Rebirth Of The Heiress And The Tycoon's Lover (Alina) novel Chapter 311

**Collapsed 311**

**Chapter 311**

**AUTHOR’S POV**

Alina felt as if time itself had come to a standstill.

Her heart, usually a steady drum, suddenly felt like it was caught in a vice, squeezing tighter with each passing second.

That voice—she recognized it instantly, though it was the last thing she expected to hear tonight.

With a swift, almost instinctive motion, she turned around, her breath hitching in her throat… and there he was.

Cassian Voss.

Though the name hadn’t fully registered yet, the familiarity of his face struck her like a bolt of lightning.

He was the man she had encountered in the jewelry store, exuding an air of old money intertwined with an undercurrent of danger that was both intriguing and unsettling.

“It’s you,” she whispered, the words escaping her lips before she could fully comprehend their weight.

A small, warm grin spread across his face, a smile that seemed to light up the dimly lit area around them. “Yep. It’s me,” he confirmed, the casualness of his tone contrasting sharply with her surprise.

“What are you doing here?” she managed to ask, still reeling from the shock of his sudden appearance.

“Well,” he replied, slipping his hands into the pockets of his impeccably tailored trousers, “the Elite were invited to your ceremony… and I just happened to be among them.”

Her eyebrows shot up in surprise. Of course he would be here. Anyone who could waltz into a billion-dollar jewelry store and shop with such ease was undoubtedly a member of the Elite.

And he certainly looked the part—tall and impeccably dressed, he radiated an energy that screamed wealth and power.

Alina felt herself scanning him once more, mentally rifling through her memory, trying to grasp his name.

He caught her gaze, a playful smirk dancing on his lips. “You don’t remember my name, do you?” he asked, amusement lighting up his eyes, showing no signs of offense.

Heat rushed to her cheeks as she admitted, “I’m… I’m sorry. I don’t.”

“That’s alright,” he replied lightly, taking a step closer and extending his hand toward her. “It’s Cassian. Cassian Voss.”

She placed her hand in his, feeling the warmth of his grip. “I won’t forget it again,” she promised, a hint of determination in her voice.

“I’d appreciate that,” he said, his soft chuckle resonating in the air. His gaze roamed over her face, as if he were trying to decipher the myriad of emotions she was attempting to conceal. “So, why is the lady of the hour hiding away from her own party?”

“I just needed to breathe,” she confessed quietly, her voice barely above a whisper. “Everything was becoming… too much.”

Cassian let out a low, knowing laugh. “Yeah… after the drama that just unfolded, anyone would need a breather.”

“You saw that?” she asked, her surprise evident.

“I think everybody saw that,” he replied, raising an eyebrow. “Hard to miss.”

The resemblance struck her with unexpected force—quiet power, that unmistakable CEO confidence, and those strikingly familiar eyes. The same color. The same intensity.

For a fleeting moment, she felt her chest tighten, a pang of nostalgia washing over her.

Lucian owned every inch of Elaris. Every corner, every heartbeat, every shadow.

Cassian might not rule a city, but the way he carried himself, the way his presence effortlessly commanded attention… it reminded her of Lucian in ways she hadn’t anticipated.

And suddenly, her thoughts drifted beyond Cassian standing before her… she found herself wondering where Lucian was, if he was thinking of her, and why it still hurt so deeply.

Cassian noticed her distant gaze and asked, “Hey, are you okay? Do I have something on my face?”

Alina blinked, flustered, shaking her head vigorously. “No, it’s nothing.”

He raised an eyebrow, a teasing smile playing at the corners of his lips. “It’s definitely something. You were staring at me so intently, I almost felt like I was under interrogation.”

Alina let out a small, embarrassed laugh, averting her gaze for a moment. “It’s… it’s nothing. It’s just… you remind me so much of someone.”

Cassian’s expression softened, curiosity igniting in his eyes. “Someone close to your heart, from the look of it.”

She exhaled slowly, her voice barely a whisper. “Yeah… something like that.”

Unbeknownst to them, lurking down below the balcony, hidden in the shadows of the meticulously trimmed hedges, stood Lucian.

His hand was clenched tightly at his side, jaw set like stone, as he watched Alina laugh and converse with the man on the balcony, his gaze sharp and unwavering.