Page 22 of Neptune

That's bullshit. It's impossible for him to not have heard any of Jude's songs yet. Jude is the world's most loved superstar. Luke must have heard his songs, or at least one unless he's been living in a cave.

"You haven't heard of my songs?" Jude asks Luke. "Are you living in a cave?"

It's supposed to be a joke, but I can see that Jude is enjoying throwing this sarcastic question to Luke.

"I'm a busy person who finds enjoyment in something else," Luke says simply, leaning his back against the seat. He looks so calm and composed, so different from Jude. Luke is a great actor. "I don't really listen to music, except for songs written by Cassie."

If his words hadn't been purposely uttered to piss Jude off, I would have been flattered. Luke is stepping on dangerous ground here.

"Bullshit," Jude mutters under his breath, but unfortunately, it's still clear enough for all of us to hear and to be recorded.

That single word will only backfire on him, and I'm sure that his manager won't be happy about it.

Just as Luke wants.

Jamie starts hyperventilating as he keeps driving, focusing his attention on the road. "I don't know anything about this! I have no idea about this! I don't know what's happening, but I'm sure that a lot of people will watch this episode. Hell yeah!"

He starts laughing boisterously, and I feel the urge to laugh with him too. Because I feel like I'm going insane too.

And to make it more wonderful, Luke laughs in the back. Followed by Jude. In short, everybody laughs.

This is the most disastrous car ride ever. At least, for me, it is. It might be the best one for Luke, and the producer of this show.

I clench my fists tightly on my lap.

Just wait until we get home, Luke.

???

Even though I despise the idea, I end up going home in Luke's car, while Mike goes home to his mama using the previous car.

I don't even speak to Luke during the ride back home because I'm too angry with him. The moment I yell at him must be behind a closed door, where I can freely let out my rage toward him, and without the poor driver listening to our fight .

Once we arrive in the driveway of Luke's house, I storm inside. I can feel Luke following me, but I don't stop my steps until I reach my room. The moment Luke steps inside behind me, I snap my body around, seething.

Luke closes the door behind him, scrutinizing me.

"What the hell was that?" I snap, throwing my hands in the air. "Did you think that you could just follow me and ruin my job like that?"

Luke steps closer to me. He doesn't look like he's enjoying this either.

"That's my question. What the hell were you doing back then? Did you think that you could just hide things from me like that?" he bites out. "Besides, I didn't ruin you . Or us . I might have ruined someone else, gladly."

A smirk touches his lips, but it isn't playful anymore—it's bitter.

"Why did you have to do that?" I ask. "Did you think that I couldn't handle it well alone?" Anger and frustration are evident in my voice.

I still remember his warning that I have to be careful to not taint our marriage in front of the whole world, but what makes him think that I would fail?

Does he really think that I'm stupid?

Luke scoffs. "The fact that you hid it from me is already suspicious." His glare feels like it’s ripping me. "And even if I trusted you, Cassie, I wouldn't trust him. At all."

I stare at him in disbelief. "Do you really think that Jude would ruin me again?"

Luke shoots me a deep stare. "You don't know his true intentions, and how far he can go."

Now, it's my turn to scoff. "I might not know what he's up to, but I definitely can handle the matter myself," I say. "Do you really think I am that blind?" I snap again.

"Because you were blind, Cassie," he hisses, his jaw clenched. "That guy was never good for you, and he will never be. "

My mouth hangs open. Who does he think he is? That statement coming from him is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard, as if he's a better person.

"Blind?" I repeat his accusation. "You don't even know anything about our relationship."

Jude did make a mistake, but I hate how Luke keeps talking about me like I'm the stupidest woman on earth.

"Go on, then," Luke challenges, his voice low and cold. "What's so good about him?"

I feel my body shaking, hating that this conversation has dragged me to admit what I'm going to say.

"At least, he was real." I raise my chin.

"I loved him because he was real. He wasn't like those people who only used me for an advantage—he was already a superstar even before I became one.

He didn't need to use me. He was with me because he wanted to be with me.

" I pant, feeling pain in my chest from remembering how we happened.

"Even you are using me, Luke. You're with me because of a fucking deal. "

Luke still watches me with his piercing gaze, and for a split second, I see hurt in his hazel eyes.

But then it all crumbles when he utters the next words, "Yeah, you're such a weakling that people can't help but use you."

His words are so painful and make me believe each of them. Tears form in my eyes. My chest tightens—I find it hard to breathe.

Luke freezes, as though he can’t believe that he just said that out of anger. His jaw is tight. Now, I can see clearly the pain in his eyes that was vaguer before.

Before he can say anything again, I turn my back on him and walk out of the room.

My eyes squeeze shut as I swallow a lump in my throat.

My heart swells with pain as I keep thinking about what he said.

I’m so angry, I feel like I’m losing my mind.

I’m afraid that I’ll break down if I stay in that room with him.

No . His words shouldn’t affect me this much. They shouldn’t.