The Don Tore Up Our Divorce (Gemma and Cassian) novel Chapter 81

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

**Chapter 81**

Gemma

I come to an abrupt halt, my foot hovering in mid-air.

When did Cassian manage to get my luggage?

Did Zina really just stand by and allow him to take my belongings without even bothering to consult me?

“When did these arrive?” I inquire, a frown already forming on my lips, irritation bubbling beneath the surface.

“This morning, Mrs. Blackwell,” he replies, his tone annoyingly calm.

Cassian’s incessant need to orchestrate every aspect of my life is not merely bothersome—it feels like a heavy weight pressing down on my chest.

“If needed, I’ll take it to the master bedroom now,” he continues, as if he has the authority to decide where my things belong.

“No. Guest room,” I assert firmly.

What transpired last night was an isolated incident—a fleeting moment that I refuse to let define anything more. I will not share a room with him again.

**11:48 AM**

I step into the living room, taking in the familiar surroundings. A leather box rests on the coffee table, its presence demanding my attention.

Curiosity piqued, I approach it and lift the lid.

Inside lies a ruby necklace, its facets glimmering like captured starlight.

And not just any ruby necklace—the exquisite Moonstone Ruby.

I recall seeing it at an auction a few months back, before the chaos of the divorce began. My heart had raced with desire, yet the price had been astronomical.

Did Cassian actually buy this for me?

Just then, the maid reenters, finding me frozen in place, my eyes wide and focused on the jewels.

“Mr. Blackwell looked so pleased placing that there. He said you would adore it,” she informs me, her voice filled with a hint of warmth.

Really?

Then why now?

Why wait until everything feels fractured and irreparable?

I close the box with a soft click, setting it back on the table. Just as I do, the doorbell rings, shattering the moment.

I let out a resigned sigh as Sibille, Nathalia, and Claire glide in, exuding an air of entitlement as if they own the very space I inhabit.

These three have been an incessant source of irritation for months now.

Ever since Cassian made our marriage public, whispers have circulated like wildfire—some flattering, but most decidedly not.

The rumor that truly unsettles the Blackwell family? The one suggesting that Cassian struggles with fertility.

She opens it, gasping in delight. “Oh my god! This necklace is stunning!”

Turning to me, her eyes sparkle with curiosity. “This is a gift from Cassian, right? What’s it doing out here? Someone could easily take it.”

The implication is clear… Is she insinuating that I would be the one to steal it?

Really?

“What kind of ridiculous notion is that?” I mutter, not bothering to meet her gaze.

Before I can add more, the maid steps in, her posture straightening with formality.

“Ms. Claire, that necklace is a gift from Mr. Blackwell to Mrs. Blackwell,” she announces, her voice firm.

Claire scoffs, disbelief etched on her face. “No way that’s for her. She doesn’t deserve something that exquisite. Cassian wouldn’t waste that kind of money on her, not after all the drama.”

“I saw Reyna wearing something breathtaking the other day,” she adds, her tone dripping with malice. “I bet it was meant for her, not this pretender.”

Even though she holds disdain for Reyna too, she would rather support her than me. Pathetic.

I slowly lift my gaze, fixing her with the most withering side-eye I can muster. “Why couldn’t it be for me? I expressed my admiration for it at the auction, so my husband simply bought it. Is that a problem for you?”

Claire’s expression darkens. “No way, you b—”

Just then, the front door swings open, cutting her off abruptly. The maid’s back straightens, the atmosphere shifting instantly.

“Mr. Blackwell.”