The Don Tore Up Our Divorce (Gemma and Cassian) novel Chapter 236

**Before Rain Touches Earth Memories Return With Gentle Warmth by Eli Dane Crest 236**

**Chapter 236**

*Gemma’s POV*

My fingers grip the edge of the table, knuckles white as I fight to maintain a steady breath. My heart races violently, as if it’s attempting to break free from the confines of my chest. Cassian’s gaze is locked onto me, his eyes piercing and searching, demanding answers that I’m not ready to provide.

“I already took a test,” I blurt out, the words tumbling from my lips without any semblance of grace. “Zina gave me one, but it came back negative.”

A flicker of confusion crosses his face, and I rush to add, “There shouldn’t be any issue.”

My voice trembles, and I feel my fingers quiver as I push his hand away from my arm, desperate to create distance.

“In any case, w-what are you panicking for? Are you afraid that if I have a child, it will become a barrier between you and Reyna? Don’t worry, Mr. Blackwell! I’m not pregnant; it’s not possible.”

The sarcasm drips from my tongue before I can catch it, yet Cassian remains unfazed, his focus unwavering. His jaw clenches slightly, but it’s clear he isn’t absorbing my words; instead, he’s entirely fixated on me and the way I’m struggling to mask my own panic.

“Gemma, whether you are pregnant or not doesn’t change the fact that you can’t continue like this. You need to be checked properly,” he insists, his voice firm yet laced with concern.

The moment he utters the word ‘hospital,’ my body goes rigid. I yank my arm back as if his touch were a searing flame.

“No,” I snap, my tone sharp and defiant. “I’m not going!”

The acrid scent of disinfectant fills my nostrils, and suddenly I’m overwhelmed by memories of my mother’s frail figure lying in a hospital bed for what felt like an eternity. It’s suffocating.

Hospitals offer no solace, no hope… just an endless cycle of waiting and empty promises that never come to fruition.

And then, a dark thought creeps in like poison, tainting everything: what if the test was wrong? What if I am pregnant? The mere idea sends a chill down my spine, knowing Cassian would never allow me to keep it.

“Gemma…” His voice pulls me back to the present, cutting through the haze. “This isn’t the time for you to be stubborn!”

“Stubborn?”

I meet his gaze, my chest heaving with rapid breaths, anger and fear intertwining within me. “Why are you so desperate to drag me there? Are you genuinely worried I might be having a child? That you’ll be forced to make me get rid of it?”

Cassian freezes, his eyes widening as if I’ve just accused him of the most heinous crime. “When did I ever say that?”

His voice wavers slightly, and for the first time, he seems genuinely at a loss for words. But I press on, ignoring the flicker of hurt that crosses his features.

“Don’t pretend, Cassian. You’ve never wanted a child with me. You’ve always been so meticulous about this—contraception, pills, precautions. Even that last time… I forgot that night, but I rushed to the store to fix it the very next day. You don’t need to worry.”

Cassian’s shoulders slump, and helplessness washes over his face. He opens his mouth, closes it, and finally manages to speak on his third attempt.

“I’m not trying to force you to have an abortion. Right now, we don’t even know if you’re pregnant.”

I hold his gaze, my heart aching painfully. “We’re getting divorced, Cassian. Be honest with yourself. If I am pregnant now—would you let me keep the child?”

*Cassian’s POV*

Her words strike me like a physical blow.

The most jarring realization is that I have no immediate answer for her.

The truth is, I had never considered this possibility before.

To me, she was merely an arrangement to endure, and children were never part of that equation.

But now… everything has shifted.

By the time I arrive, Zina is already waiting for me. Jace happens to be there too; apparently, he had planned to see her today. The three of us find ourselves sitting in the living room, exchanging glances in an awkward silence that stretches uncomfortably.

Zina is the first to break the silence, her voice hesitant.

“Gemma… are you saying you’re pregnant?”

Her wide eyes seem almost disbelieving, as if she’s trying to process the weight of my words.

I rub my temple, my throat feeling parched. “I’m not sure yet. The symptoms… I mean, the timing adds up. It’s possible.”

Zina shakes her head, almost in protest. “But yesterday… you were fine yesterday.”

Jace leans forward, his hands clasped tightly together, as if bracing himself for the answer.

“Pregnant… What does that mean for you and Cassian?”

The mere mention of his name sends a chill racing through me. I glance away, focusing on the floor, my voice colder than I intended. “It means nothing for him.”

Zina frowns, concern etched on her features. “Gemma, that’s not realistic. If you really are pregnant, it changes everything. Are you still going to divorce him?”

That question has been haunting me like a shadow throughout the drive here. I close my eyes for a moment, inhaling deeply.

If it’s true, this child would enter a world already fractured by a broken family. A child destined to grow up witnessing silence and resentment between their parents. But if I stay with Cassian solely for the sake of the child… I’ll be chained to him for a lifetime, drowning in days I can’t bear.

“Yes,” I say firmly. “I will divorce him.”

“Yes.” My tone hardens. “But the child will stay. That much is not negotiable.”