When Love Finds Its Way Back (Cassienne and Dreston) novel Chapter 292

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Chapter Two Hundred And Ninety–Two: Ray Simpson And Clarissa Thomas

The laboratory suddenly felt quieter than before. Not because the employees had stopped working or the low hum of machines had faded, but because the atmosphere surrounding Daisy Noah had changed completely, as if the air itself had grown heavier around her small frame.

She sat slowly on one of the sleek lounge chairs near the floor–to–ceiling glass wall, her fingers still tightly clutching the elegant gold invitation card. Her eyes remained fixed on the sophisticated lettering printed across its surface, tracing every curve and flourish as though doing so might somehow alter the reality before her.

‘The Engagement Ceremony of Ray Simpson and Clarissa Thomas.‘

Even now, it still did not feel real. The words blurred slightly through the sting in her eyes, yet they refused to disappear.

Across from her, Cassienne Rhodes and Aurora Vale exchanged worried glances in quiet understanding. Neither of them rushed to speak immediately. They knew Daisy well enough to recognize the warning signs. When she became this quiet, this unnaturally still, something was seriously wrong–deeper than surface–level hurt, cutting straight into the core of her.

Daisy laughed softly all of a sudden, the sound breaking the silence like fragile glass. But it lacked any real amusement, hollow and brittle.

“Wow,” she muttered faintly, almost to herself.

Aurora frowned slightly, leaning forward. “Daisy-”

“He really did it.”

Her voice was too calm. And somehow, that worried Cassienne even more than tears would have. It was the kind of calm that came right before everything inside a person cracked wide open.

Daisy lowered the invitation slowly onto the low table in front of her before leaning back against the chair, her posture deceptively relaxed. For a few long seconds, she simply stared straight ahead in silence, eyes distant. Then finally, she spoke again. “I honestly thought he was bluffing.”

Cassienne’s brows pulled together with concern.

Daisy let out another quiet, mirthless laugh. “You know Ray,” she said, her tone attempting lightness but failing. “Always serious. Always intense. Always talking about commitment like we’re already married with three children and a house in the suburbs.”

Aurora sighed softly, her expression pained. “Daisy.”

“What?” Daisy shrugged lightly, though the movement looked forced. “It’s true.”

But despite her attempt to sound casual and dismissive, both women could already see through the façade. She was hurting badly–deeply, viscerally. The usual spark in her eyes had dimmed, replaced by something raw and vulnerable that Daisy rarely allowed anyone to witness.

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Chapter Two Hundred And Ninety Twa Koo Won and legione facemas

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Cassienne moved closer without hesitation and sat beside her on the wide lounge chair, her presence warm and steady. “You okay?” she asked gently.

Daisy immediately looked away toward the glass wall, unable to meet her gaze. And that single action answered the question more honestly than any words could have.

For the first time in a very long time, Daisy Noah did not know how to hide what she was feeling. The mask she usually wore so effortlessly had slipped completely, revealing the storm raging beneath.

Aurora crossed her arms slowly, studying her with quiet intensity. “What exactly happened between you

two?”

Daisy remained silent for a long beat before finally answering, her voice barely above a whisper.” Nothing much.”

Aurora gave her a look that clearly said she did not believe that for a second.

Daisy sighed softly and rubbed her forehead with trembling fingers. “He wanted something serious,” she admitted quietly. “Like he always did.” She paused, swallowing hard. “And I kept shutting him down. Every single time.”

The room fell into a heavy, weighted silence. Because now everything made painful sense.

Aurora shook her head slowly before sitting across from her, her voice gentle but honest. “You pushed him away, Daisy.”

Daisy frowned slightly, defensive walls beginning to rise even as they crumbled.

Aurora continued calmly. “You should have known Ray wasn’t joking around with you. He never plays games like that.”

Daisy lowered her eyes to the floor, unable to deny it.

“He’s not the type of man who plays games, Daisy,” Aurora added more softly this time, her tone laced with sympathy. “When a man like Ray says he wants you seriously, he means it. Completely. No half-

measures.”

That sentence settled heavily inside the room, pressing down on all of them.

Daisy hated how true it sounded. Because deep down, she had always known. Ray was never casual about her. Never. Every time he looked at her with those intense eyes, every time his hand lingered on her skin, every time he tried talking about the future in that low, serious voice–he had meant every single word.

And she?

She had kept laughing it off. Avoiding it. Running from it. Not because she disliked him or felt nothing,

but because commitment terrified her–its weight, its permanence, the possibility of losing herself inside

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Chopter Two Hundred And Ninety Two Roy Simpson And Clatione homeway

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Daisy leaned back again and covered her face briefly with one hand, as if she could hide from the truth. This is ridiculous,” she muttered quietly, voice muffled.

Cassienne watched her carefully for a long moment before finally speaking. Her voice was calm, gentle, but direct–the kind of voice that cut through pretense. “Do you love Ray?”

The question instantly stilled the room.

Even Aurora looked toward Daisy quietly now, waiting with held breath.

Daisy froze completely.

Love?

For a moment, she genuinely did not know how to answer. She had spent so much time avoiding the question, deflecting it with jokes and sarcasm, that she had never allowed herself to examine it properly -until this very second.

Slowly, Daisy lowered her hand from her face. Her expression looked strangely vulnerable now, stripped of all her usual armor. Uncertain. Exposed.

“I don’t know,” she admitted honestly, the words tasting foreign on her tongue. Then after a small, painful pause, she added quietly, “But I like him. A lot.” Her voice softened further, cracking at the edges. “And now that he’s getting engaged… it feels like something is shredding my heart apart.”

Silence followed immediately afterward. A painful, suffocating silence.

Because both Cassienne and Aurora could finally see it clearly now. Daisy was in love with Ray. Deeply. Painfully. She had simply never allowed herself to admit it until she started losing him for good.

Aurora looked away briefly and sighed softly, her own heart aching for her friend. While Cassienne simply reached over and held Daisy’s hand quietly, offering silent comfort through the warmth of her touch. No words. Just support.

Because sometimes, that was enough.

A few moments later, Cassienne finally broke the silence gently. “We should all leave together. Get out of

here for a bit.”

Daisy remained quiet for a second, staring at their joined hands. Then slowly, she shook her head.

“I don’t think I can go with you.”

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