When Love Finds Its Way Back (Cassienne and Dreston) novel Chapter 287

Chapter Two Hundred Eighty–Seven: She Ruined My Life

The internet had not calmed down since the gala incident. If anything, it had spiraled into something far worse overnight. Every major platform–social media, news sites, entertainment blogs–carried the same relentless headlines.

Clips of Tina Ackley’s attempted trip on Cassienne Rhodes had gone viral across the world at lightning speed, racking up tens of millions of views within hours. Edited versions, slow–motion replays, and side- by–side comparisons with Dreston’s protective catch flooded every feed.

And the worst part for Tina was not even the accusations themselves. It was the comments. Thousands upon thousands of them pouring in without mercy.

“She’s so jealous it’s pathetic.”

“She can never be Cassienne. Not even close.”

“Dreston clearly still loves his wife. That engagement was fake as hell.”

“She tried to hurt a pregnant woman? That’s low even for her.”

That last comment destroyed her completely. Because now the public sympathy toward Cassienne had more than doubled. Pregnancy had turned Cassienne into an untouchable icon of grace and resilience. And Tina? She had become the undisputed villain of the story–hated, mocked, and memed into oblivion.

By noon, the suffocating silence inside her luxurious penthouse had become unbearable. Every corner reminded her of humiliation: the gala, the flashing cameras, the whispers behind champagne flutes, and worst of all, the memory of Dreston choosing Cassienne again without even needing to say the words.

Her chest tightened painfully, a sharp knot of rage and despair twisting inside her. She grabbed her sunglasses with shaking hands, pulled on a cap, and stormed out of the apartment, desperate for air, for escape, for anything other than these four walls closing in on her.

But the moment she stepped outside the building, the reporters descended like vultures. They were waiting and throwing the same questions over and over again.

“Miss Ackley!”

“Miss Ackley, over here!”

“Did you intentionally try to hurt Cassienne Rhodes?”

“Is it true you’re jealous of her success and her marriage?”

“Did Dreston Tremont reject you emotionally after the engagement announcement?”

“Move!” Tina snapped angrily, pushing past the nearest microphone.

But they kept following, relentlessly. Cameras flashed nonstop around her as she hurried toward her waiting car, heels clicking sharply against the pavement.

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Chapter Two Hundred tighty–Seven She Ruined My Life

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“Miss Ackley!” another shouted.

“Did you destroy the Tremont marriage because you wanted Mr. Tremont for yourself?”

“Did you know Cassienne Rhodes was pregnant when you pushed her?”

That single question made her breathing unstable again, her vision blurring with fresh fury and pain. Tina slammed the car door shut violently and sped away before she completely lost control for the second time that day. But unfortunately for her, the reporters followed in a convoy of vans and motorcycles, hungry for more.

An hour later, a sleek black car stopped aggressively right outside Nerox Technology headquarters. Tina stepped out immediately–furious, emotionally unstable, and still burning from the nonstop humiliation swirling around her.

The massive glass building loomed tall and elegant before her, shining under the afternoon sun like an impenetrable fortress. Just like Cassienne herself. And somehow, that only irritated Tina even more.

Almost immediately, the security personnel at the grand entrance stepped forward, forming a firm line.

“Miss Ackley,” one of them said professionally but without warmth, “you are not authorized to enter the building.”

Tina laughed bitterly, the sound harsh and broken. “Move.”

“I’m sorry, ma’am. We can’t do that.”

Her expression darkened instantly, eyes flashing with pure venom. “Do you know who I am?”

“Yes,” the guard replied calmly. “And that is exactly why we cannot allow this situation to escalate.”

That sentence snapped the last fragile thread of restraint Tina still possessed.

“Escalate?” she repeated sharply, her voice rising loud enough to draw stares from nearby workers and pedestrians. “You think I’m the problem here?”

Phones were already lifting. Recording. Livestreaming. The crowd grew by the second.

Tina pointed furiously toward the towering building. “Tell Cassienne to come out right now!”

The guards stiffened, hands hovering near their radios.

“She hides behind people because she’s scared!” Tina shouted again, voice cracking with raw emotion.” Tell her to come out if she thinks she’s woman enough!”

Inside the building, several employees had gathered near the lobby windows, whispering among themselves as they watched the dramatic scene unfold outside. And somewhere in that growing crowd, someone quietly livestreamed the entire confrontation, the footage already shooting across social media in real time.

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The reporters who had followed Tina from her penthouse finally caught up. The moment they saw the chaos at the entrance, everything exploded again.

“Miss Ackley!”

“Are you threatening Cassienne Rhodes right now?”

“Did Dreston Tremont officially end your engagement this morning?”

“Are you blaming Cassienne for your public backlash?”

Tina spun toward the cameras, face twisted with fury. “You all act like she’s perfect!” she screamed. “But she’s not! She took everything from me!”

The cameras flashed harder, capturing every wild gesture, every tear–streaked expression.

“She ruined my life!” Tina continued, voice breaking. “Everything was fine before she came back!”

Inside Nerox Technology, the atmosphere in the private laboratory remained far calmer–until it wasn’t. Cassienne stood near one of the large smart screens, quietly reviewing data from her latest project while her assistants worked nearby. The outside noise had not yet reached them.

Then the lab doors opened. Jeff Sandler walked in quickly, his expression dead serious.

Cassienne noticed immediately. “What happened?”

Jeff moved straight to the large smart window that overlooked the building’s main entrance. “Your psycho fan club downstairs finally arrived.”

Cassienne frowned slightly and stepped closer. The moment she saw Tina screaming outside, gesturing wildly at the security team, her expression changed completely. For a long second she said nothing, just watched the woman unravel in real time.

Then she sighed softly. “She really lost control.”

Jeff looked at her carefully. “You’re not going downstairs.”

Cassienne glanced at him. “I wasn’t planning to.”

Outside, Tina was still shouting, her voice carrying faintly through the thick glass. “She ruined my life! Everything was fine before she came back!”

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