When Love Finds Its Way Back (Cassienne and Dreston) novel Chapter 103

Chapter One Hundred And Three: You Kissed Dreston?

“You kissed Dreston?” Daisy chirped through the phone, her voice jumping an octave. “And Corren saw it all?”

“Yes,” Cassienne replied quietly. “And that’s the worst part. Corren looked… hurt. I didn’t expect that reaction, and honestly, I felt terrible about it.”

She kept the phone pressed to her ear with one hand while the other scrolled absent–mindedly across her tablet. Graphs, projections, and early summit statistics flashed across the screen, but she barely registered any of it.

She was seated on the edge of her bed, her legs folded beneath her. It was already the fourth day of the expo, and while final results were still pending, early performance indicators were beginning to surface. Auralink was doing well – better than expected, even.

Normally, that would have excited her. But tonight, it didn’t.

“But tell me something,” Daisy continued, clearly unwilling to let the topic go. “You’ve kissed Corren enough times now to know the difference. So be honest, who’s the better kisser? Dreston or Corren?”

“Daisy,” Cassienne warned, her voice sharp. “I’m hanging up.”

“No, no, wait!” Daisy rushed. “Don’t hang up on me. This is a serious question. And I have reasons for asking. Trust me, it’s to help you.”

Cassienne’s fingers froze over the tablet screen.

Her gaze drifted, unfocused, landing on the far wall as Daisy’s words sank in. She hadn’t consciously compared the two before. She’d avoided doing that, intentionally.

Slowly, and unwillingly, her thoughts drifted. Corren’s lips, it was warm and steady.

Her fingers rose to her mouth without her noticing, brushing lightly over her lips as a small, unguarded smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. With Corren, there was ease. Safety, no history threatening to break her apart.

Then her mind betrayed her. She thought about Dreston’s lips, and the smile vanished instantly.

It wasn’t that the kiss hadn’t been good. It had been more than good–it had been overwhelming. But with it came something else. A rush of memories she had spent years trying to bury. Years of loneliness and rejection. Long nights waiting for affection

that never came.

Pain shot through her.

Her eyes burned, tears gathering before she could stop them.

Dreston had hurt her, deeply and repeatedly. And she still didn’t know if forgiveness was even possible, no matter how much he had changed.

“Cassienne?” Daisy’s voice softened. “Are you still there? You know what, forget I asked.”

“No,” Cassienne said quickly. “It’s fine. I know the difference.”

There was a pause from the other side of the line.

“Are you sure?” Daisy asked gently. “Cassienne… you’re crying, aren’t you?”

Cassienne swallowed hard. “No. I’m fine. Really.” Then she steadied her voice. “But here’s the answer you want.”

She inhaled deeply.

“No matter how good Dreston’s lips felt on mine, we’re over, Daisy. Completely. There’s no going back. So stop comparing them. I’m with Corren now, and that’s final.”

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Silence followed immediately.

On the other end of the line, Daisy stood still in the kitchen, one hand resting against the counter. Her thoughts drifted backward, to the years Cassienne had endured Dreston’s emotional distance. Five long years of hoping, waiting, believing he would change.

One bitter truth clawed at her chest. Cassienne had always loved one man. And that man was still Dreston.

Merrick had been right.

Daisy feared that no matter how hard Cassienne tried to move on, her heart had never truly left her ex–husband. And if that was the case, then Corren didn’t deserve to be caught in the middle of unresolved love.

But Daisy said nothing.

Pushing Cassienne now would only make her retreat further into herself.

Meanwhile, Cassienne stared blankly at her tablet, regret tightening in her chest. She wished she’d never mentioned the kiss at all. Now, instead of focusing on the summit, all she could think about was Dreston, his face, his touch, the history between them.

Tomorrow, the e–sport matches will officially begin.

She needed clarity. She needed to focus and be in control. And not emotional chaos.

“Cassienne,” Daisy finally said softly, “I can come to you if you need a friend.”

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