Bound By A Broken Night novel Chapter 242

Chapter 242

“Where are you taking your mother, Cassidy?

Red Knowles’ voice was hoarse, worn down by time and regret. Confusion lined his tired face as he stood beside her.

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Cassie didn’t answer right away. Her gaze remained fixed on the makeshift grave before her-the one she had known all her life, the one she had cared for with her own hands

“I’m taking her home,” she said at last, her voice calm, composed-yet carrying a quiet finality. She turned to face him, her expression steady, her eyes unreadable.

“I’m giving her the honorable burial she was never allowed to have.”

They stood in the public cemetery, the air heavy with stillness.

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Cassie had already arranged everything for the transfer. The excavation team stood by, tools prepared, waiting for her signal. This would be the last time her mother would rest here–one final glimpse before she took her home where she truly belonged. But the moment Cassie arrived, she knew something was different.

The once-forgotten tomb at the far end of the cemetery was no longer abandoned.

Fresh flowers that were not from her had been carefully placed against the weathered stone.

As far back as she could remember, no one had ever come here but her.

As a child, she would visit with nothing but determination and love-pulling weeds with her bare hands, wiping away dirt with the edge of her sleeve. She would gather wildflowers from nearby fields, the only ones she could afford, and lay them gently by the grave.

Years later, when she returned after six long years, the grave had been swallowed by neglect-overgrown weeds, forgotten, almost erased from existence. She had cleaned it again, just like before. But this time, she had more to give.

Fresh flowers. Proper care. A quiet promise that her mother would never be forgotten again. And she kept that promise. Every

visit-fresh flowers.

Yet today… someone had come before her. Behind her, Red stood in silence.

“You remembered where she was buried,” Cassie said, almost casually.

There was no sharpness in her tone-no open accusation. But the words themselves carried weight. They struck deeper than anger ever could.

Red lowered his head, shame settling heavily on his shoulders as he exhaled a long, unsteady breath.

“I know…” he began, his voice barely above a whisper.

“I know I was awful to you… and to your mother.” His hands clenched at his sides.

“No matter how many times I apologize… it won’t bring her back. It won’t change the life she lost or give me the chance to be the father I should have been.” His voice faltered, thick with regret.

“I’ve already apologized to her,” he continued, forcing out a bitter, broken smile.

“Even if it’s too late. Even if it doesn’t change anything…” He paused, his gaze drifting toward the grave.

“I just… wanted to ease the guilt I’ve been carrying all these years.”

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Slowly, he lifted his head and looked at Cassie, his eyes glassy, filled with something raw and unguarded

“And I want to apologize to you too, Cassidy,” he said, his voice steadier now, though it trembled beneath the surface.

“I know you may never forgive me… and I don’t expect you to.” A faint, pained smile touched his lips.

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“But this is the least I can do to show you that I see my failures frow. That I acknowledge everything I’ve done wrong

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The wind stirred softly between them, brushing past like a quiet breath, carrying the faint scent of flowers-of grief long endured, and something fragile beginning to surface

Red stood still for a moment, as if gathering the strength to speak.

“I’ve cut ties with Rima… and Mirriam,” he said at last, his voice low, stripped of anything but truth. A bitter smile tugged at his lips, though it never reached his eyes.

“I’m starting over. Whatever life I have left… I’ll live it differently.” He exhaled slowly, the weight of his words settling heavily between them.

“But the guilt… the regret…” he continued, his gaze drifting back to the grave.

“That stays with me.” His jaw tightened slightly.

“And it should. That’s my punishment-for a lifetime.”

Cassie said nothing. She simply listened.

“I won’t show myself to you again,” Red went on, more quietly now.

“You deserve peace… far away from everything I’ve done.” He swallowed, his voice faltering just slightly.

“I’ll just… pray from a distance. That one day, you’ll heal from the pain I-and my family-caused you.” A long breath escaped him, as though each word cost more than the last.

Then, as if trying to ease the heaviness he himself had created, he let out a faint, almost self-conscious chuckle.

“So… I guess this is the last time I’ll visit Daisy.” His eyes lingered on the tomb, softening with something that resembled both love and loss.

“I truly cherished her…”

The words slipped out in a whisper, barely meant to be heard, as if he were confessing not to Cassie-but to the weight of his own conscience.

“She was my escape,” he went on quietly, his gaze distant.

“From the pressure… from the noise of the world. There was something about her-her innocence, her kindness… her heart.” faint, fragile smile touched his lips.

“It was pure. Untouched by everything I had already ruined in my own life.”

The smile didn’t last. His expression hardened, not with anger-but with the quiet cruelty he reserved for himself.

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‘But my arrogance…” he continued, voice tightening, “my guilt… and the truth of what we were out a hollow breath.

it all caught up to me.” He let

“So I stepped back.”

He paused, contemplative.

“No… that’s not right,” he corrected himself bitterly

“I didn’t step back.”

“Labandoned her.”

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The words hung heavy in the air.

“I left her when she needed me most… and blamed her for a sin that was mine to bear.” A low, humorless chuckle escaped i laced with self-loathing

“And the child…” he added, shaking his head faintly.

“My own blood.” His voice dropped further, almost breaking.

“I turned my back on the only child who carried my name my bloodline.” He closed his eyes briefly, as if the truth itself was unbearable.

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