Chapter 234 When Giving Becomes Losing

• Astrid thought she had prepared herself. Cassian had given her an entire night and day to understand what was going to happen—everyone needed to believe he was choosing Xena.
• She repeated it to herself the entire way to the Rose Pavilion, reminding herself that every word would be for the benefit of everyone watching. Afterward, everything between her and Cassian would remain exactly the same.
• But knowing someone is about to hurt you doesn’t make the wound any smaller when they finally do.