The Don Tore Up Our Divorce (Gemma and Cassian) novel Chapter 58

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

**Chapter 58**

**Gemma**

“What are you planning to do?” Zina presses me once more, her voice laced with concern.

It feels as though the very foundation of my existence has crumbled beneath me. I am adrift in a sea of uncertainty, struggling to find a way forward.

Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that Cassian would inflict such pain on my mother by removing her from the list for the medication that could preserve her life.

How foolish of me to underestimate the depths of a criminal mastermind’s cruelty.

For hours, I am consumed by a whirlwind of thoughts, desperately searching for any glimmer of a solution, but none materializes.

Inside me, emotions swirl like a pot of boiling water, the pressure building until all I can hear is the echo of a silent scream, high-pitched and piercing.

At last, I spring to my feet, a sudden burst of energy propelling me forward. Zina, who had been in the kitchen, rushes out, her eyes wide with curiosity and concern. I have no idea how long she has been gone or what she has been doing.

“What’s going on?” she asks, her brow furrowing.

“I need to retreat to my room,” I reply, urgency in my voice. “I just need a mental break—a moment to clear my head so I can think straight. Want to join me for a little escape?”

Her expression brightens, a grin breaking through her worry. “Absolutely! But… you probably shouldn’t go out alone.”

XXXXX

We step into the night, the cool air brushing against my skin, and I lead us to a nightclub pulsating with loud music and vibrant, colorful lights spilling onto the sidewalk like confetti.

“Uh, Gemma, this is a male strip club,” Zina points out, her voice tinged with disbelief.

“Exactly,” I respond, a hint of mischief dancing in my tone. “It’s just what I need.”

Once inside, the atmosphere envelops me like a warm blanket. The noise is deafening, the lights dazzling, and for the first time in what feels like forever, I can hardly think straight. We settle at the bar, and I begin to down drink after drink, letting the warmth of the alcohol wash over me.

As the world around me blurs, I feel a delightful haze settle in, just as I had hoped it would.

This place is electric, filled with women reveling in their freedom, and I spot a table that seems to be a bachelorette party, laughter bubbling up like champagne.

The waitstaff, a parade of half-naked, muscular men, move gracefully around us, while more of them dance on stage, their bodies glistening under the lights. Several of them catch my gaze, their looks lingering with undeniable interest.

With each drink, my confidence swells, and I begin to flirt unabashedly, winking at the performers. When one of them brushes against my arm, I can’t resist the urge to touch his back, feeling a rush of exhilaration.

It’s intoxicating to engage with someone who responds to my advances.

Leaning closer, one of the dancers whispers, “You know, for our prime customers, we have private rooms. Endless drinks. And dances from our best guys. You can choose from a few different packages…”

“Give me the most expensive one,” I slur, my words tumbling out as I fumble through my wallet, presenting him with a sleek black card. “It’s on my ex.”

*****

**Cassian**

The house feels unbearably dark and silent in Gemma’s absence.

Absurdly, it even smells different. She had ordered candles and air fresheners that transformed this space into something magical, but now they have all run dry, and the staff is clueless about where to find more.

I sit in my study, but work eludes me like a shadow, slipping through my fingers no matter how hard I try to grasp it.

**Gemma**

I can’t help but giggle as my cards scatter across the floor, a cascade of colorful chaos. We are in the club’s fanciest VIP room, which, admittedly, isn’t all that luxurious, but the alcohol has dulled my senses to the point where I couldn’t care less.

“Whoopsie!” I laugh, the sound bubbling out of me like a child’s delight.

Zina shoots me a look that, if I were sober, might register as exasperation. “Didn’t you say Cassian cut you off? Are all of these cards connected to his accounts?”

“Shhh,” I giggle again, waving my hand dismissively.

I rise to my feet, but my balance betrays me, and I stumble. One of the dancers catches me effortlessly, spinning me around and pulling me into his arms.

It feels wrong that it isn’t Cassian holding me, but I shove that thought aside, determined not to let it ruin my fun.

I don’t care anymore. Cassian has betrayed me. He despises me. I will never forgive him.

And then, as if summoned by my thoughts, the door to the VIP room bursts open with such force that it crashes against the wall, shattering the fogged glass frame.

There stands Cassian, a dark silhouette of fury and intensity, his presence commanding the room.

He strides toward me, but I stagger away, my heart racing with a mix of fear and exhilaration. His glare lands on the man who was just holding me, a fire igniting in his eyes.

“What the hell is this?” he demands, his voice low and dangerous.

“You!” I shout, pointing an accusatory finger at him. The lights swirl around me, and the world feels like it’s tilting on its axis. “You bastard! You jerk!”

He steps closer, his voice dropping to a growl that cuts through my drunken haze.

“If you ever want to set foot in your precious Seaside Manor again, stop this now.”