When Love Finds Its Way Back (Cassienne and Dreston) novel Chapter 227

Chapter Two Hundred And Twenty–Seven: Don’t Mess It Up Again.

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The late afternoon sun stretched across the wide glass windows of the Tremont mansion, casting a warm glow over the living room. The space finally felt lived in again, no longer hollow but filled with a renewed sense of presence.

Dreston sat comfortably on one of the deep leather sofas, a glass of red wine in hand. He had changed; he wasn’t just physically recovered, but settled. A calm confidence anchored him, a grounded quality that had been missing in the years prior. Across from him, Garry lounged back casually with one arm draped over the chair, while Ray sat forward with his elbows on his knees. Ray studied Dreston with a familiar intensity, making it clear he was observing him as both a friend and a physician.

“I’m still not convinced,” Ray said, narrowing his eyes. “You recovered far too quickly, and it doesn’t sit well with me.”

Dreston let out a quiet chuckle before taking a sip of his wine. “I’m fine, Ray. You can see me for yourself. I’m sitting here, breathing, and drinking your expensive wine.”

“Our expensive wine,” Garry corrected without looking up.

Dreston smirked faintly, but Ray ignored the banter and leaned back. “I’m serious. Head trauma isn’t something you dismiss just because you feel alright. You need to be careful. No unnecessary stress, no overworking, and you must ease back into any physical activity.”

Dreston nodded slowly, humoring him. “Yes, doctor.”

“I mean it,” Ray insisted. “Light exercise only. Walking and stretching. Nothing intense for at least a few weeks.”

Garry tilted his head, watching Ray with amusement. “Listen to you. if he follows your orders any more closely, you’ll have him meditating and eating nothing but greens by sunrise.”

“There are specific foods that aid brain function,” Ray countered. “Blueberries, walnuts, even dark

chocolate in moderation.”

Dreston raised a brow. “Now that sounds like a commitment I can actually make.”

Garry laughed. “Of course that’s the part you agree with.”

A maid approached quietly to refill their glasses before stepping away, her presence nearly imperceptible as she moved through the room. The atmosphere was easy and familiar. It had been a long time since the three of them had gathered like this without tension or complications hanging over their heads.

Garry took a slow sip of his drink and glanced at Dreston. “So, where is the woman of the hour?”

Dreston followed his gaze toward the door briefly before leaning back. “At the office.”

Garry blinked in surprise. “Seriously?”

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Chapter Two Hundred And Twenty

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“She has been working non–stop,” Dreston replied. “Even now.”

Ray shook his head, looking impressed. “She has always been that way. Focused and driven.”

Garry let out a low whistle. “You’re a lucky man. Don’t mess it up again.”

Dreston’s expression softened at the remark, though he remained silent. Ray glanced at him, his tone shifting into something more reflective. “We weren’t fair to her.”

The room grew quiet. Garry didn’t interrupt as Ray continued.

“When Tina came into the picture, we all just…” Ray paused, choosing his words with care. “We didn’t give Cassienne a chance. Not really.”

Dreston’s jaw tightened. “Let’s not go there,” he said firmly.

“I’m just saying-”

“I know what you’re saying,” Dreston interrupted, his voice steady but final. “And I understand. But that part of my life is buried. I am not going back.”

Ray held his gaze for a moment, then nodded. “Alright.”

The tension eased, though a few unspoken thoughts lingered. Dreston leaned forward, shifting the focus of the conversation. “What about you? How are things going with Daisy?”

Ray didn’t answer immediately. He looked down, rotating his glass as if the movement would help him think. Garry noticed the hesitation and teased, “That bad?”

Ray let out a quiet breath. “It isn’t bad. I like her a lot.”

“And?” Dreston prompted.

“And I think we’re good together,” Ray admitted. “But she doesn’t believe in anything serious.”

Garry laughed softly. “No strings attached.”

“That’s her rule,” Ray said. “At first, I thought I could handle it. But now, I want more.”

The room fell into a thoughtful silence. Dreston studied his friend for a moment before offering a small nod. “You need to tell her that.”

“I tried,” Ray said. “She just shuts it down.”

Garry chuckled. “That woman is something else.”

Ray didn’t deny it. “She is.”

As they spoke, Garry drifted into a rare silence. Dreston noticed first, tilting his head. “You’re too quiet. What’s on your mind? Business?”

Garry blinked, pulled back from his thoughts. “No, nothing like that.”

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Chapter wo Hundred And Twenty Seve

Don’t Mess #4) Acoin

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“Then what?”

Garry ran a hand through his hair before answering. “I’ve been thinking about settling down.”

Ray turned to him immediately, his eyes wide. “You?”

Garry shrugged. “What? Is that so hard to believe?”

Dreston smiled. “Not impossible, it just sounds new coming from you.”

“Maybe I’m tired of the usual routine,” Garry said with a short laugh. “Maybe I want something stable.”

Ray nodded. “That isn’t a bad thing at all.”

Dreston studied them both. “You’re both searching for the same thing. But building something real takes more than just liking someone. It requires trust. That is the foundation; without it, nothing works.”

His tone became more reflective. “You need patience and honesty, even when it’s uncomfortable. Most importantly, you have to make a woman feel safe–not just physically, but emotionally. If she doesn’t trust you, she will never fully stay.”

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