"I fear to show the real me
that I will be
too real for you
too hard for you
too much of everything for you
and never enough"
— Gemma Troy

One More Mistake
Chapter fifty-five

❱ It's been about a week since I found out Caine was no longer going to come back.

It was his funeral today, and I wasn't planning to go but I knew I had to, even though I hated funerals. He would want to me there.

As I applied makeup on my face, I couldn't help but to stare at the lovely envelope that was sitting on top of my nightstand table. It hasn't been touched ever since, and I wasn't on planning to open until I felt comfortable enough to read it.

"We should starting heading out, I'll meet you outside" Bruce said as he popped his head into my room.

"Okay" I said and he walked away.

Bruce was going to be there, I didn't want him to go. Though, when I told him that, it didn't exactly go well. He wasn't gentle with me either and now I had to cover the disgusting bruise on my cheek. I couldn't stand being here anymore because by every minute he was becoming more cruel.

And if I stayed here longer, who knows what he would dare to do to me.

I put on my slim black heels before grabbing my purse and making my way out. When I came down the stairs, I wasn't surprised when I've found Alec sitting on the loveseat. He was looking down at his phone but soon met my eyes when he heard my heels clicking on the marble floor.

He stood up and put his phone away, my eyes were on his phone all along until it was finally out of sight.

When I looked back at him, he seemed curious.

"Why are you here?" I asked once I finally stood in front of him.

"Your uncle invited me," he started as he slowly reached out his hand towards mine.

"Thea, I'm sorry for your friend. Caine, was it?" He asked though I cringed when Alec mentioned Caine's name, he made it name sound dirty.

"Yes, and he was actually my fiancé but not that it would matter to you." I said as I ripped my hand away from his touch. I walked away from him and made my way out.

Bruce was leaning on the car door, waiting for us. I didn't notice the person who was holding the door until I got closer.

I widen my eyes when I realized it was Kace.

"Kace.." I said as I stared at him surprisingly. Though he stood still, and tense only throwing me a short glance.

Was he angry at me?

"Thea, get in the car we're going to be late" Bruce said as he waved his hand towards the car. I felt cold hands touch my shoulders and push me in the car.

I looked at Kace one more time before getting into the car.

He was working with Bruce, again?

Alec sat closely next to me, making me look at him.

"Are you okay?" He asked as he started at me concernedly like he was actually worried about me.

"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" I asked as I threw him a glare.

"You lost one of your closest friend, I don't think you'll be okay for a while" he said, like he knew me.

"And what would you know about how I'm feeling? You don't know me" I said as I turned away from him.

"I know enough about you to know that you're not okay" he said but I didn't say anything back.

Bruce got in the car as well and soon Kace started to drive.

Throughout the car ride, I tried to figure out why was Kace acting this way towards me. I've met his eyes a few times through the rear mirror but he would quickly look away.

Maybe he couldn't talk to me since he was working for Bruce now. Bruce might've told him to not talk to me. I wouldn't be surprised that he would've threatened him to do so, after all this was Bruce.

When we got to the cemetery, I've notice Marie from afar. She was dressed in black, just like everyone else, and was trying to be strong for the people around her. By her side, Jeremy was rubbing her arm with the same look as her and it pained me to see them like that.

When I started to head towards them, she quickly noticed me and made her way towards me. She didn't wait a second before hugging me. Though, I stood stiff, and just as I was about to hug her back,
she pulled away.

She had a sad smile planted on her lips, while tears were forming on her eyes.

"I'm glad you were able to make it" she said before looking behind me. I turned to look as well and noticed Bruce and Alec standing behind me. Alec had dark sunglasses while he had his hands stuffed on his pockets. I wasn't sure if he was looking at me but I knew Bruce was. He gave me a fake smile before walking towards me but before he could actually reach me, Marie pulled me away from Bruce and Alec.

I silently thanked her.

"I'm sorry, you probably didn't want Bruce to come but I couldn't do anything" I said.

"You don't have to be sorry for anything, okay?" I nodded and we silently made our way towards Caine's gravestone. There was a handful of people standing near it that I didn't notice the coffin until I got through.

When I seen it, I've felt like reality finally hit me.

Caine was dead, he was fucking dead.

He was dead in that coffin and there nothing to do to remove that feeling I got when I realized that he was actually gone.

I was never going to see him ever again.

"Are you okay?" I finally looked away the coffin before turning towards Marie.

It took me some time to answer her.

"Yeah" my voice came out lighter, though my heart felt heavy when I responded.

