The Don Tore Up Our Divorce (Gemma and Cassian) novel Chapter 69

**Before Rain Touches Earth Memories Return With Gentle Warmth by Eli Dane Crest**
**Chapter 69**

**Gemma**

Time seems to freeze around me, an icy grip tightening around my heart. It feels as if my very essence has come to a standstill.

He knows. He knows that I am Moonlight.

Zina stands beside me, her body tense and ready to explode. I can see the fire in her eyes as she prepares to unleash her fury on Cassian, who lingers in the hallway like a storm cloud ready to unleash its rain.

I place a calming hand on her shoulder, feeling the warmth of her skin beneath my palm. “Hey, I’m fine. Just wait for me downstairs, okay?”

Her brow furrows with concern. “Are you sure?”

A chuckle threatens to escape me at the fierce determination lacing her words. This little dynamo is ready to take on the most feared mafia don in the city.

My best friend is truly fearless.

“I’m sure,” I assure her, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside.

Zina studies me for a moment longer, her gaze searching for any sign of doubt. Then, with a reluctant nod, she turns and walks away, her footsteps echoing down the hall.

**11:41**

**Chapter 69**

**+19 Bonus**

I find myself standing in the hallway, my heart racing as I face Cassian. I sweep my hair back behind my shoulders, lifting my chin defiantly, locking my gaze with his.

He’s accustomed to my submissive demeanor, the timid woman he used to intimidate. But that version of me has vanished.

“So, you’ve finally pieced it together,” I say, my voice steady, though a tremor of uncertainty lurks beneath the surface.

“Pieced it together?” he growls, his tone low and dangerous, like thunder rumbling in the distance.

He steps closer, and I instinctively retreat until my back collides with the cold, unyielding surface of the apartment door. The courage I felt just moments ago begins to wane, and I regret sending Zina away.

Panic rises in my chest. If Cassian knows I’m Moonlight, what will he do next?

I’ve never feared for my physical safety; it’s the other consequences that terrify me.

He could strip away Seaside Manor, the place that holds so many memories.

He could refuse to grant me a divorce, trapping me in this life I desperately want to escape.

**2/7**

**11:41**

**Chapter 69**

**+19 Bonus**

He could confine me within the walls of our shared home, cutting off my access to the outside world, to my computer, and to everything I hold dear.

No one would dare to intervene if he chose to act.

Or worse, he could publicly expose my secret to every rival mafia family, every powerful figure in the criminal underworld.

In less than twenty-four hours, I would be a ghost, erased from existence.

And that’s if I’m fortunate.

“Figured it out,” he repeats, his voice dripping with menace. “You’ve teamed up with some hacker to undermine me, and you want to know if I’ve caught on?”

I blink in surprise. “Teamed up?”

“Exactly. You think I’m oblivious to your partnership with Moonlight? I had Liam retrieve the security footage from my office. I saw you swipe a thumb drive and extract something from my computer.”

**3/7**

“Yes!”

His response is so immediate, so fervent, that for a fleeting moment, I almost find myself believing him.

Then, I lower my voice, the weight of my words heavy. “There’s a limited supply of that medicine, Cassian. You have to decide who receives it. My mother or Reyna’s mother, Angela?”

He hesitates, and I press on, feeling the power shift. For once, it feels like I have the upper hand, the mighty mafia don cornered rather than the other way around.

“Yes, I took something from your computer. I took information about that drug because you denied my mother access, and now I’m reclaiming it for her.”

I look him up and down, challenging him. “Go ahead. Call me petty for dragging Reyna into this.”

For a long moment, silence envelops us. Then he speaks, his voice softer. “Reyna approached me and requested that her mother be moved to the top of the list. I complied without investigating further.”

He gently places his hands on my shoulders, a gesture that surprises me. “This is my fault.”

Hearing those words causes a wave of emotion to surge within me, tears threatening to spill over. My throat tightens as I fight to maintain my composure.

**6/7**

**11:41**

**Chapter 69**

**+19 Bonus**

He’s taking responsibility? He’s not accusing me of selfishness?

I’m at a loss for how to respond.

“You’ll still never choose me over her,” I say, my voice tinged with bitterness.

Just then, Cassian’s phone rings, slicing through the tension. He glances at the screen, and I catch sight of Reyna’s name flashing across it.

Cassian’s eyes flicker to mine, and then he answers, concern etched across his features. “Reyna? What—? Slow down. Your mother was in a car accident?”