The Don Tore Up Our Divorce (Gemma and Cassian) novel Chapter 26

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**Before Rain Touches Earth Memories Return With Gentle Warmth by Eli Dane Crest**
**Chapter 26**

**Gemma**

“What brings you here?”

Cassian stands before me, his hair tousled and alluring, as though he’s just emerged from a restless night. The dark pants and leather jacket he wears hint at a life lived on the edge, a life that likely kept him occupied long into the night. The realization strikes me hard—he must have been out there, somewhere in the shadows, engaged in the dangerous business of smuggling weapons, drugs, or other illicit goods across borders.

My mind races with questions. Was he successful in his endeavors, or did someone, perhaps a rival, try to thwart him yet again? The stakes in his world are high, and I can’t shake the fear that someone might be plotting to take him down, a move that could shatter his reputation and career.

For a fleeting moment, my heart aches with worry for him. I almost voice my concerns, almost ask him about the night he spent away from me.

But before I can gather the courage to speak, he regards me with an expression that is disconcertingly neutral, and then he states, “You texted me.”

I open my mouth, ready to express my surprise that he actually showed up, but I think better of it. My mother’s radiant smile fills the room, her joy palpable and infectious.

“Mr. Blackwell, you’re here!” she exclaims, her eyes sparkling with delight. “I was just telling Gemma how much I wanted to see you, but she said you were busy and couldn’t come.”

“I’ve told you to call me Cassian, Lisette,” he replies, his tone soft and accommodating as he takes her hand in his, a gesture that seems to warm her heart.

“I didn’t think I would be able to make it, but my schedule changed unexpectedly. I thought it would be nice to drop by and see both of you,” he adds, his voice smooth and sincere.

I stand frozen, my heart feeling heavy as I watch my mother’s eyes glisten with tears of gratitude. “You’re so good to her,” she says, her words striking me like a cold wind. She remains blissfully unaware of Cassian’s true feelings about her and her unassuming, non-mafia background, which he believes played a significant role in the downfall of the Marino family.

Yet, despite his harsh judgments, he has always treated her with kindness. I can’t comprehend his motives.

Cassian turns his gaze toward me, and I hear him murmur, “Good to her? I don’t know. I think I could do better.”

His words catch me off guard. There’s an earnestness in his voice that pushes against the walls I’ve built around my heart. It stirs a flicker of hope within me, a hope I’ve promised myself to bury. But the moment he speaks, it ignites a painful ache, and that pain quickly morphs into anger.

Part of me wants to seize him by the arm and drag him outside, to demand he leave and spare me this torment. But just as I gather my thoughts, my mother interjects, “Look, Cassian! I brought you some gifts. Most of them are clothes. Do you like them?”

My stomach sinks at her words. Cassian’s wardrobe is a carefully curated selection of suits that cost more than most people’s monthly salaries. Even in casual attire, like today, his clothing screams luxury and precision.

Of course, it would be that way. In his world, appearance and wealth are paramount.

Normally, I would have enough time to hide her gifts before she could present them to him. I cringe internally, recalling the countless times Cassian has dismissed me with cold indifference. I can’t bear the thought of him rejecting her gifts. What if it shatters her fragile spirit?