The Returned Heiress Who Had It All (Cassia) novel Chapter 551

Chapter 551 Defenseless

Chapter 551 Defenseless

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“No whiskey? That’s fine, we have other options. Your dad made a batch of wine from purple grapes a few days ago…” a hiccup escaped her.

At the mention of wine, Sacha’s eyes lit up instantly. “Wine? That works! I love wine! Rosalie, you should have some too.”

Rosalie nodded. “Yeah, I can handle wine.”

Seven raised his hand.

“Count me in!”

Gloria, energized by their enthusiasm, practically floated over to Richard, arms waving. “Honey! Bring out that wine you made!”

Richard glanced at the helicopter parked by the front gate and raised a brow. “You sure you want to drink? If you do, you’re not flying back tonight.”

“No problem.” Gloria waved him off with a grin. “The house is big. We’ve been married long enough. What’s one night here? Besides, I’m in a great mood today. I finally got to meet Cassia. We have to celebrate!”

Richard hesitated, glancing toward Cassia.

If his wife got drunk, he’d have to stay with her, which meant no one would be available to take Cassia back to the Scenic Villa.

“I’m fine. They’re staying next door. We can all go back together.”

Cassia said, gesturing lightly toward Draven and Seven.

Truthfully, she was in a good mood too. And it had been a while since she’d had Richard’s wine.

Distracted by the conversation, her hand moved on autopilot, and the entire shaker of pepper upended itself over the chicken wings she’d been seasoning.

“Whoa! Ms. Wood, the pepper! That’s way too much!” Seven’s hands flew to his cheeks.

Draven didn’t miss a beat. “It’s fine. I like spicy food.”

Seven’s mouth opened, then closed.

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“Oh, come on, Honey Hurry up and bring the wine!” Gloria shot Richard an Impatient look before dashing into the villa herself Moments later, she came back out with several bottles cradled in her arms.

“Come on! Tonight, we drink until we drop!”

Nearly eleven–thirty. The barbecue was winding down, the Scott Villa’s yard looking like a battlefield after a feast.

Guests gradually filtered out.

The wine Richard had made from the plantation’s purple grapes was dangerously good After a single sip, Sacha and the others were hooked. One glass turned into another, then another, as if they’d never tasted wine before. Somewhere along the way, they’d

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2:55 pm Pppp.

Chapter 551 Defenseless

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clearly overdone it.

Gloria was slumped over a grease–streaked table, her lips still making soft smacking sounds.

“Mmm… meat… so good… let’s keep drinking…”

Richard stood with his hands on his hips, surveying the wreckage of his yard, his forehead furrowed.

Seven had long since passed into oblivion. He’d found a stray branch somewhere and was wielding it like a sword, executing dramatic slashes at invisible opponents before face–planting into a shrub.

Rosalie and Sacha weren’t faring much better. One was draped over a table, while the other sprawled flat on the ground, still clutching an unfinished skewer.

Cassia, at least, hadn’t gone that far. But she’d definitely had too much. She walked with a distinct wobble, her gaze unfocused, cheeks flushed a delicate rose.

“Time to… head back…”

She drifted toward the gate like one of those weighted roly–poly toys, swaying but never quite falling.

Draven watched her closely, ready to catch her at any moment.

Sure enough, she stumbled.

“Careful!”

He lunged forward and caught her just in time.

At the sound of his voice, something in Cassia seemed to release. All the vigilance and carefully maintained barriers simply dissolved. Her full weight settled against him.

Her head came to rest on his shoulder. If you listened closely, you could hear her soft breathing, laced with the faint sweetness of wine.

“You…”

Idiot. Don’t you know you can’t hold your liquor?

Draven exhaled slowly, reining himself in. At least he was still sober.

Brandon stepped out of the villa, only to freeze at the sight before him. “What on earth happened here?”

Richard freed one hand to point at Seven, now horizontal in the bushes.

“Dad, could you help get him back to the Scenic Villa?”

He hoisted Gloria onto his back and headed inside.

At the threshold, he glanced back, just in time to see Draven lift Cassia into his arms, cradling her against his chest.

For a moment, Richard simply stared with widened eyes, jaw slack. The woman who was always vocalculated and guarded, now fast asleep without a shred of defense.

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Chapter 551 Defenseless

He’d known Cassia for years. Even after all that time, she’d never fully let her guard down around him.

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He’d once assumed it was personal, that she didn’t trust him. But he’d watched her with others and realized it was simply who she was. Guarded. Always.

I don’t know what you’ve been through. But Draven… You’re the first person I’ve ever seen her trust completely.

“I’ll leave Boss to you,” Richard said with a faint smile.

Draven looked up to find Richard smiling at him from the doorway before disappearing inside.

He lowered his gaze to the woman in his arms.

Cassia stirred, her face nuzzling against his neck, a drowsy murmur escaping her lips.

She shifted restlessly, as if searching for a more comfortable position on what must have seemed like a very pleasant bed.