When Love Finds Its Way Back (Cassienne and Dreston) novel Chapter 19

Chapter Nineteen: Fucking Is Living?

It took Merrick less than two minutes to get to Auralink.

The moment he stepped into the glass building, his sharp eyes caught sight of Cassienne. She was just coming out of the elevator, but something was wrong.

She was walking on unsteady legs, swaying slightly as if the ground beneath her could no longer hold her weight. Her face was soaked with tears, her eyes red and swollen. Her lips trembled, and her hands were clenched tightly by her sides, as though she was barely holding herself together.

Merrick’s heart dropped.

He didn’t think, he didn’t hesitate.

In long, fast strides, he crossed the space between them. Just as Cassienne’s knees threatened to give way, he

reached her.

“Cass,” he called softly.

Her eyes lifted to him for just a second, filled with pain and shame-and then she broke.

Her body sagged forward.

Merrick bent instantly and swept her off the floor, lifting her into his arms with so much tenderness and care. He didn’t care who was watching. He didn’t care where they were.

This was his friend. And she was falling apart.

Cassienne buried her face against his chest and sobbed, her shoulders shaking violently. Her tears soaked through his shirt, but Merrick held her tighter, his jaw clenched.

The lobby exploded into whispers.

Phones came out immediately. Cameras flashed. Some people recorded openly, capturing every second-the powerful man carrying their CEO wife in his arms.

Gossip would spread like wildfire.

But Merrick did not look back.

He carried Cassienne straight out of Auralink and into his car. The ride to his office building was quiet except for

Cassienne’s broken sobs.

When they arrived, the same thing happened again.

People stared.

Only this time, no one recorded anything. No one dared.

They watched in silence, stunned. It was the first time anyone had ever seen Merrick Ashbourne carry a woman like that-so carefully, so protectively.

Who was she?

Why did she matter so much?

As Merrick reached his department floor, every head turned.

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Daisy jumped up from her desk immediately.

“Oh my God-what happened to Cassienne?” she asked, rushing toward them.

“Get her something warm,” Merrick said quickly. “Coffee, tea-anything.”

Daisy didn’t ask another question. She turned and hurried away.

The rest of the staff stayed frozen, confused and curious. They had never seen their boss like this. Never seen fear written so clearly on his face.

Inside Merrick’s office, he gently placed Cassienne on the black sofa. The moment her body touched it, she curled up instinctively, pulling her knees to her chest like a child seeking safety.

Her crying did not stop.

Her whole body trembled as if she was cold inside her bones.

Merrick stood there, watching her, his chest tight with anger and sadness.

Five years.

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