When Love Finds Its Way Back (Cassienne and Dreston) novel Chapter 162

Chapter One Hundred And Sixty–Two: I Do Trust you.

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The gala had begun to wind down, the grand ballroom still glowing under the soft amber lights.

Cassienne moved through the crowd with quiet confidence, the red gown flowing around her like liquid flame. Dreston stayed a few steps back, giving her space. He watched her from the edge of the circle, glass of untouched whiskey in his hand.

She was laughing at something an older investor had said. It was a light, genuine sound that made her eyes crinkle. Her head tilted slightly, the diamond necklace catching the light as she nodded.

Another executive joined them, and she listened, responding with that calm intelligence he had fallen in love with all over again. She didn’t need him to speak for her. She didn’t need him to rescue her. She stood there, radiant and capable, and something deep in Dreston’s chest tightened with regret.

If he had loved her properly from the beginning…

The thought hit him hard while she laughed again, touching the man’s arm lightly in polite farewell.

If he had seen her then the way he’s seeing her now, he would have ended things with Tina without a blink of an eye..

He wouldn’t have wasted five years treating her like a stranger in their home. He wouldn’t have let her sleep alone every night wondering why her husband couldn’t touch her.

He swallowed the lump in his throat.

Now he had to earn her trust slowly. He couldn’t rush the marriage, no. That would be risky. He couldn’t push for the wedding she still hadn’t fully said yes to.

One wrong move and the walls she had only just lowered might rise again. So he stayed where he was, watching her shine, his heart aching with love and quiet determination.

Cassienne glanced over, caught his eye, and smiled at him. A soft, private smile, just for him. He returned it, lifting his glass in a tiny salute.

When she finally excused herself from the group, he met her halfway. His hand found the small of her back again.

“Ready to go home?” he asked, voice low.

She nodded, eyes bright. “Yes.”

They moved through the room, stopping only to bid goodnight to a few key people, the host, two major investors, and the organizer who had personally invited them.

Handshakes were polite, and the smiles promised to meet again soon. Then they slipped out through the private side entrance where Steve waited with the Rolls–Royce.

The night air was cool against Cassienne’s bare shoulders. Dreston shrugged off his tuxedo jacket and

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draped it over her before helping her into the back seat. The door closed with a heavy, luxurious click.

As soon as the car pulled away from the hotel, Dreston pressed the button on the console. The tinted glass partition rose smoothly, sealing them in complete privacy. The city lights blurred past the windows, but inside it felt like their own small world.

Cassienne turned to him, still glowing from the evening. “That was… incredible. I felt like I belonged there tonight.”

“You did belong there,” he said, voice rough with emotion. “You were the most beautiful woman in that room. Every man there wanted to talk to you. Every woman wanted to be you.”

She blushed, but her eyes held his. “I only cared that you were watching me.”

“I couldn’t stop watching you.” He reached over, tracing a finger along her jaw. “When you laughed with those investors… when you spoke about hybrid systems with Jeff… I just stood there thinking how lucky I am. And how stupid I was for so many years.”

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