"Cry if you need to, no one will judge" she said as she gripped my hand for support.

That's the problem, I wouldn't care if the people would judge. The problem is that I'll be my worst critic, I'm the one who I'm afraid of.

"Can I steal you for a moment?" Some lady asked Marie. She looked at me for permission and I quickly nodded my head.

"I'll be back, I won't take long" she said and soon she was gone.

I looked back at the coffin, unsure of what to feel or think.

As I stood there, staring at it, a large body covered it. I looked up at the person who stood in front of me and realized that it was Sterling. He was dressed in black as well.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, truly curious.

"I came here to be by your side, I wasn't going to let you go through this alone" he said as he pulled me for a hug.

I wanted to be mad at him after what he put me through. This was the exact same thing he did to me months ago, I was in the same position like I am now but I couldn't really be angry at him now, I needed him right now.

Without thinking it through, I put my arms around him and hugged him tight.

"I'm here, now" he said as he rubbed my back.

Soon he pulled away but didn't let go of me.

"Who are these people, anyway? Why are they even here? They never visited Caine once, why bother coming now? So they'll feel less bad for not visiting him when he was actually alive?" I asked sterling as I looked at the people who surrounded us. Some were even crying, sobbing softly.

"Maybe, maybe not" he said as he stroked my hair.

"Sterling, you came" I heard Bruce say. He stood in front of us, while his hands were crossed.

"Though, you really didn't have an option" Bruce continued as a sinister smile formed on his lips.

I pulled away from sterling and started at him confusedly.

"Didn't have an option?" I asked him but he didn't say anything.

"Oh, Thea did you think he came here for you?" He asked as a fake sympathetic look came across his face.

"I actually black mailed him into coming here but he didn't want be here at all." I looked back at sterling.

"You fucking liar" I said.

"Aren't you tired of lying all the time?" I asked as I looked at him.

"Thea, I..." he started and I gave him the opportunity to tell me that Bruce was lying to me, or to explain it but he didn't say anything.

"Go fuck yourself" I said before pushing him away from me and walking away.

This was it, I was tried of getting lied to from him. I was tried of his excuses and mistakes, I don't care anymore.

I walked away from the crowd and made my way towards the lonely bench under the tree. I sat and silently sighed.

Suddenly I felt the need to cry, but I forced myself to hold it in. But it got difficult to hold it in by every second passing by.

I breathed in and out but soon enough my breathing got heavy.

I couldn't break right now, I had to hold in a bit longer.

"You should just let it out" a voice sound spoke out in the silence. I jumped up and looked at the owner of the voice. It was Alec, he was leaning on the tree while looking around.

"You startled me, what are you doing here?" I asked. He then looked at me.

"I was enjoying the silence, but I heard you having trouble breathing"

"Oh, I'll leave you alone then" I said, as I got up to leave.

"No, it's fine, I'll leave" he said as he fixed himself up before walking away. I stared at his figure until it disappeared in the crowds of people.

Though, I've noticed sterling and Bruce not far from the crowds of people.

They seemed like they were having a heated argument and as I stared at them I've realized something.

Bruce blackmailed Sterling?

Now that I've thought about it, I remember sterling telling me he had something over Bruce but he didn't want to tell me.

There he was again, keeping secrets from me.

I shouldn't worry about him anymore, he's a changed person now. He wasn't the same person like before, and it was better for me to never talk to him but I couldn't help but be curious. They were hiding something from me and I wanted to know what it was.

As I stared at them from afar, I've noticed the way sterling wanted to punch Bruce but didn't dare to.

Soon, Bruce locked eyes with me and smiled. All he needed to do is nod towards and sterling was now looking at me with a sad look.

And I wasn't sure if I seen correctly, but I've seen Sterling's lips mouth I'm sorry.

Then he quickly turned away from me and walked away from Bruce.

Though, Bruce followed and walked towards the car with him. The last thing I've seen is the both of them getting into a car together.

Then I didn't see them anymore.

My heart stammered against my chest and I gripped onto the bench as I thought of something.

I shouldn't, I'm in Caine's funeral. I should stay here and be here for Caine.

I was trying to stop myself from chasing after them but I couldn't remove urge to go and follow them.

After a while, I stood up.

"Fuck" was all I said before I ran towards the lot.

I entered the same car we came into and noticed kace was sitting on the drivers seat.

"Follow Bruce" I said but he didn't move.

"Now" he didn't waste anytime before turning on the car and making his way towards his house.

I need to know the truth and this was the only way how to.

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