When Love Finds Its Way Back (Cassienne and Dreston) novel Chapter 264

Chapter Two Hundred And Sixty–Four: Entertain Them.

The night broke into chaos, sirens wailed sharply through the streets as emergency vehicles cut through traffic with urgency. The flashing red and blue lights reflected against glass buildings, against moving cars, against the stunned faces of those who had only minutes ago been celebrating.

The ambulance arrived quickly, Corren was carried out on a stretcher, his body tense, his shirt soaked through with blood where the blade had struck. Paramedics moved with precision, issuing short, urgent commands as they worked to stabilize him.

Cassienne followed closely behind. Her composure was gone. Her hands trembled, her breathing uneven, her eyes locked on Corren as though looking away would make things worse. “He saved my life,” she said, her voice breaking.

Everyone looked at her with pity, they were speechless.

Behind her, Aurora Stephens and Daisy Noah were held back briefly by security before being escorted outside. Jessica, Merrick, and the rest followed closely, all of them surrounded by guards as the situation was brought under control.

Cameras had already started flashing. Voices rose again. “Miss Rhodes! What happened?”

“Was that an assassination attempt?”

“Who attacked you?”

Cassienne did not respond. She could not. Her eyes were fixed on the ambulance as the doors shut and as it drove away,

And within seconds, the internet exploded. Clips surfaced, grainy footage and blurred angles of Cassienne crying. Her voice was shaking. “He saved my life.” That single sentence spread faster than anything else.

Across platforms, headlines and across continents. “BREAKING: Attack on NULLWRAITH at exclusive

event”

“Tech CEO Corren Thornwyck stabbed while protecting Cassienne Rhodes”

“Who dares target NULLWRAITH?” Fans reacted instantly.

“WHO DID THIS?”

“PROTECT HER AT ALL COSTS!”

“THIS IS NOT NORMAL!”

“SECURITY FAILED!”

The noise grew louder. Relentless.

At the hospital, the tension was suffocating. The emergency entrance was locked down almost

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immediately after their arrival. Security personnel formed a tight barrier outside, holding back waves of reporters and paparazzi who had already gathered in alarming numbers.

Cameras pressed forward. Voices shouted over one another.

“Is she safe?”

“What is Corren’s condition?”

“Was this targeted?”

But inside was different. The silence inside was heavy. No one could speak. Cassienne sat in the waiting area, still and quiet. Her hands were clasped tightly together, her knuckles pale from the pressure. The image of Corren falling replayed over and over again in her mind.

He moved without thinking. He stepped in front of her and took the hit instead. “He saved my life…” she whispered again, this time softer.

Aurora sat beside her, her usual fire dimmed into something quieter. “He’ll be fine,” she said, though her voice lacked its usual certainty.

Jessica stood nearby, arms folded, her expression serious. Merrick remained composed, but his gaze

carried concern.

Daisy paced back and forth, restless.

Minutes stretched. Felt longer than they were. Then, the doors opened and a doctor stepped out.

Ray Simpson.

Cassienne stood immediately. “Ray—”

He raised his hand gently. “He’s fine,” Ray said calmly. “The injury looks worse than it is. But the blade didn’t go deep enough to cause critical damage.”

Relief hit the room instantly. Cassienne closed her eyes briefly, her shoulders dropped. “Thank you,” she whispered.

Ray gave a small nod. “He’ll need rest, but he’s stable.”

For a moment, everything felt like it could settle until Daisy’s voice cut through the room. “What the fuck?”

Everyone turned. She was staring at her phone, eyes wide, expression dark. “Guys,” she said, her voice sharper now. “Check your phones.”

The shift was immediate. Jessica reached for hers. Aurora followed. Merrick frowned as he pulled his

phone out.

Cassienne hesitated for a second. Then she picked up hers.

Notifications flooded the screen, endlessly with headlines, videos and messages.

A clip was clearer than the rest and was more focused.

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More focused. A clip that showed the moment. Not the attack, but just before it. Cassienne and Corren standing close, talking and laughing. The angle showed that they were too close and It told a different

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