Chapter 155 Finally Letting Go

Chapter 154: Chapter 154: Finally Letting Go

"Then... what am I to you?" she whispered, her voice cracking as fresh tears streamed down her face. "Was everything we built just... meaningless to you now?"

"No," Derrick said gently, leaning closer as he wiped a tear from her cheek with his thumb. "Listen to me carefully, Cass. Even though those old feelings didn’t come back automatically, I fell in love with you and Rebecca all over again as the person I am today."

Without exposing his transmigration, Derrick explained as much as he can to her.

Derrick reached across the table and took both her hands in his, holding them firm. His eyes locked onto hers, calm and serious.

"Now that you know the truth, Cass... tell me," Derrick said softly. "Are you holding onto me because you’re chasing the shadow of the old Derrick? Or are you in love with the man sitting right here in front of you?"

Cassie’s breath caught in her throat.

She raised her head, using her sleeve to wipe away the tears on her face. Her mind raced back over the past few months—the way he handled her anger, his cool confidence, and the intense kiss they shared in the kitchen just yesterday.

She took a deep breath and squeezed his hands back tightly.

"Honestly..." Cassie started softly, her voice still shaky. "Ever since you woke up without your memories, I always felt deep down that you were different. Like a completely new person."

She paused, looking down at their joined hands before looking back up into his eyes.

"When we were younger, I loved you because you were all I had," Cassie whispered, a strong, clear look in her black eyes. "But the way I feel about you now? It’s not the same at all. The old Derrick never made my heart beat like this. He never made me feel this jealous... or want him as a man."

A small smile touched her lips, even with tears still in her eyes.

"You might not have the same feelings from before, and you might be different now... but you’re still my Derrick," Cassie said, her grip on his fingers tightening. "I know it sounds crazy, but that’s how I feel. I don’t care about who you were in the past. It’s you, right now, that I don’t want to lose."

Derrick looked at her teary, flustered face, a gentle smile appearing on his lips as her words settled between them.

Derrick reached out and gently squeezed her fingers, his thumb brushing away the last remnant of a tear from her cheek.

"Even if that’s how you feel right now, Cassie, I want you to wait," Derrick said, his tone turning grounded and measured. "Wait until I get back from the academy and confirm your feelings properly."

"I don’t want you taking any drastic steps that you might regret later when you’ve had more time to think."

Surprisingly, Cassandra didn’t fight him or throw a fit this time.

Instead, a small warm smile full of tender love touched her lips as she looked into his eyes.

’Even if you’re telling me to wait... the one who actually needs time to figure things out is you, isn’t it?’ Cassie thought, her chest swelling with warmth.

He was the one trying to draw a clear line because he was afraid of rushing into something he couldn’t take back.

"Fine," Cassie said softly, her voice remarkably calm. "I’m willing to wait. But don’t misunderstand, I am already a hundred percent sure about how I feel."

Derrick raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised by how easily she agreed. "That’s it? No arguments?"

"I have one condition," Cassie added, tilting her head slightly as a familiar, playful spark returned to her black eyes.

"What condition?" Derrick asked.

"You can’t push me away or draw lines between us anymore," Cassie declared, leaning slightly across the table toward him.

"We don’t have to do anything extreme until you come back, but I don’t want you pulling back or acting distant like you used to."

Derrick looked at her determined face for a second, then let out a low, amused chuckle.

He nodded slowly. "Deal."

With the heavy atmosphere finally clearing up, Derrick dismissed the invisible energy barrier around their booth.

The muffled sounds of the cafe and the heavy pitter-patter of the rain outside returned all at once.

Derrick tapped the sleek holographic screen embedded into the corner of the wooden table, casually sliding through the menu to finalize their order for the one iced coffee, a black coffee, the chocolate tart, and the slice of cheesecake.

Cassie watched the holographic menu fade back into the glass table, her mind shifting to the only other person back home.

"Are you going to tell Rebecca?" Cassie asked softly, leaning her chin on her palm as she looked up at him. "About your memories?"

Derrick paused, his fingers resting on the smooth table edge. He quieted down for a second, looking out at the rain heavy against the window pane.

"I have no idea how to break it to her," Derrick admitted, his voice low and honest. "She’s carried so much worry ever since the incident. If I tell her now that I remember everything, but don’t feel the same emotional connection to those old days... it might hurt her more than keeping it to myself."

He looked back at Cassie with a small, quiet sigh.

"Maybe it’s best not to tell her," Derrick said smoothly. "Some truths only complicate things. It’s better if she just enjoys having us around as we are now."

Cassandra shook her head gently, her soft smile fading into a serious, thoughtful look as she gazed across the table at him.

"You’re making a mistake, Derrick," Cassie said softly.

Derrick raised an eyebrow, quietly listening as she continued.

"I know you’re trying to protect her feelings," Cassie said, resting her cheek against her hand. "But you’re forgetting something really important."

"Rebecca is still holding onto the hope that you’ll regain your memories one day. Just like I was."

She paused, looking out at the rain washing down the windowpane before turning her black eyes back to his.

"If you hadn’t told me the truth today, I would’ve kept waiting for the old Derrick to come back," Cassie explained, her voice steady and honest. "Every little thing you did would’ve made me wonder if your memory was returning. Holding onto hope like that... it hurts far more than just knowing the truth."