1

CHAPTER: 1

It was a day like any other in Sterling City.

The streets were bustling with activity. Pedestrians, cyclists, riders, and drivers flooded the roads, and customers trafficked in and out of various establishments.

While others went about their business, a man stood in a bathroom with a serious expression on his face as he stared at his reflection in the mirror.

He had light skin, curly black hair that was styled into a fade, and brown eyes that were very light in color. He appeared to be in his early 30s.

The jacket of his gray suit lay on the sink, and the left arm of his white shirt was folded to reveal his arms up to his elbow.

Dipping his right hand into one of his jacket's inner pockets, he whipped out a small pouch. Dropping the pouch in the sink, he brought out a needle and a small bottle of red liquid.

After opening the bottle, he used the syringe to draw some of the liquid and neatly closed it back, returning it to the pouch, and tossed everything but the syringe back into his jacket.

He sighed deeply with his eyes shut as he injected the red fluid into his arm.

After taking a few breaths to calm himself, his eyes snapped open with renewed vigor. Whatever he had injected into himself had already taken effect.

After staring at his reflection absentmindedly for what felt like forever, but was actually less than three minutes, his gaze moved down to his right wrist.

"Shit!" The left-handed man cursed audibly. "It's almost time."

He didn't even bother throwing his jacket back on. He simply glanced at the sky through the bathroom window before dashing out of the toilet.

As he walked down the hallway of his workplace, he received curious glances due to his dressing. His sleeve was still folded, and his shirt unbuttoned.

Ignoring everyone else, he sprinted to the elevator and smashed its button.

As the elevator's doors gave way to welcome him, he bit his bottom lip as it revealed six people who were already on it.

He exhaled audibly as he turned and ran down the hall towards one of the stairs.

Step! Step! Step! Step!

He ran up the stairs like he was being pursued in a zombie apocalypse. Soon, he arrived at his destination.

The rooftop.

As the afternoon breeze blew on his face and his tie fluttered in the wind, time seemed to slow down for him as he observed the sky.

A total eclipse was about to happen.

Standing at the edge of the rooftop of the skyscraper he had worked at for the past decade, he was ready to jump at a moment's notice.

Who was this man, and why was he about to throw away his life when he had a seemingly good life with a healthy body and a job that bagged him big bucks per annum?

His name was Cassian Rush, and he was about to put his life on the line for one thing.

Love.

His first and only one.

Martha was a cheerful red-haired Eastern American beauty, and he had fallen for her charms back in the tenth grade when he transferred to her school as an international student.

As the new student back then, he received a lot of attention from girls, since he was also quite attractive himself.

Amongst the girls that approached him was the assistant class president, Esther Whyte, a cheerful, smart, outgoing, and intelligent blonde.

He liked her personality and got along with her until eventually, she took the initiative to ask him out.

Alas, he didn't see her that way. She carved out a 'good friend' status for herself in his heart.

His heart had already been stolen by someone else, her half-sister whom he had met whenever he visited her house; Martha.

He came clean and confessed where his heart lay and of course she was heartbroken and unhappy.

After that day, Esther started to distance herself from her half-sibling.

They hadn't been very close before, but they at least had an amicable relationship; greeting each other during meal times and heading to school together.

However, Esther suddenly started acting cold. She asked her rich grandfather to give her a car and a separate driver.

In fact, she also went as far as changing the time she departed for school, going earlier so that the two wouldn't bump into each other.

At first, Martha was not really up for dating him; apparently, she had not seen him in that light. However, after a few months of his relentless attempts to woo her, she compromised and decided to give it a 'try'.

By the time Esther's change came to his attention, his relationship with Martha had already become official, and the duo's feelings for each other were growing quickly and smoothly.

Even if he found out earlier, he would not have changed his mind though.

Date someone simply to soothe her heart when he had no such feelings for her?

No! He could not do that.

If Martha hadn't grown to reciprocate his feelings after the 'six-month trial' she suggested, then he would have given up.

He would not have let her force herself to satisfy his wishes at the expense of her own happiness.

He had tried talking to Esther, but she always simply told him; "I'm ok." And "There is no need to be bothered about me."

Esther shut him out no matter his efforts, even until they graduated and went to college.

He and Martha went to the same school while Esther, who still wanted to be away from the duo, went to a different one.

Marriage was already on the table. Their parents and grandparents had already gotten to know each other.

All was well, and their future was looking very bright.

At least that's how it seemed until it happened…

Martha joined some strange gathering.

At first, he didn't mind much.

"I'm sorry, babe, but I have an important gathering to attend today." She said over the phone when she didn't show up for one of their dates. "Let's reschedule."

'If only… If only I had stepped in earlier, then…'