When Love Finds Its Way Back (Cassienne and Dreston) novel Chapter 20

Cassienne noticed the way both Merrick and Daisy were staring at her. Their eyes were wide, their faces serious, as if she had just said something very wrong.

“What?” she asked softly. Her voice was still weak, even though she was trying her best to pull herself out of the misery she had lived in for years. “Why are you two looking at me like that?”

“Don’t ever say something like that again,” Merrick said firmly, with a calm voice, but his eyes were sharp. “Not about yourself. Not ever.”

Daisy suddenly burst out laughing, breaking the heavy mood. “What was that, Cassienne?” she said, shaking her head as she sat closer to her. “You and I are two very different people.”

Cassienne lifted the mug with both hands and took a slow sip of the hot coffee. The warmth spread through her body, calming her a little. She breathed in and spoke again.

“We finalized the divorce today,” she said quietly. “All that’s left is to meet in court tomorrow morning so the magistrate can conclude everything.”

Daisy’s eyes widened in surprise, then softened with relief. “Wow. Finally,” she said with a small smile. She leaned closer and gently hugged Cassienne’s arm. “I’m really happy for you, my friend.”

Merrick straightened from where he leaned against his desk. “So that’s why you were like that at Auralink?” he asked. His jaw tightened. “Was that what he did to you?”

“No,” Cassienne replied immediately, shaking her head. “That’s not why.”

Merrick’s irritation grew. “Then what? Did he touch you? Because if he did, I swear-”

“Dreston is not that kind of man,” she interrupted him. Her voice trembled slightly. “But his words… his words hurt worse than anything else.”

She swallowed hard. “He humiliated me. Right in front of Tina and his lawyer. He said Tina is intelligent and that I am not.”

For a second, there was silence.

Then Merrick burst out laughing. His laughter was loud and sharp, filled with disbelief. Daisy stared at him for a moment, then joined in, shaking her head.

“What a loser,” Merrick said between laughs. “A complete loser.

Cassienne blinked at him in shock.

“I mean it,” Merrick continued, finally calming down. “I’m actually glad for you. At least now, you can finally focus on yourself.”

Cassienne nodded slowly. She stood up from the sofa, but the moment she did, her emotions crashed over her again.

“I know,” she said, her voice breaking. “I know I should be happy. But… it’s not as easy as I thought.”

Her tears returned.

Daisy was beside her in an instant. She wrapped her arms around Cassienne and pulled her into a tight hug. “It’s okay,” she whispered. “It hurts now, but just live. That’s all you need to do. Live.”

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Cassienne lifted her head slowly. She wiped her tears and blinked a few times, as if something inside her had clicked into place.

“You’re right,” she said softly. Then she smiled faintly. “I should live. Just like you, right?”

“What?” Merrick pushed himself away from the desk immediately.

“No, no,” Daisy said quickly. “That’s not what I meant, Cass. I meant to live fully. Enjoy your life, not-

“I think it’s time to introduce Cassienne to the team,” Merrick interrupted suddenly.

Daisy nodded. “Yeah. That would help.”

“Come on,” Merrick said to Cassienne. “Walk around with Daisy. Meet people. I’ll join you later.”

Cassienne smiled and nodded. She picked up a tissue and gently cleaned her face. She ran her fingers through her long hair, fixing herself, and took a deep breath.

She followed Daisy out of Merrick’s office.

The development floor was wide and bright, surrounded by large glass walls. The hall was modern and carefully designed. There were rows of desks, screens glowing with lines of code, diagrams, and data models. Everyone here was important and they had a purpose.

Cassienne loved it immediately.

There was no clear show of hierarchy. You couldn’t easily tell who was the boss just by looking-except for the separate offices that belonged to senior staff. It felt open, equal, and alive.

“Everyone, listen up,” Daisy called.

Even though they were all busy, heads lifted at once. Eyes turned to Cassienne-the woman they had just seen their boss carry like something precious.

“This is my friend,” Daisy announced. “Her name is Cassienne. Merrick says “be nice.”

“Hi, Cassienne,” they all said together.

Their voices blended like a soft chorus.

Then they went back to work as if nothing had happened.

Daisy leaned closer and whispered, “You can move around. They won’t bite.” She winked and returned to her desk.

Cassienne stood there for a moment, watching everyone work.

Daisy had always been like this-bold, confident, alive. She was a gamer and knew enough software development to hold her own. She and Merrick had been friends since college. Cassienne used to be part of that circle too, before her marriage slowly pulled her away.

Cassienne walked slowly through the hall, smiling at people as she passed. Everyone smiled back.

Then she noticed a man.

He was handsome. No-very handsome.

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