The Twisted Obsession
Chapter 227: unrequited love

Chapter 227: unrequited love

Lily’s brows furrowed in confusion, her mind struggling to process Cage’s words. "What do you mean?" she questioned, her voice tinged with uncertainty.

Cage sighed, his gaze flickering away for a moment before returning to meet hers. "Well, you chose Alex," he explained, his tone tinged with bitterness. "And I was angry, mad even..."

Lily’s heart sank at his words, the weight of his resentment hanging heavy in the air between them. She had always known that her decision to be with Alex had hurt Cage, but to hear him voice it so plainly, to see the pain etched in the lines of his face, was like a dagger to her heart.

"I-I didn’t know," she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper, her eyes pleading for understanding.

Cage shook his head, a bitter laugh escaping his lips. "Of course you didn’t," he muttered, his gaze darkening with resentment. "You were too caught up in your own world to see how much you were hurting me."

Lily felt a surge of guilt wash over her, her throat constricting with the weight of unspoken apologies. She had never intended to cause Cage pain, never meant to be the source of his anguish. And yet, here they were, trapped in a web of regret and resentment, their past mistakes looming large between them like a barrier.

"I’m sorry," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the din of the restaurant. "I never meant to hurt you."

Cage’s gaze softened at her words, his expression thawing with a hint of reluctant understanding. "I know," he murmured, reaching across the table to gently squeeze her hand. "And I’m sorry too, for letting my anger cloud my judgment."

"Erh—so—uh..." she stammered, her words trailing off as she struggled to regain her composure.

Lily’s breath caught in her throat as the waiter appeared, a welcome interruption to the tense atmosphere that had settled between her and Cage. She offered the waiter a grateful smile, silently thanking him for the chance to collect her thoughts and compose herself once more.

The waiter nodded politely, his expression unreadable as he handed them each a menu. "Good evening, folks. Can I start you off with something to drink?"

She couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief wash over her at the distraction, grateful for the "Uh, yes, please," she replied, her voice steadier now. "I’ll have a glass of the house white."

Cage nodded in agreement, his gaze never leaving hers. "Make that two," he added, his voice calm and collected.

As the waiter scribbled down their order and disappeared into the bustling kitchen, Lily couldn’t help but let out a breath she hadn’t realized she had been holding. Why was she so nervous, she wondered? It was just dinner, after all.

"So, how are things with Alex?" Cage’s question cut through the tension like a knife, pulling Lily back to the present moment with a jolt.

Lily swallowed hard, her throat suddenly dry as she searched for the right words. "Um, things with Alex..." She paused, her mind racing as she tried to gauge Cage’s intentions behind the question.

Cage’s gaze was steady, his expression unreadable as he waited for her response. There was a flicker of something in his eyes – curiosity, maybe even a hint of apprehension – but Lily couldn’t be certain.

"Things are... okay," she finally admitted, her voice tinged with uncertainty. "We’ve been... busy, I guess."

It was a vague response, she knew, but she couldn’t bring herself to delve into the complexities of her relationship with Alex, not with Cage sitting across from her.

Cage nodded, his expression neutral as he absorbed her words. "I see," he murmured, his tone betraying nothing

Lily’s heart raced as she broached the subject, her words carefully chosen yet laden with unspoken meaning. "How do you feel about Abby getting married?" she asked, her voice soft yet tinged with curiosity.

Cage’s reaction was immediate – a flicker of emotion crossing his features before he masked it with a forced smile. "I’m happy for her," he replied, his tone measured yet betraying a hint of sadness beneath the surface.

Lily studied him closely, her intuition telling her that there was more to his response than met the eye. It was no secret that Cage had harbored feelings for Abby for years, his unrequited love a constant undercurrent in their friendship.

But now, faced with the reality of her impending marriage, Lily couldn’t help but wonder if Cage’s facade was beginning to crack, if perhaps the weight of his unspoken feelings was finally becoming too much to bear.

"You don’t sound convinced," she pressed, her voice gentle yet probing.

Cage’s smile faltered, his gaze dropping to the table before returning to meet hers. "It’s just... unexpected, I suppose," he admitted, his voice tinged with resignation. "But Abby deserves to be happy, and if this is what makes her happy, then I’ll support her, no matter what."

Lily felt a pang of sympathy for him, knowing all too well the ache of unrequited love and the pain of watching someone you care about find happiness in the arms of another.

"I’m sure she values your support more than you know," she offered, reaching across the table to gently squeeze his hand in a silent gesture of solidarity.

"Yeah. Why do you want to see me?" Cage’s question cut through the air, his tone gentle yet probing, as he searched Lily’s eyes for an answer.

Lily swallowed hard, the weight of his gaze bearing down on her like a heavy burden. She fidgeted with her hands, her fingers twisting nervously as she struggled to find the right words.

"I, uh..." she began, her voice faltering as she tried to gather her thoughts. Why did she want to see him? The question echoed in her mind, demanding an explanation she wasn’t sure she had.

But before she could formulate a coherent response, the waiter arrived once more, their drinks in hand, interrupting their conversation with a timely distraction.