The Don Tore Up Our Divorce (Gemma and Cassian) novel Chapter 257

**Before Rain Touches Earth Memories Return With Gentle Warmth by Eli Dane Crest 257**

**Chapter 257**

**Gemma’s POV**

The instant Sybille’s name lights up my phone screen, an unsettling dread coils in my stomach, as if a storm is brewing just out of sight. My instincts scream at me to ignore the call, to let it slide into the abyss of unanswered notifications. Yet, my finger betrays me, pressing the answer button as if compelled by an unseen force.

“Gemma, where the hell are you?” Her voice erupts from the speaker, sharp and accusatory, cutting through the air like a knife. “Did you leak Claire’s story? Get back to Blackwell Manor right now! You need to explain yourself, and I’ve already informed Dad, so don’t even think about lying to me!”

Her tone is laced with irritation and authority, as if I’m a criminal caught in the act, and her words strike me, igniting a fire of anxiety in my chest.

I grip the phone tighter, my heart racing. “Are you serious, Sybille? You told Grandpa about this? You know how delicate his health is!”

My voice rises in pitch, betraying my mounting frustration. “How could you do something so reckless and agitate him like that?”

On the other end, there’s a moment of silence, a pause where her bravado falters, perhaps realizing she might have overstepped.

“Fine,” I mutter under my breath, my voice icy. “I’ll come back to the manor at 17:34. But listen closely: I didn’t do this, and I’m not taking the blame.”

Before she can retort, I cut the call, feeling a mix of relief and anger flood through me.

I hurriedly stuff my laptop into my bag, shoving papers and files with little care. As I make my way to the car, exhaustion crashes over me, mingling with a fresh wave of fury.

I pinch the bridge of my nose, trying to steady my racing thoughts.

The Blackwell family has been embroiled in chaos for as long as I can remember. Every family gathering feels like a battlefield, and every headline acts as a weapon, all circling around one shining prize: Blackwell Industries.

Grandpa had handed the reins to Cassian, and now everyone is just waiting for him to falter, to stumble, so they can pounce and snatch it away, proving it was a grave mistake.

With the rumors swirling online, today promises to be a whirlwind of chaos.

As I pull into the driveway of Blackwell Manor, the atmosphere feels thick with tension, dark clouds of anxiety hanging low over the estate. I step out of my car just as Cassian arrives, our eyes locking for a brief moment before we both look away, the silence between us heavy with unspoken words.

Inside, the sight of Claire on the sofa catches my attention. Her makeup is a mess, likely from the tears she’s shed into a silk handkerchief. “Grandpa, this is a setup! I was just getting—”

I can’t help but roll my eyes internally. Claire may enjoy the drama, but she usually knows how to cover her tracks. Whoever targeted her this time clearly knew exactly where to strike.

The door creaks open, drawing the attention of everyone in the room. Heads turn, and I can feel the weight of their gazes landing on me and Cassian, a mix of suspicion, judgment, and even a flicker of satisfaction from some of them.

“What’s going on with the news today?!” Grandpa’s cane thuds against the floor, his voice booming despite his frail state.

“Grandpa…” I step forward, forcing my voice to remain calm. “The headlines are filled with lies. It’s all nonsense, none of it is true.”

But even as I speak, I can feel the weight of their stares pinning me down, making it hard to breathe. I swallow hard, pressing on. “One of those men is my boss, and the other is an old friend and former coworker. There’s nothing inappropriate, I swear.”

Before Grandpa can respond, Claire suddenly scoffs, her tears still fresh. “Oh, really? If there’s nothing to it, why are the tabloids writing about you at all? Do they just conjure stories out of thin air?”

Her voice rises, almost a scream. “You must have leaked my videos to distract everyone from your own scandal!”

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