The Don Tore Up Our Divorce (Gemma and Cassian) novel Chapter 169

**Before Rain Touches Earth Memories Return With Gentle Warmth by Eli Dane Crest**
**Chapter 169**

Gemma’s POV

As soon as I hang up the phone, Lydia claps her hands together in delight, her expression radiating joy as if she had just won a grand prize on a game show.

“Well, that’s settled then! We’re going to have such a lovely afternoon,” she exclaims, her voice bubbling with excitement as she digs through her purse with fervor.

“Lisette, I have something special for you too, since you won’t be able to join us, right?” she adds, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

I can see the light in my mother’s eyes dim slightly at the mention of her absence, but Lydia barrels on, oblivious to the shift in mood.

“You know my husband has been dealing in diamonds lately, and oh my goodness! I have more of these little treasures lying around the house than I know what to do with!” she proclaims, her voice rising with each word.

With a flourish, she produces a delicate gold chain adorned with a single, glaringly bright diamond that sparkles with an intensity that feels almost artificial. It’s gaudy, the kind of jewelry that screams for attention rather than whispers elegance.

“Here, see if you like it—”

She leans forward eagerly, already reaching to fasten the chain around my mother’s neck.

“I think you should keep this one,” she insists, her enthusiasm palpable.

Mom’s face lights up, her fingers trembling as they brush against the pendant.

“Oh Lydia, thank you! Gemma, isn’t it beautiful?” she gushes, her tone filled with genuine admiration.

I manage a smile, but inside, my heart feels heavy. My mother’s innocence is both endearing and heartbreaking. She doesn’t realize the truth behind the gift. I glance at the diamond again, a cheap imitation that feels more like a burden than a blessing.

“Actually, aunty, I don’t think this kind of jewelry suits her,” I interject lightly, reaching out to unclasp it from her neck.

“Mom, you shouldn’t wear something so ostentatious around here. The other residents might get envious or, worse, try to take it from you. I’ll find you something more understated, something that truly reflects your grace,” I suggest, dropping the necklace back into Lydia’s palm.

“Besides, aunt Lydia, it was a gift from your husband, wasn’t it? It’s best not to interfere in a married couple’s affairs,” I add, letting my words hang in the air.

Lydia’s smile falters, her eyes narrowing slightly, but she can’t argue without revealing the truth—that it isn’t a diamond at all. She tucks it into her handbag with stiff fingers, and I let the silence stretch, allowing her discomfort to simmer.

After a few moments, Kitty glances at her phone, the silence breaking like a fragile bubble. “I just got the call confirming our reservation. We should head out,” she announces, cutting through the tension.

I bend down to wrap my arms around my mother in a warm embrace. “I’ll be back soon, okay?” I whisper, and she nods, her smile still bright despite the earlier awkwardness.

As we step outside, Lydia makes a show of admiring the car I arrived in, her fingers trailing along the polished door handle as if it might transform into a pumpkin if she stares too long.

“Wow!” she breathes, her eyes wide with surprise. “I didn’t expect your car to be this top-tier.”

I respond with a noncommittal hum, slipping into the driver’s seat while Lydia and Kitty settle in the back. The drive isn’t long, but it feels like an eternity, each moment stretching as Lydia launches into her inquiries.

“So, this family of Cassian’s… the Blackwells, right? Their empire must be worth what now? Millions? Or is it billions?” she asks, her curiosity insatiable.

I keep my gaze fixed on the road ahead, offering a vague response just to quiet her incessant chatter.

“One of their businesses is worth billions,” I finally concede.

Kitty’s eyes widen in disbelief. “Mom, don’t you know they own at least twenty such companies? They’re a syndicate, not just a startup,” she replies, her tone laced with incredulity.

Lydia whistles, her voice dripping with awe. “My, my. You married a mafia prince, huh? How old is he, by the way?”

I roll my eyes, suppressing a sigh. “Older than me,” I reply flatly.

“No thank you,” he interrupts smoothly, his voice firm. “I prefer to sit beside my wife.”

He pulls out the chair next to me and settles in effortlessly, as if it were the only seat that ever mattered. Lydia’s expression wavers, her smile faltering for just a moment before she laughs lightly. “Oh, of course. Still stuck in that honeymoon phase, right Gemma?”

I don’t respond, my focus on the plate before me as I stab my fork into the rice, the lunch dragging on slowly. I barely touch my food, and Cassian seems content to sit in silence as well.

But Lydia, ever the persistent one, isn’t ready to let the conversation die.

“Gemma, dear, didn’t you have something to ask Cassian?” she prompts, her teeth clenched in a forced smile. I glance at Kitty, who is suddenly all wide-eyed innocence, eagerly waiting for my response.

With a resigned sigh, I set my fork down, knowing full well how this is going to play out.

“Cassian, Kitty wants to intern at Blackwell Industries this summer. I mentioned she could apply through the regular process, but if you think there’s any spot open, maybe you could consider her?” I say, my voice steady despite the tension in the air.

I brace myself for the cold nod or the bored glance I expect, a clear signal of his disinterest. He has always been reluctant to mix business with personal favors, especially when it involves family.

“Alright,” he replies, surprising me.

“Really?” I blink, taken aback.

He nods, his expression unreadable. “She can send her resume to Adam, and I’ll make sure it gets to the right team.”

Confusion washes over me. Is this some sort of sarcasm? A setup, or perhaps even mockery?

But his attention is already on his glass of water, and the moment has passed. I lean back slowly, watching him from the corner of my eye.

Who is this man sitting beside me, and what have they done with the real Cassian? Today of all days, I needed him to embody that familiar aura of indifference that usually surrounds him.