When Love Finds Its Way Back (Cassienne and Dreston) novel Chapter 286

Chapter Two Hundred And Eighty–Six: Tina’s Downfall

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Across the city, inside her once–pristine penthouse, Tina Ackley sat alone on the cold marble floor of her living room. The space was in ruins–broken glass scattered like ice, a shattered vase against the far wall, overturned decorations, and cushions ripped open in a fit of rage.

She had barely slept. Her makeup from the gala was still smeared beneath her eyes, dark streaks cutting through her pale cheeks. Her hair was a tangled mess from the countless times she had dragged her fingers through it in frustration.

Everything had gone wrong.

Every time she closed her eyes, she saw the faces from the gala–the disgust, the judgment, the whispers slicing through the air like knives.

“She tried to hurt Cassienne.”

“She’s jealous.”

“She’s obsessed.”

Tina covered her ears, rocking slightly. “Stop it!”

But the voices only grew louder inside her head.

Her breathing turned ragged as fresh tears burned her eyes. Then, without warning, she screamed.

The raw sound tore through the penthouse as she snatched a heavy crystal ornament and hurled it across the room. ‘Crash!‘ Another followed. Then another.

“I hate her!” she shrieked, chest heaving.

Why was it always Cassienne?

Cassienne had everything–Tremont’s love, public adoration, a glowing career, and now a baby on the way. Even after Tina’s public engagement announcement, Dreston had never once looked at her the way he looked at Cassienne. Everyone had seen it.

The humiliation burned like acid in her veins. Her phone chimed sharply on the floor. Tina lunged for it.

An unknown number.

She opened the message with trembling fingers.

“I warned you not to mess with her. But you didn’t listen. Now see what I will do to you. You’re fired.”

Fury exploded inside her. “F*ck you!” she screamed at the screen. “Whoever you are, I don’t need your help anymore!”

She hurled the phone onto the sofa and paced the room like a caged animal, breathing hard. Slowly, painfully, reality crept back in.

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Chapter Two Hundred And Eighty—Six: Tina’s bonitall

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She turned toward the television–Big mistake.

Every channel was replaying the gala incident. Headlines screamed across the screen:

“Tina Ackley Accused of Trying to Harm Cassienne Rhodes”

“Fans Defend Cassienne After Shocking Gala Incident”

“Jealousy or Sabotage? Tina Ackley Under Fire”

Videos played on loop–Dreston catching Cassienne, cradling her protectively, his face etched with raw fear and love. The comments flooded in by the millions:

“They belong together.”

“He loves his wife.”

“Dreston Tremont is the standard.”

“Protect Cassienne at all costs.”

Tina snatched the remote and killed the TV, but it changed nothing. Her phone kept vibrating relentlessly -notifications, tags, insults, death threats. Cassienne’s fans had declared all–out war.

Meanwhile, in the quiet calm of Nerox Technology’s private laboratory, Cassienne stood before a large wall–mounted screen, a glass of fresh juice in her hand. Her assistants hovered nearby, watching the same news coverage in uneasy silence.

“This morning, social media continues to explode following last night’s incident at the Apex Convergence Gala-”

Cassienne remained quiet, her expression unreadable.

One assistant finally spoke. “Your fans are destroying Tina online, Dr. Rhodes. It’s… intense.”

Cassienne took a slow sip of juice before replying calmly, “They should stop.”

Both assistants blinked in surprise.

She lowered the glass. “I don’t want anyone bullied because of me.”

But even as she said it, she knew it was already too late. The internet had chosen sides. And Tina had lost–decisively.

Hours later, Tina emerged from her building wearing dark sunglasses and a low–pulled cap, desperate for air. Just a few minutes of peace.

The moment the reporters spotted her, chaos erupted.

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Chapter Two Hundred And Eighty–six, find’s Downfall

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“Miss Ackley!”

“Miss Ackley, over here!”

“Did you intentionally try to harm Cassienne Rhodes?”

“Are you jealous of her?”

“Did you destroy her marriage because you wanted Mr. Tremont?”

Cameras flashed like gunfire. The crowd surged closer.

Tina tried to walk faster, head down. “Stop following me!”

But they only pressed harder.

“Miss Ackley, did Dreston reject you?”

“Is it true Mr. Tremont still loves his wife?”

“Sources say Cassienne Rhodes is pregnant–is that why you pushed her?”

That final question shattered what was left of her control.

Tina stopped dead in her tracks and spun around. “Yes!” she screamed, voice cracking. “Yes, I hated her! I detested her!”

The reporters froze, microphones thrust forward.

“She’s everything I ever wanted to be!” Tina continued, chest heaving. “She has the fame, the attention, and the love of the man I-”

She stopped abruptly. The weight of her words hit her like a slap. Too much. She had said far too much.

Shock rippled across every face around her. Some journalists literally stood with their mouths open.

Panic flooded Tina’s features. Without another word, she turned and bolted toward her waiting car, heels clicking frantically against the pavement. The reporters gave chase, cameras flashing wildly, questions still flying.

And just like that, Tina Ackley had buried herself–publicly, painfully, and completely.

Back at the Tremont mansion, Dreston’s phone lit up with alerts. He glanced at the breaking news, jaw tight, eyes cold.

It was done. No more pretending. No more protection. Tina’s downfall had only just begun.