When Love Finds Its Way Back (Cassienne and Dreston) novel Chapter 231

Chapter Two Hundred And Thirty–One: What Kind of Records?

The afternoon sun warmed the glass as Ray Simpson stood by the floor–to–ceiling window of his Lisbourn bedroom. Below him, the estate stretched out in perfect order, a landscape where nothing ever seemed to slip out of control.

He swirled the amber whiskey in his glass, watching it catch the light. Though his posture looked still, his mind was far from settled. Every train of thought led back to the same person: Daisy.

A faint smile touched his lips before he could stop it. He shook his head, quietly amused by his own preoccupation. “How did this even happen?” he murmured.

He had known women who were polished, brilliant, and perfectly suited to his world, but Daisy didn’t fit that mold. She was spontaneous and bold, possessing a warmth that lingered in a room long after she left it. Ray closed his eyes, remembering her laughter and the way she teased him without hesitation. It unsettled him–not because it felt wrong, but because it felt entirely too right.

He took a slow sip of his drink. “Damn,” he muttered. “She’s already in my head.”

Then, another name surfaced: Clarissa Thomas. His jaw tightened. Clarissa was exactly who his parents envisioned for him. They were a perfect match on paper, but there was no spark, no pull, and no reason for anything beyond polite conversation With Daisy, even the silence felt meaningful.

Ray leaned against the window, looking out over the grounds. His father’s retirement was no longer a

distant idea; it was a deadline. When it happened, he would have to return to Lisbourn to take up the mantle of responsibility and expectation. He wondered if Daisy could ever truly fit into this world.

He exhaled, trying to dismiss the thought. Daisy had been clear: no strings, no promises. Yet here he was, already mapping out a future that included her. He finished his whiskey and set the glass down, frustrated by his lack of control over his own heart.

A gentle knock interrupted his thoughts.

“Come in,” he said, straightening up.

A young maid stepped inside. “Dr. Ray, lunch is served. Your parents are waiting for you.”

“Thank you, Dorothy. Is my mother back?”

“She just arrived, sir.”

Ray nodded. “I will be there.”

She turned and left, closing the door behind her, and for a moment, he stood still.

Ray followed after her, heading toward the garden. The outdoor table was set with precision under a shaded canopy, offering a quiet contrast to the tension inside the house. His father was hunched over a tablet, reviewing reports with his usual intensity, while his mother studied a file beside him. Even here, the work never stopped.

Chapter Two Hundred And Thiry One What fund of Recorda?

+25 Bonus

“Do you two ever rest?” Ray asked as he approached.

Helena looked up and smiled faintly. “Ray, sit down.”

“You should retire, Mother,” he said, taking his seat. “At least while you’re home.”

“I’ll consider it once your father steps down and you take over,” she replied.

Ray’s hand paused over his plate. “That shouldn’t depend on me.”

“It does,” Victor said firmly, though he didn’t look up from his screen.

They ate in silence for a few minutes before Helena spoke again. “How is your friend Dreston?”

“He’s recovering well,” Ray said. “Better than expected.”

“And the company?”

Ray set his cutlery down, his interest piqued. “Why are you suddenly asking about Auralink?”

Helena leaned back, her fingers tapping the file. “I’m handling a case connected to them. It isn’t public yet, but there have been deliberate attempts to access restricted records tied to the Auralink System.”

Ray frowned, trying to process the weight of her words. “What kind of records? I was just with Dreston a few days ago. Everything seemed stable, and Cassienne is managing things well.”

“Auralink has buried secrets, Ray,” Helena said, her voice dropping. “I don’t know who is digging, but the consequences could be severe if they succeed.”

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify