When Love Finds Its Way Back (Cassienne and Dreston) novel Chapter 223

Chapter Two Hundred And Twenty–Three: I Remember Everything.

The first thing Dreston felt was the weight of his own breath. It came slowly at first, uneven, as if his body was trying to remember how to function again. His chest rose and fell, and with each breath, something inside him shifted. Then his eyes opened.

The light above him was soft, filtered through the ceiling fixtures, but it felt too bright for a moment. He blinked, his gaze unfocused as he tried to take in his surroundings.

A hospital. The machines. The silence. And then–It all came back. This time, not in fragments. He wasn’t confused either. Everything: The vineyard, the way she laughed, the way she held him, the way she gasped when he touched her. And the nights they spent tangled together, forgetting everything else. Also, the lab. Her voice, steady and firm, telling him not to cross the line.

The moment he realized he already had.

The arguments. The lies. All about Tina, the truth and the box. Even Cassienne standing in front of him, begging him not to go. He remembered it all. 1

The way he left anyway. The drive and the impact.

Dreston shut his eyes for a brief second as the weight of it all settled into him. He remembered everything. And the first thing that followed was not just relief. It was the pain and regret.

His eyes opened again, sharper this time, clearer. And there was only one thought in his mind. “ Cassienne…”

His voice was rough, barely more than a whisper, but it carried through the quiet room. He swallowed and tried again, a little stronger this time. “Cassienne… where are you?”

Outside, Cassienne was still seated in the living area when she heard her name. His voice.

For a second, she thought she imagined it. Her heart stopped, then began to race. She stood up immediately.

“Did you hear that?” Daisy asked, already on her feet.

But Cassienne did not wait for confirmation. She was already moving. Her steps were quick, unsteady, her hand pushing the door open without hesitation.

And then she stopped. Dreston was awake. He was sitting up slightly, his breathing uneven, his eyes searching the room. Looking for her.

Cassienne could not move. Everything inside her froze at once. She had imagined this moment so many times. But now that it was real. She was afraid.

Afraid that if she moved too quickly, it would disappear. Afraid that if she spoke, he would look at her the way he did before. Like she meant nothing.

So she stood there. And then, he saw her. Their eyes met. And just like that, everything changed. There

1/3

Chapter Two Hundred And Twenty Three Remember Everything:

+25 Bonus

was no confusion in his gaze. No distance. No unfamiliarity.

What she saw instead made her breath catch. It was recognition. He looked at her like he knew her. And at that moment, Cassienne knew. But she still could not move.

She needed to hear it. She needed to be sure.

Dreston held her gaze, his chest rising and falling as if he was trying to steady himself. His voice, when it came, was quiet. But it carried everything. “Cass…”

The way he said her name broke something inside her.

“I remember.”

The words were simple. But they hit her like a wave. Her lips parted slightly, her eyes filling with tears she could no longer hold back.

“I remember everything,” he continued, his voice still soft, still steady, but filled with emotion he did not try to hide.

Cassienne shook her head slightly, as if she could not believe what she was hearing.

Her feet finally moved. One step. Then another. As if she was walking toward something fragile.

“Dreston…” she whispered, her voice trembling.

She stopped a few steps away from him. Still unsure, and still afraid. “What did you say?” she asked, her voice barely above a breath.

Dreston looked at her, and this time, there was no hesitation. “I remember us,” he said.

Her knees almost gave way. The tears fell freely now, sliding down her cheeks as everything she had been holding in broke loose.

For a moment, she could not speak. Could not think. All she could do was look at him. And he looked back at her the same way, like she was everything. Like he had found his way back.

Slowly, he lifted his hand. Not forcefully. “Come here,” he said quietly.

That was all it took. Cassienne closed the distance between them. And the moment she reached him, everything else disappeared. His hand found her immediately, pulling her gently toward him.

She did not resist. She fell into his arms. Into everything she had been missing. Dreston held her tightly, his arms wrapping around her as if he was afraid she would disappear if he let go.

Cassienne buried her face into his shoulder, her body shaking as she cried deeply with relief.

Dreston closed his eyes as he held her, his chin resting against her head. “I’m sorry,” he whispered. The words were quiet, but they carried weight. “For everything.”

Cassienne shook her head against him immediately. “Don’t,” she said through her tears. “Don’t say that.”

2/3

Chaoby two Hundred And Tweety Tragarh

+25 Bonus

But he tightened his hold on her slightly. “I remember what I did,” he continued. “I remember how I hurt you.” His voice dropped. “And you still stayed.”

That made her cry harder. Her hands gripped his shirt as if she needed to feel him, to be sure he was real. “I was never going to leave you,” she said softly.

Dreston pulled back slightly, just enough to look at her. His hand moved to her face, wiping away her tears gently. His touch was careful. “I know,” he said.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify