Chapter 650: A Heartbroken Cassius

Maria sat in heavy silence, her hands folded in her lap, her gaze fixed on the floor.

Guilt weighed on her chest like a stone.

She kept replaying Diana’s reaction in her mind—the way her friend had shouted, cursed, thrown her hands up in utter disbelief.

The way Diana had been so passionately offended on Cassius’s behalf, so utterly convinced that rejecting him was the worst decision anyone could possibly make.

And the worst part?

Maria was starting to agree with her.

After hearing everything Diana had said—something had shifted inside her.

She realized, perhaps for the first time, that she had denied herself happiness.

A normal person would crave happiness.

Would seek it out, pursue it, do everything in their power to improve their life and reach a higher level of living.

That was natural. That was human.

And everything Diana had said made it abundantly clear that being with Cassius would give her exactly that.

She would smile more. Laugh more. Truly enjoy her life in ways she hadn’t in decades.

Everything she had heard about him—from Diana, from everyone else, from the few moments she had spent with him—pointed to the same conclusion.

He was a genuinely good person.

Someone who would treat her right.

Someone who would cherish her the way he cherished his wives.

And if she was being completely honest with herself?

There was a part of her—a small, secret part that wanted to experience that.

Just for a moment. Just to know what it felt like to be treasured like that.

To be looked at the way Cassius had looked at her when he proposed, with tears in his eyes and love pouring from every word.

But circumstances held her back.

Everything she was—her age, her status as a mother, her vows to the Goddess, her deep-seated fears of abandonment—formed an impenetrable wall around her heart.

So she had said no.

And now, sitting here, she felt like she was betraying herself.

Betraying the part of her that secretly wanted love, wanted happiness, wanted to finally know what it felt like to be someone’s cherished partner.

She felt like she was betraying Diana too.

Her best friend, who had been so happy for her, so excited at the prospect of Maria joining their family—only to have that happiness crushed by a single word.

Because of this Maria opened her mouth to apologize.

To say sorry for rejecting Diana’s husband, for causing her friend such distress, for being the source of that frustrated outburst.

But when she looked up—

Diana wasn’t frustrated anymore.

She wasn’t angry.

She wasn’t even agitated.

Instead, she had a calm look on her face. A look of understanding. As if she had come to terms with everything during those quiet moments.

And surprisingly, it seemed like she really had.

"You know what, Maria?" Diana said softly. "I totally understand you."

She paused, then shook her head with a small laugh.

"No, actually, I don’t understand you. After all, this is the opportunity of a lifetime right here we’re talking about. Choosing Cassius would have changed your life for the better in every possible way."

"So I truly can’t understand why you’re holding yourself back."

Maria’s heart clenched.

"But still." Diana continued, her voice gentle. "I have to respect your decision. I know you’re probably going through something on your own—something deep, something painful. And I won’t pester you anymore."

She reached out and took Maria’s hand.

"I’m also sorry if I acted out of line. If I said some harsh things that may have upset your feelings..."

She smiled, warm and genuine.

"...that’s not who I am. That’s not the friend I want to be. I apologise for that."

In response, Maria shook her head, a genuine, warm smile touching her lips.

"Not at all, Diana. You are my best friend and I’m truly happy that you’re willing to open up to me and tell me your true feelings."

A small chuckle escaped her as she added,

"Even if it was quite strange to hear you curse and shout in such a boisterous manner, which really caught me off guard."

"But nonetheless, I’m happy you’re honest with me."

Diana nodded, a small smile of her own appearing.

Then, her expression shifted.

She looked at Maria, then quickly away, an awkward, almost embarrassed look on her face.

"Actually." Diana said slowly, looking away. "Speaking of honesty...I think I also have something I want to share with you, Maria."

Maria tilted her head curiously.

"It’s been bugging me for the past few days." Diana continued, her voice dropping slightly. "In fact, it’s a matter that’s been bothering many of the women in the entire Holyfield mansion for the past few days."

Maria’s interest piqued immediately.

"I’ve been trying to hide it." Diana admitted. "Since it’s a rather sensitive matter regarding Cassius, and I really can’t be spreading it around."

"But I really want to talk to someone about this. And I’m wondering if you’re willing to listen."

She hesitated, then added,

"Especially since...you might be the one involved in all of this."

Maria’s heart skipped a beat.

Cassius was involved. And she might be involved too?

"Of course, Diana." She said quickly. "Say whatever you want. I’m here to listen."

She paused, studying Diana’s expression.

"Is it something bad..." She frowned slightly. "The look on your face isn’t really good. Did something bad happen?"

Diana shook her head slowly.

"Well, it’s not exactly bad." She said carefully. "But it’s not exactly good either."

She looked around the room, almost as if checking for eavesdroppers, before leaning in closer.

"I don’t even know if it’s because of you." She whispered. "But it’s just that Cassius recently..."

She hesitated again, searching for the right words.

"He’s truly been acting strangely."

Maria stared at Diana, utterly confused.

"That...doesn’t make any sense at all."

She argued, shaking her head firmly before quickly saying to prove her point,

"No, that really can’t be true, Diana. I’ve seen Cassius come and go around the house recently, and he seems totally fine."

"He’s living his life normally."

"Whenever I see him, he’s either laughing with his family or smiling at something one of the wives said."

"Just yesterday, I watched him chase Lucius around the garden for some prank the butler pulled."

A small chuckle escaped her before she caught herself.

"And last night, he held some kind of fashion show that you missed since you were working which was a pity."

She then put on a serious face, though the amusement still lingered in her eyes.

"But still, I think he’s perfectly fine. Whatever you’re seeing, it can’t be that serious."

Diana sighed heavily.

"Yes, that’s what you might think. That’s the appearance he shows to the outside world."

She shook her head slowly.

