Chapter 5

The days gone by smoothly. After John and Cassandra act like a couple everyone in the town believes that.

Cassandra and John were exchanging sharp words at the farmhouse, and tension was rising between them.

"Don't look at me like that!" Cassandra sounded abrasive, clearly uncomfortable.

"Why? John answered in a soft but forceful voice, "I'm just making sure that you are safe."

"Well, it kind of creeps me out," Cassandra shot back, her eyes unblinking.

To defuse the situation, John said, "Everyone believes that you are my wife."

Cassandra scoffed, contempt in her voice. "You've just exposed them as fools. Never even consider that I might be interested in someone with your kind."

"Go ahead, please. "Don't think too highly of yourself," John joked, growing impatient.

Cassandra said, "Oh, just shut up," as her annoyance boiled over.

" I'm just making sure that you are not in danger."

Cassandra said, " If there is something bad that might happen to me. Always be reminded that it is your fault, not mine. Don't blame your fucking mistake.

John said, " Okay.

  The night was fast after that. Everyone rejoiced at the party when it happened. Unlike Cassandra who's feeling tired and sleepy already after the party.

"Hey, young lady! Cassandra, what a great gathering. However, there's a problem," As Bea walked over to Cassandra, there was a note of concern in her words.

"What is it?" Cassandra asked, her interest sparked.

As you are aware, it was already late, and I was unable to schedule a grab at this hour of the night. I live kind of far away from here, so it's terrifying," Bea said, clearly uncomfortable.

"I'm thinking if it's okay that I'll just spend the rest of the night here--" Bea trailed off, leaving the question unanswered.

"Oh, of course, sure!" Cassandra accepted without hesitation, showing her friend her warmest regards.

"But we only don't have any available rooms... where are you going to--" Cassandra's worry was cut short.

  Cassandra was stunned and breathless when John suddenly stepped into the scene. Bea smiled and thanked John. Soon enough, Bea said goodnight and headed to John's room to finally take a sleep.

"You could stay in my room," John said in a soothing, kind tone.

Cassandra said, " Does this mean that...

John said, " I will sleep on the sofa, it's no big deal."

Cassandra said, " No!"

John said, " What?"

Cassandra said, " You need to guard through the night.

John said, " Cassandra I am also a human. I need some rest.

Cassandra said, " Your job is to guard me. Remember my father is the one paying you.

John said, " Correct!  Your father is paying me not you.

Cassandra said, " Excuse me?

John said, " If you want I could sleep in your room.

Cassandra said, " Oh! Shut up.

  And so, just like that, the two ended up sleeping together in one room. Cassandra did not know of that, because John sneak into her room when she was sleeping and sleep on the couch inside her room of Cassandra.

John said, " I should leave the room before Cassandra woke up.

  John left the room while Cassandra was still sleeping. When Cassandra woke up, Kevin arrived and asked him to do something for her.

Cassandra said, " Kevin! How are you? Why did it take you so long?

Kevin said, " I'm sorry, miss. It's just that I need to do something important which sir Robert tasked me to do. When I finished it, that's only the time when he decided to let me finally go here.

Cassandra said, " Oh I see... but have you received the text that I sent you? The files?

Kevin said, " Oh yes... you told me that I need to investigate John's previous cases.

Cassandra said, " Shh! Lower your voice down, he might hear you!

Kevin said, " Sorry. But isn't he in his room?"

Cassandra said, " Yes... but still, he might hear you."

  Cassandra sighed as Kevin swallowed hard. Kevin took out some files from his bag and handed them to Cassandra.

Cassandra said, " This is too much... did you manage to get the information about his previous one?"

Kevin said, " Yes... and I bet you won't believe it."

Cassandra said, " Why?

Kevin said, " His most previous case is about his sister.

Cassandra said, " I think you might be thinking about if I'll go through all of these papers...

Cassandra said, " You've reviewed all of these right?

Kevin said, " Yes...

Cassandra said, " I need a summary. Tell me something about the cases. And the most recent one which he handled. 

Kevin said, " Uhh... yes miss, sure. About that, I've found out that John had some personal reasons why he stopped handling cases for months. 

Cassandra said, " What?

Kevin said, " I found out that his sister was found strangely missing and later after, she was reportedly said to be dead.

