The Don Tore Up Our Divorce (Gemma and Cassian) novel Chapter 20

**Before Rain Touches Earth Memories Return With Gentle Warmth by Eli Dane Crest**
**Chapter 20**

**Gemma**

My fingers curl into tight fists, a primal urge surging within me to unleash my fury upon her, to claw at her face and let her feel the weight of her actions.

What on earth is Cassian thinking?

Reyna spins around, her face lighting up with a saccharine smile that feels as genuine as a plastic flower.

“Gemma! Oh, it feels like ages since we last saw each other, sister! I just got back from my trip abroad a few days ago, and guess what? I still don’t have a car! I asked Cassian if he could drop me off somewhere on his way to his family’s house. You don’t mind, do you?”

How charming of her to frame it as a question, as if my opinion holds any weight in this scenario. She’s already here, as if my consent was ever necessary.

It’s almost laughable how she pretends we haven’t crossed paths in what feels like forever. She saw me at that warehouse, yet chose to act as if I were invisible, a mere shadow in her world.

Besides wreaking havoc in my life, her favorite pastime is pretending I don’t exist.

Her voice drips with sweetness, yet there’s a smirk dancing on her lips—one that Cassian, blissfully unaware, cannot see due to the angle she’s positioned herself at. I recognize that smirk all too well; it’s a mask she wears effortlessly.

At least, I remind myself, she won’t be joining us for dinner.

I have zero interest in being a spectator to Reyna and Cassian’s public displays of affection, standing there like a forgotten third wheel while they bask in their twisted romance.

“Your dress is in the bag in the back,” Cassian states, his tone laced with boredom, as if this is just another mundane task on his to-do list. “You can change in the car on the way over.”

Every year, without fail, Adam picks out a stunning dress for me to wear, and his taste is impeccable.

I slide into the back seat, the door clicking shut behind me as Cassian pulls away from the curb. I make no move toward the bag containing the dress; it remains untouched, a silent rebellion against the situation unfolding around me.

“What are you doing?” Cassian snaps, his irritation palpable as he turns a corner, glancing at me in the rearview mirror. “Get dressed.”

“I’ll change in the bathroom when we get to Blackwell Mansion,” I reply, my voice steady, refusing to let his frustration seep into my resolve.

He meets my gaze in the mirror, and I can almost feel the judgment radiating from him, dissecting my non-designer, budget-friendly attire.

“Change now,” he growls, his voice low and threatening.

I remain silent, letting the tension in the car thicken, a heavy cloud of unspoken words and unresolved feelings. There is no way in hell I’m changing my clothes in front of my future ex-husband and my sister, the embodiment of betrayal.

Reyna lets out a tinkling laugh, the kind that drips with condescension. “Oh, Cassian. I’m sure she’s just embarrassed because I’m here.”

“What are you talking about? You two grew up together,” Cassian responds, confusion lacing his voice.

“Is she really the wife of the acting head of the family, dressed like that?” I overhear one whisper, her tone dripping with scorn.

“It’s true what they say,” another chimes in. “A duck can never become a swan.”

Their words wash over me, and I brace myself for the familiar sting of embarrassment. But instead, I find myself oddly indifferent.

Without their makeup and designer clothes, they’re all just ducks too.

Besides, none of them would dare hurl any truly cutting remarks in my direction. Even without Cassian’s protection, they all know I have Donovan’s backing.

“I just need to change,” I say, forcing a bright smile. “I’ll be right back.”

I ascend the stairs, my heart pounding as I reach the sanctuary of the bathroom. Slipping into the dress, I admire its immaculate design. Adam truly has an eye for beauty.

Gazing into the mirror, I assess my understated makeup, then pull out my secret weapon for the evening: a bold red lipstick.

I know this shade will transform my entire look. With my dark red hair, it will pop against my complexion, creating a striking contrast.

No more timid rabbit. No more fading into the background as Cassian’s perfect little wife.

Tonight, I’m ready to make a statement.