When Love Finds Its Way Back (Cassienne and Dreston) novel Chapter 196

Chapter One Hundred And Ninety–Six: Why Is Cassienne Not Home Yet?

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“Back when we were in school,” Dreston said with a faint smile, chewing thoughtfully, “Cassienne was known as NULLWRAITH. She was good. Very good.”

The statement hovered lightly in the room, but the reaction around the table was anything but light.

Everyone looked at him. Not just looked, they studied him.

It was clear to all of them that Dreston wasn’t merely reminiscing. He was trying to convince himself that he remembered something important. Something that should have come naturally to him but now arrived only in fragments.

He was reaching for the part of his life that remained locked behind the fog of his injury.

Dreston continued eating calmly, as if the moment carried no significance.

But everyone at the table could see what he was doing.

He was testing the memory.

Joseph noticed the tension building in the room. The silence felt too heavy, too fragile. So he cleared his

throat and intervened.

“I think we should eat,” he said evenly, deliberately steering the conversation elsewhere.

The clinking of cutlery resumed. But Jessica, as always, had never been one to follow subtle instructions.

She leaned forward slightly, resting her elbow on the table with a grin that carried a bit too much enthusiasm. “Well,” she said casually, “it’s a good thing you remember her.”

Joseph shot her a warning look immediately. But Jessica simply shrugged.

“Because NULLWRAITH is the deal now,” she continued brightly. Her voice carried excitement, as if she were discussing a trending headline.

“Every organization out there wants to work with her.” She gestured lightly with her fork. “You’re lucky to have a woman like that by your side.”

The room froze again. Joseph’s warning glare deepened. But Jessica remained unapologetic.

Dreston had stopped eating.

He was thinking. Her words slowly settled in his mind. He had heard the name NULLWRAITH countless times recently, from conversations, from fragments of memory, even from the flashbacks that surfaced when he kissed Cassienne.

But hearing someone speak of it so confidently gave the name weight and reality.

He looked up slowly. “I’m happy to hear that.” His voice was calm.

Chapter Die Hundred And Ninety–Six Why Is Cassienne Not Home Yet?

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Then he gave a small nod toward Jessica. “Thank you for telling me that part I still can’t remember, cousin.”

Jessica smiled brightly. “You’re welcome.” She lifted her glass playfully. “And if you need more help remembering things, just call me.”

Dreston chuckled lightly and nodded again. “Noted.”

But this time the reaction around the table was different. Everyone stared at him with quiet shock. They had expected tension, or confusion from him. In fact, they expected anger.

But instead, he had accepted the information gracefully. For Abigail, the moment felt like a small miracle.

Her heart swelled quietly as she watched her son. Just days ago, his mind had been fractured with confusion and pain. Now he was sitting there, processing information calmly, without the emotional turmoil they had feared.

If he continued like this…If his mind continued recovering at this pace… It might not be long before everything returned.

Joseph felt the same relief.

For the first time since leaving the hospital, a genuine smile appeared on his face.

He had spent the past days worrying about the consequences of his son’s memory loss. The fear that Dreston might hate Cassienne again once he learned about the pregnancy had weighed heavily on him.

But now… His son was listening and processing. He wasn’t rejecting the truth. And perhaps, slowly, he would reconnect with her again.

Across the table, Sheila lowered her eyes briefly. Her fingers tightened around her fork as she prayed silently in her heart.

She had always loved Cassienne like a daughter.

She had seen the way that girl had endured years of silent pain in her marriage with Dreston.

She had watched her struggle alone when things fell apart between them. And when Dreston had finally begun to see Cassienne properly again…

When love had finally grown between them… Fate had struck with cruel timing.

She prayed quietly that this accident would not destroy what they had just begun to rebuild.

“Please let them find their way back to each other again.”

The quiet moment stretched across the table.

Then Dreston spoke again. “If I may ask…”

Everyone stopped eating. The tone of his voice had changed slightly, and now sounded curious and well

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