The Twisted Obsession
Chapter 235: Soap Opera

Chapter 235: Soap Opera

Abby sat at the corner table of the little café, her fingers curled around the warm ceramic mug. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee mingled with the scent of baked goods, creating a comforting backdrop to an otherwise tense moment. Her sunglasses, oversized and dark, obscured her eyes, masking whatever thoughts might be flickering behind them.

Cage sat at the seat across from her, his movements deliberate and slow. He studied her face, searching for any clue to her inner turmoil. But Abby remained an enigma , her expression as inscrutable as the depths of a calm sea.

"So, you’re sleeping with Lily?" she asked, her voice so devoid of emotion that it sent a chill down Cage’s spine. It was a statement, not a question, and it hung in the air between them like a heavy fog.

Cage took a deep breath, his mind racing. He had known this moment was coming, but the reality of it was something he hadn’t fully prepared for. He had rehearsed explanations, justifications, but now, sitting across from Abby, none of them seemed adequate.

"Abby, it’s not what you think," he began, his voice wavering slightly. He saw no change in her demeanor, no hint of anger or sorrow. It was as if she were simply waiting for a bus, not confronting a friend about his indiscretions.

"What is it then, Cage?" she replied, her tone still flat. "Because from where I’m sitting, it seems pretty clear."

Cage’s mind scrambled for the right words. "Lily and I... it just happened. I didn’t plan it, I didn’t mean for it to get this far. But Abby, it doesn’t change how I feel about you."

Abby took another sip of her coffee, her face still a mask. "How you feel about me," she repeated, as if testing the words for the first time. "And how is that, Cage? How do you feel about me?"

Cage leaned forward, his hands gripping the edge of the table. "I care about you, Abby. I always have. What happened with Lily... it was a mistake. A stupid, meaningless mistake."

Abby finally removed her sunglasses, revealing eyes that were cool and indifferent. "A mistake," she echoed, her voice steady. "Is that all you have to say?"

"Yes, it was a mistake," Cage insisted. "But it doesn’t change the fact that you’re important to me."

Abby set her cup down with a soft clink, folding her hands in her lap. "Cage, we’re friends. Just friends," she said plainly. "I don’t care who you sleep with."

Cage felt a pang of disappointment at her words, though he knew he had no right to. "You really don’t care?" he asked, a chuckle escaping his lips as he tried to mask his feelings.

Abby shook her head, her expression neutral. "No, Cage, I don’t. You’re free to make your own choices. But don’t expect me to fix your messes."

Cage leaned back in his chair, absorbing her words. He realized then that his feelings for Abby were unrequited, and that their friendship was all she saw in their relationship. "I get it," he said, forcing a smile. "I guess I just hoped..."

Abby cut him off, her tone gentle but firm. "Hoped for what? That I’d be upset? That I’d show some sign that I care more than I do? I’m sorry, Cage, but you need to figure out what you want and who you want it with."

Cage nodded slowly, understanding dawning on him. "You’re right. I just... I need to sort things out."

Abby gave him a small, supportive smile. "You do. And I’ll be here as your friend, but that’s all, Cage. Just a friend."

Cage nodded, a wry smile tugging at his lips. "Alright. I know. You’re really showing your true self now? Aren’t you afraid?" he said, leaning back in his chair.

Abby looked at him, a smirk forming on her lips. "Afraid of what? The dead?" she scoffed.

"Well—make sure Remo doesn’t find out about your screw loose. At least not until you’re sure he would stay with you no matter what, even after—knowing the truth," Cage said, his tone laced with a mix of warning and genuine concern.

Abby’s smirk faltered slightly, a flicker of uncertainty crossing her features. "Remo won’t find out," she said, her voice more defiant than confident. "And even if he did, he’d understand. He knows me better than anyone."

Cage raised an eyebrow, skepticism evident in his expression. "Does he, though? Do any of us truly know each other?" he mused, his gaze intense. "We all have our secrets, Abby. Some just hide them better than others."

Abby’s smirk returned, though it was tinged with bitterness. "Secrets," she echoed, her voice low. "We all have them, don’t we? Some are just better at keeping them buried." She sighed.

"So, what’s your plan? Alex will kill you if he finds out you’re screwing his fiancée," Abby said, her tone flat as she took another sip of her coffee.

Cage chuckled, a wicked gleam in his eyes. "I can’t wait to see the look on his face when he does. For now, I’m just going to be a sweet, loving guy to my sweetheart. She needs me more than ever," he said, sarcasm laced in his voice.

Abby raised her eyebrows, intrigued despite herself. "Oh? What’s going on?"

Cage shrugged, feigning indifference. "Trouble in paradise. Her mom wants a divorce. It seems she has fallen in love with Fredrick."

Abby choked on her coffee, barely managing to stop herself from spewing it all over the table. "Fredrick? As in my Fredrick?" she asked, disbelief evident in her voice.

"Yep, the very same," Cage confirmed, a smug smile playing on his lips. "It’s a real soap opera, isn’t it?"

Abby shook her head, trying to process the revelation. "That’s insane. How does Lily feel about all this?"

Cage leaned back in his chair, his expression turning serious for a moment. "She’s a mess, honestly. Confused, hurt, angry. She doesn’t know who to trust anymore, and that’s where I come in," he said, his voice softening slightly. "I’m the one she’s leaning on right now."