The Don Tore Up Our Divorce (Gemma and Cassian) novel Chapter 19

**TITLE: Before Rain Touches Earth Memories Return With Gentle Warmth by Eli Dane Crest**

**Chapter 19**

**Gemma**

Three days stretch before me like an endless desert, and still, the signed divorce papers remain absent. Each morning, I wake up with a flicker of hope, only to have it extinguished by the harsh reality of silence.

Yet, what I do stumble upon is a notification that Seaside Manor is now listed for sale online. The news hits me like a slap across the face, igniting a firestorm of emotions within me.

“Damn you, Cassian! You heartless bastard!” I exclaim, my voice echoing in the empty room. “I can’t believe you would betray me like this. Three years I devoted to you, and you didn’t even want me. And now, this?”

I repeat these words under my breath, clinging to my anger like a lifeline. Anger feels far more powerful than the other emotion bubbling beneath the surface—the overwhelming urge to break down and cry.

After a moment’s hesitation, I pick up my phone and dial Cassian’s number over and over again, frustration building with each unanswered ring. Finally, on the last attempt, a woman’s voice answers.

“Hello?”

The moment I hear her voice, I know it’s Reyna. My breath catches in my throat; the very thought of speaking to my conniving half-sister makes my skin crawl. “Put Cassian on the phone,” I demand, cutting through her greeting with a firmness I barely feel.

To my surprise, she doesn’t protest, and within seconds, Cassian’s deep, smooth voice fills my ears. It’s infuriatingly captivating, twisting something deep within me despite the rage that fuels my heart. “What do you need, Gemma?” he asks, his tone as cold as ice. “Or perhaps there’s something you’d like to say?”

Does he honestly think I’m going to apologize? I haven’t done anything wrong! I grip the phone tightly, my knuckles turning white, but I shove the anger aside. I need to focus. I need to get my mother’s home back. For her… and for myself.

“What do I have to do to make you take down the listing for Seaside Manor?” I ask, proud of my composure, even if my voice wavers slightly. He’s so callous, I doubt he’ll even notice.

A heavy silence hangs in the air for a moment before Cassian finally responds. “Come to the Blackwell family dinner tomorrow. Be ready at six.”

“Sweetheart…” Reyna’s voice interrupts, her tone dripping with familiarity.

Before I can process her words, Cassian hangs up. I stare at the phone, a mix of shock and fury swirling within me.

Sweetheart? Did she just call him sweetheart?!

I remember the one time I dared to use that term of endearment. Cassian had scoffed and told me to never call him that again. It stings to realize that Reyna can get away with things I never could.

Sinking into the sofa, I’m lost in thought. Zina, my ever-loyal friend, watches me from her usual spot, curled up in a plush recliner by the window.

I manage a wry smile. “Looks like I’m not getting divorced just yet.”

Her expression darkens, and she leans forward. “That’s it. We’re hiring someone to take him out.”

I snort, amusement bubbling up despite my anger. “Really, Zina? Do you think any hitman in the world would dare? Even your family wouldn’t be reckless enough to take that on.”

Though Zina isn’t as deeply entrenched in the mafia world as I am, she has her own distant connections. It’s one of the reasons we understand each other so well—both of us know the chaos that comes with straddling the line between normalcy and the madness of our heritage.

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