"He doesn’t want everyone to see his true feelings, so he puts on that face. Smiles, laughs, carries on like nothing’s wrong."

She hesitated, her expression troubled.

"But the thing is...he definitely is struggling with something. Something he doesn’t want to admit to anyone else. Those of us in his inner circle—me, Vivi, the other wives—we can tell something is off with him."

Maria felt a strange pang in her heart at those words.

Inner circle.

To outsiders like her, Cassius appeared happy and carefree.

But to his wives—the people who truly knew him—they could see through the mask.

Which meant she was definitely an outsider.

Which was absolutely correct, of course.

She had only met him recently. She had even rejected him, for goodness sake.

She had no right to be included in anyone’s inner circle.

So why did the thought make her feel so bitter?

Why did it stir something almost like jealousy?

She wanted Cassius to show her that real side.

She wanted to be someone who could see past the mask.

But she shook the thought away forcefully.

"That’s...That’s concerning." She said instead, focusing on the matter at hand. "What exactly is plaguing him? What is Cassius doing that’s so different?"

Diana’s gaze grew distant, wistful.

"Cassius has always been good at hiding his feelings." She said softly. "He doesn’t really show his true thoughts often. But lately, they’ve been leaking out in small moments."

She paused, gathering her thoughts.

"Usually, when he talks to others, he’s so lively. He loves cracking jokes, making people laugh. But nowadays?...He barely does that anymore."

"And when he does, it seems forced like he’s pushing himself to perform. Like he’d much rather just sit quietly and listen to others speak."

Maria’s brow furrowed.

"He’s also spending much more time alone." Diana continued. "Normally, he enjoys being around people. But now he retreats to his study for hours. And even then, he isn’t working—he just sits there, staring into space.".

"It doesn’t sound like much when I say it like that..."

She bit her lips in desperation.

"But when you see it...when you know him the way we do...it’s unsettling."

Maria nodded slowly.

"That does sound strange. Not like the Cassius I’ve come to know at all."

"And it doesn’t stop there." Diana added. "Sometimes the others catch him wandering through the garden alone, talking to himself like he’s in some deep conversation with no one."

"Other times, they find him staring up at the stars late at night, almost as if he’s searching for answers in the sky."

She swallowed hard.

"But the most telling thing is his eyes. Normally they’re so bright, so full of life. But now? Everyone can see it—there’s a certain pain in them. A sadness he can’t quite hide."

Hearing this, Maria’s heart clenched.

She was genuinely fond of Cassius. He was such a good person—kind, warm, genuine.

So, the thought of him struggling with something, of him being in pain, truly broke her heart.

"Have you figured out why?" She asked desperately. "From what you’re describing, it sounds like he’s going through some great sadness. Maybe even depression."

Diana looked at her sharply.

"I’ve met many people who exhibited such symptoms."

Maria continued, her voice taking on a more clinical tone.

"They confessed to me how they felt—how looming thoughts weighed them down until they couldn’t function normally. I think that’s what Cassius is going through right now."

She leaned forward urgently.

"Do you have any idea what caused this? If it’s affecting Cassius this deeply, it must be something major."

Diana nodded slowly.

"That’s what I thought too. At first, I couldn’t imagine what could possibly cause such a reaction."

"After all, Cassius is usually so...immovable. Things that would shake other people don’t seem to touch him at all."

She paused, her eyes meeting Maria’s.

"But recently, I think I figured it out."

"What is it?" Maria scooted closer. "Tell me."

Diana took a deep breath and straightforwardly said,

"It’s because of you, Maria."

Maria blinked.

"W-What?"

"It’s because of you that he’s acting this way."

Maria sat back, completely stunned.

She had been expecting something huge.

A crisis in the Holyfield estate.

Some national tragedy.

A massive loss or disaster—the only kind of thing that could possibly affect someone as strong as Cassius.

Not this.

Not her.

"W-What are you talking about?" She asked, her voice faint.

"Diana, what could I possibly have to do with any of this?"

Diana gave a wry smile.

"I know I shouldn’t say this to a friend. And trust me, I’m not blaming you. But after what you did to him..."

She shook her head gently.

"It makes sense that I’d think it’s because of you."

Maria’s confusion deepened and she couldn’t help but ask,

"What exactly did I do?"

"You rejected him, Maria."

The words hung in the air like a physical weight.

"You rejected his proposal." Diana continued softly. "And I think...I think it affected him far more than any of us expected."

She put both her elbows on the table with her chin resting over hands, her expression earnest as she explained,

"Everyone thinks Cassius is untouchable. That he’s above such things. But the truth is, he’s just like any other man. He has the same feelings, the same emotions running through him."

"So, when you rejected him, it hit him like it would hit anyone."

She paused, letting that sink in.

"And it makes perfect sense when you think about it. He started acting strange the very night you arrived. The same night you rejected him. The timeline matches perfectly."

Maria sat frozen, processing, while Diana gave a wry smile and smacked the final hammer into place as she said,

"Unfortunately for you, Maria...it seems my husband is going this depressive state because of you."

Maria sat in stunned silence.

Cassius was depressed.

Because of her.

Because she said no.

Because she pushed away the one person who had looked at her with such genuine love and want.

And now he was wandering gardens alone, staring at stars, with pain in his eyes.

All because of her.

The guilt that had been gnawing at her before now flooded through her veins like ice water.

"What...What do I do?!" She whispered, looking up at Diana with helpless eyes. "I didn’t mean to hurt him. I never wanted—I just thought—I—"

Maria wanted to say something—anything—but she didn’t know what to say in this difficult situation and could only stumble out words.

Meanwhile, Diana seemed to struggling as well, but behind the hands that were covering her mouth she had the biggest smile on her face...

...a smile that resembled the same one that Cassius had when he was on the hunt for women.