When Love Finds Its Way Back (Cassienne and Dreston) novel Chapter 174

Chapter One Hundred And Seventy–Four: You Want Me To Pretend?

The corridor outside the VIP suite suddenly filled with movement.

Cassienne walked faster than the others, her heart beating so loudly in her chest she could barely hear anything else. Aurora and Daisy hurried beside her, trying to keep up as she rushed toward the room.

Behind them came Joseph, Abigail, Ray, Garry, Merrick, Corren, and the rest of the group. The nurse opened the door for them.

“Please, try to remain calm,” she said quietly.

But the moment Cassienne stepped inside–She stopped. The room was filled with medical staff. Two nurses stood near the monitors while a doctor checked Dreston’s vital signs. Another nurse adjusted the IV line connected to his arm.

And beside the hospital bed, was Tina. She was crying. Her head leaned close to Dreston’s chest, her shoulders shaking with quiet sobs.

And Dreston’s hand was holding hers. Cassienne’s entire body froze. For a moment she could not process what she was seeing. The room was silent except for the soft beeping of the heart monitor.

Then Cassienne moved so fast. “What are you doing here?” she demanded sharply.

Tina lifted her tear–streaked face.

“I just-”

Cassienne stepped forward and grabbed Tina’s arm.

“You need to leave.” Her voice was cold. “You have done enough.”

She pulled Tina away from the bed. But before Tina could even respond–A weak voice came from the

bed.

“… What are you doing?”

The sound was soft. Barely above a whisper. But it stopped everyone in the room. And Cassienne froze.

Slowly she turned toward the bed. Dreston’s eyes were open. His gaze looked tired, unfocused–but

conscious.

Cassienne’s breath caught in her throat. “Dreston…” She took a small step toward him.

Her voice trembled. “Love, she needs to leave.”

She pointed toward Tina. But Dreston frowned slightly. Confusion passed across his face.

Then he spoke again…“Love?”

His voice was hoarse from dehydration.

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“Since when?” The words landed like a blow.

Cassienne blinked. “I…”

For a moment she couldn’t speak. The doctor stepped forward immediately.

“Mr. Tremont, I’m Dr. Halvorsen.”

Dreston turned his eyes toward him slowly.

“You were involved in a serious accident last night.”

Dreston’s brow furrowed.

“Accident?”

“Yes.”

The doctor shined a small light into Dreston’s eyes, checking his pupils.

“Can you tell me your name?”

“…Dreston Tremont.”

“Good.”

“Do you know where you are?”

“In a hospital, I guess.”

“Do you remember what happened before the accident?”

Dreston hesitated. His eyes drifted briefly toward Tina.

“I… was with her.”

He tightened his fingers around Tina’s hand.

The room went still. Cassienne felt something inside her chest crack. But the doctor continued calmly.

“Do you remember the date today?”

Dreston thought for a moment.

Then he said a date. Ray immediately stiffened.

It was wrong. Very wrong. The date he mentioned was from months earlier.

Joseph noticed it too.

But the doctor did not react outwardly. Instead he continued the evaluation.

“Do you remember your parents?”

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“Yes.”

“Your company?”

“Auralink.”

“Good.”

Then the doctor paused before asking the next question.

“Do you remember your wife?”

Dreston answered without hesitation.

“Tina.”

Silence exploded inside the room. Cassienne felt her heart stop. The doctor glanced briefly at Joseph.

Then back at Dreston.

“Are you married?”

Dreston frowned slightly.

“I was.”

“Your wife’s name?”

“…Cassienne.”

His eyes shifted toward her.

But there was no warmth in them. No recognition. Only distant familiarity.

“My ex–wife.”

The words sliced through the air. Cassienne felt the floor tilt beneath her feet.

The doctor nodded slowly.

“Thank you, Mr. Tremont.”

He turned toward the others.

“I think that’s enough for now.”

Then he addressed Dreston again. “You need to rest.”

One of the nurses gently adjusted the bed. Dreston looked exhausted already.

His eyelids began to grow heavy.

“Please let us take care of you,” the doctor said.

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Within moments, Dreston drifted back into a light medicated sleep.

The machines continued their quiet rhythm. Then the doctor turned toward the family. His expression is

serious.

“I need to speak with you outside.”

Joseph nodded. “Of course.”

The doctor looked directly at Cassienne.

“Mrs. Tremont, please cooperate with us. This is very important for his recovery.”

Cassienne didn’t respond. She was staring at the bed.

The words my ex–wife echoed endlessly in her mind.

Aurora gently touched her arm. “Cass…”

Cassienne didn’t move. Daisy and Garry stepped closer. Then Joseph spoke firmly.

“Let’s go outside.”

Slowly, everyone began to move toward the hallway.

Cassienne followed mechanically. And the door closed behind them. The corridor felt colder, there was no warmth anywhere.

The doctor folded his hands together.

“Mr. Tremont has experienced what we call retrograde amnesia.”

Ray nodded slightly. “I suspected that.”

Cassienne looked up suddenly. “… What does that mean?”

The doctor spoke carefully.

“The trauma from the accident affected the part of his brain responsible for memory consolidation.”

He paused to ensure they were following. “In simple terms, some of his recent memories have been lost.”

Cassienne’s heart pounded.

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