When Love Finds Its Way Back (Cassienne and Dreston) novel Chapter 249

Chapter Two Hundred And Forty–Nine: The Beginning.

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The noise from the arena had not fully faded by the time Cassienne stepped into the private lounge reserved for her and her guests. The room was quiet compared to the roaring crowd outside, but the energy of the match still lingered in the air. Through the large glass wall behind them, the arena floor was visible, where crews were already preparing for the next event.

Cassienne walked in first, her posture composed and her expression calm, though a trace of the match’s intensity still flickered in her eyes. Jessica followed, with Daisy, Merrick, and Corren trailing behind.

“Now that,” Daisy said, dropping into one of the plush chairs with a sigh of relief, “was a performance.”

Cassienne offered a slight smile as she took a seat. “You make it sound dramatic.”

“It was dramatic,” Daisy insisted, leaning forward. “The way you handled her? I almost felt bad for your opponent. You looked like you were playing a completely different game.”

Jessica let out a soft, knowing laugh as she reached for a small bowl of nuts on the center table. “You shouldn’t feel bad. Vexara knew exactly what she signed up for when she challenged someone at this

level.”

Merrick adjusted his glasses, his gaze resting on Cassienne with professional interest. “You controlled the pace very well. You didn’t rush or get baited. You simply let her exhaust herself until she had nothing left.”

“She was predictable,” Cassienne replied. “Aggressive players usually are. They rely on momentum, and once you take that away, they don’t know how to reset.”

Corren, who had been standing by the window in silence, finally spoke. “Not predictable,” he said calmly, his voice cutting through the light chatter. “Just honest in their approach. She showed you everything she had from the first second.”

Cassienne looked at him, curious about his perspective. “That is one way to put it.”

Corren gave a small, sharp nod. “But you,” he added, “you are not honest in your play. You hide your intent until the very last moment.” There was something in his tone–not quite praise, but a cold, clinical observation that made the room feel a bit smaller.

A staff member entered briefly to place fresh refreshments on the table and then slipped out quietly. Daisy reached for a drink, trying to lighten the mood. “To be honest, I still can’t believe you’re married. Between the circuit and the spotlight, how do you find the time?”

“It still feels new to me too,” Cassienne admitted, her voice softening.

Merrick leaned back and raised his glass slightly. “Congratulations,” then. “Both on your marriage and your spectacular performance tonight.”

Corren nodded in silent agreement, and Cassienne thanked them both.

For a few minutes, the room settled into a comfortable rhythm of easy exchanges and small laughter.

Chapter Two Hundred And Forty Nine The Begaming

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They discussed the upcoming season and the layout of the next circuit city. But the ease didn’t last.

Daisy leaned forward suddenly, her playful expression vanishing.

“What was that comment about?” she asked.

The shift in her tone was jarring. Cassienne knew exactly what she meant: the cryptic text that had flashed across the screens during the victory celebration. Jessica glanced at Cassienne briefly before

continuing to eat, acting as if the question were beneath her.

“It’s normal,” Jessica said casually. “The more visible you become, the more people will react. Success always draws out the critics and the envious.”

Daisy frowned, clearly unsatisfied. “That didn’t sound like a random hater. It sounded… personal. Like they were talking to you, not about you.”

Corren sat down, his hands resting together. “She’s right. That kind of message isn’t a random comment from a fan. It carries a specific intention. Whoever wrote it wasn’t just watching the match. They know

you.”

The room grew quiet as the weight of his words sank in. Merrick’s gaze shifted back toward Cassienne, his brow furrowed with concern. “Have you noticed anything unusual lately? Anything out of the

ordinary?”

Cassienne paused. For a moment, she considered staying silent to avoid worrying them, but the quiet in the room felt too heavy to ignore. “I’ve had… situations,” she said carefully.

Jessica raised a brow. “What kind of situations?”

Cassienne hesitated, her mind flashing to the shadows in the hallway and the strange calls. “Nothing

confirmed,” she replied.

It was the truth, yet saying it aloud made it feel far more real than she wanted it to be.

Jessica studied her for a long moment before speaking with a new, serious edge. “You should be careful. This level of fame brings more than just fans; it brings obsession. Don’t dismiss your intuition.”

Cassienne nodded. “I know.”

But even as she spoke, her mind drifted away from the lounge. She thought of Tina and the friction that had been growing between them. She thought of Dreston and the secrets he seemed to be keeping–the things he refused to say when she asked about the past.

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