Since your parents are back, you should move back home today. I'll have someone take you back later."
With that, he turned and left without looking at her reaction.
"Cassian!"
Unfortunately, Juliette had no intention of letting him leave like that. Seeing he wouldn't even turn around, she stepped forward and grabbed his hand: "Cassian, what does this mean? Are you kicking me out?"
She looked panicked, instinctively tightening her grip. Feeling the pressure on his wrist, Cassian's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.
He pulled his wrist free, his voice carrying a note of impatience: "You never should have come here in the first place."
The words were too cold, too heartless. When they hung in the air, both of them froze.
In the blink of an eye, Cassian saw Juliette's eyes well up with tears.
"I'm... I'm sorry. No need to arrange a ride—I'll leave right now!"