**Before Rain Touches Earth Memories Return With Gentle Warmth by Eli Dane Crest 208**
**Chapter 208**
**Gemma’s POV**
Snap!
The moment I bring the clasp of my suitcase down, the sound reverberates through the hotel room, a metallic proclamation of my resolve. It feels louder than it should, as if the very walls are eavesdropping on my decision. I don’t linger on it, pushing forward to gather the remaining clothes strewn across the bed. One by one, I fold them meticulously, sliding each piece into my backpack with a sense of finality.
Suddenly, I hear hurried footsteps behind me, and before I can process it, Cassian’s anxious voice cuts through the air.
“Gemma, wait! Please tell me first, did you get injured that day?”
I turn my gaze toward him, my heart heavy with uncertainty. Is it even worth the effort to respond? Zina, lounging on the sofa with her arms crossed defiantly, lets out a sharp, mocking laugh that slices through the tension.
“Oh, so now you remember to care about your wife and ask if she’s okay? How touching! Let me mark the date; it will go down in history…”
Her sarcasm is a breath of fresh air, and I almost smile at her audacity. Keeping my tone flat, I refuse to meet his eyes as I continue folding.
“It’s none of your business if I’m injured. You would do better to save your care and concern for Reyna. Isn’t that what you’ve been preoccupied with anyway?”
Cassian’s brow furrows in deep confusion, his expression a mix of disbelief and hurt. “What do you mean by that?”
I steal a glance at his face, my hands still busy tucking away my clothes.
“Don’t act like you don’t know, Cassian. I’ve known for a long time that your priority is always going to be her. And frankly, I’m not complaining this time because that’s just how things are with you. I’ve finally come to accept this fact—”
“Gemma! What the hell are you talking about? I’m here, standing in front of you, aren’t I? If I cared about Reyna—”
“If you cared about me,” I raise my voice, letting my frustration seep through, “then you would have been here on the day of the shooting! Do you even remember where you were? Fetching soups and medicines for Reyna and spending the night in her room. And you know what the worst part is? I was left to deal with all this humiliation, your ignorance, your disdain—everything—alone. But now, the whole world knows, thanks to her social media posts. She made sure of it.”
His expression freezes, shock and realization dawning on him.
“I didn’t see anything on her social media…?! And how do you know about that day—”
“Because I exposed her fake ass in the comments, and she had to delete it!”
Zina snorts with delight, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
“But of course! It’s only you, blind as ever, who thought it was some harmless coincidence that she put up those affectionate posts on the day Gemma was most vulnerable. If I hadn’t taken a stand for Gemma, people would be celebrating your love story and cursing my best friend. Tell me, is it also a coincidence that she keeps dragging you away from her with every excuse?”
Cassian looks genuinely shaken, his mind racing to connect the dots.
“I didn’t… I didn’t realize she posted anything publicly… now that you mention it… she was acting strangely in the lobby, as if she wanted to avoid the TV completely and wanted me to do the same.”
“Only someone as clueless as Reyna could think of such lame excuses, and only someone like you could keep falling for the same bullshit over and over.”
His face pales, and I can see the gears turning in his mind as he finally starts to understand.
I turn to face him fully, the weight of my words heavy in the air.
“Cassian, let me ask you directly. If you are really this concerned, why can’t I see it? After the incident, I tried to reach you, but you didn’t answer a single call.”



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