  Cassandra stopped for a moment to think. It was like her mind stopped functioning properly after she received the sudden news. She felt guilty about how she thought of John.

Cassandra said, " Is that so?

Kevin said, " He handled the case of his sister and he found all of that information himself. It must be devastating for him when it happened. 

Cassandra said, " I feel so bad...

Kevin said, " Me too, miss.

Cassandra said, " It must explain why he decided to stop at his job and take a break. 

  In the end, John excused himself so that he could rest already. There were three rooms but the one guest room was full of things that they still need to clean so Kevin can use it.

  When John woke up from his sleep, he headed to the kitchen to get some drink but Cassandra stopped him.

"I have my ways," Cassandra replied cryptically, her tone hinting at her resourcefulness.

"You should not be meddling in my personal life," John cautioned, his voice firm with warning.

"You are our private detective. I should know something about you," Cassandra countered, her curiosity unyielding.

"But not too personal, because I could also have some privacy even if I am working for you," John defended, his boundaries clear.

"You seem too suspicious of me," Cassandra observed, her intuition sharp.

"Your father trusts me, that is why he hired me," John reminded her, his tone tinged with reproach.

"I'm not sure about that idea," Cassandra's uncertainty was palpable, her doubts lingering.

"Excuse me?" John's incredulity was evident, his patience wearing thin.

"Nothing!" Cassandra hastily dismissed her earlier remark, her resolve faltering.

"Then would you tell me how you found out?" John pressed, his curiosity getting the better of him.

"What for?" Cassandra's reluctance was apparent, her guard rising.

"I need to know! It is my life that we are talking about," John insisted, his tone urgent.

"Okay. Fine!" Cassandra relented, her voice resigned.

"So how?" John inquired, his anticipation evident.

"I asked... Kevin to do an investigation about the cases you handled," Cassandra confessed, her admission tinged with guilt.

"It seems to me that the case of your sister is still ongoing... it's now making me think why you rather chose to give all your attention to my dad's case and mine," Cassandra observed, her suspicion growing.

"May I know the reason why?" she pressed, seeking clarity.

"It was my duty as you and your dad's private detective," John explained, his tone matter-of-fact.

"And I couldn't focus on two cases at once, especially since this case with your dad is urgent, and I was paid well enough to pay special attention to this," he added, his justification ringing hollow in Cassandra's ears.

Cassandra cryptically answered, "I have my ways," her tone suggesting her ingenuity.

"You should not be interfering with my personal affairs," John sternly warned.

You work as our personal investigator. With unwavering curiosity, Cassandra answered, "I should know something about you."

John said, setting clear limits, "But not too personal, because I could also have some privacy even if I am working for you."

With a keen sense of perception, Cassandra said, "You seem too suspicious of me."

"Your father hired me because he trusts me," John informed her in a sarcastic tone.

"I'm not sure about that idea," Cassandra's misgivings lingered, and her uncertainty was evident.

"Excuse me?" John was clearly losing patience and was incredulous.

"Nothing!" Cassandra brushed off her last comment with haste, her resolve wavering.

"Then would you tell me how you found out?" John persisted, his curiosity overwhelming him.

"What for?" Cassandra's guard went up, showing how reluctant she was.

"I must be informed! We're talking about my life," John urged, his voice urgent.

"All right. Alright!" Cassandra gave in, her tone casual.

"So how?" John asked, clearly anticipating.

Feeling guilty, Cassandra admitted, "I asked... Kevin to do an investigation about the cases you handled."

"It seems to me that the case of your sister is still ongoing... it's now making me think why you rather chose to give all your attention to my dad's case and mine," Cassandra said, expressing her doubts grew.4

Seeking clarification, she pressed, "May I know the reason why?"

"It was my responsibility as your dad's private investigator and for you," John said in a serious tone.

His explanation rang hollow in Cassandra's ears as he continued, "And I couldn't focus on two cases at once, especially since this case with your dad is urgent and I was paid well enough to pay special attention to this."

Cassandra said, " I found out about your previous case."

John said, " What?"

Cassandra said, " Your sister's case. I knew the reason why you need to take a break from handling cases in the meantime."

John said, " W-What? How'd you know?"