When Love Finds Its Way Back (Cassienne and Dreston) novel Chapter 303

Chapter Three Hundred And Three: Her Foster Parents

The private emergency floor of the hospital was entirely quiet by the time midnight settled heavily over Southvale. It was sin exhausted – drained of all earlier chaos and reduced to a tense, watchful stillness filled with low voices, distant footsteps, at the constant, mechanical humming of hospital machines behind closed doors.

Outside the ICU unit, armed security personnel remained stationed at every entrance and exit, their presence imposing and unyielding. No visitors. No unauthorized movement. No mistakes.

At the far end of the long corridor, Dreston Tremont stood near the large glass window overlooking the sprawling city lights below. The lights of Southvale stretched endlessly beneath the dark sky, beautiful and alive with their usual energy. Yet tonig none of it comforted him. The view that once represented his empire now felt distant and indifferent.

His tie had been removed hours ago and lay forgotten somewhere. The top buttons of his shirt were undone, and his sleeves were folded carelessly upward, revealing the tense cords of muscle and veins along his forearms. He looked exhausted. Not ju physically, but emotionally and mentally worn down in a way that went far deeper than lack of sleep.

For the first time in years, Dreston truly felt like he was losing control of something he could not see. And that realization unsettled him more than any direct threat ever could.

The elevator doors suddenly opened behind him with a soft chime. Steve immediately turned his attention toward the entran and spoke quietly into his earpiece. “They’re here.”

Dreston looked up slowly. Moments later, two familiar figures hurried out of the elevator, their steps hurried and heavy with dread.

Marianne Ackley looked pale and visibly distressed, still dressed in the same elegant clothes she must have traveled in for hou after receiving the emergency call. Beside her, Harold Ackley looked equally exhausted, though his emotions remained far mo contained, locked tightly behind a mask of quiet restraint.

The moment Marianne saw Dreston, she rushed toward him immediately, her heels clicking sharply against the polished floo

“Where is my daughter?” Her voice shook badly, cracking with raw maternal fear. Hearing it made the weight inside Dreston‘: chest feel even heavier somehow.

“She survived the surgery,” he answered carefully, his tone steady despite the exhaustion.

Marianne’s expression softened instantly in visible relief. But only briefly. Because Dreston continued quietly, “She’s in a coma.”

The woman broke instantly. A shattered sob escaped her lips as her legs nearly gave out beneath her. Dreston caught her quickly before she could collapse completely, his strong arms supporting her trembling frame.

“Oh God…” she cried brokenly against his chest, her voice muffled and devastated. “Oh my God..”

The sound echoed painfully through the quiet corridor. It was real grief. Real tear. Not dramatic or performative Just a mother breaking apart for her only child.

Dreston held her carefully while she cried uncontrollably against him. And strangely, he allowed it. He let her cling to him. Because despite everything Tina had done despite the blackmail, the scandals, the destruction she had tried to cause this woman still loved her daughter completely and unconditionally

Harold stood a short distance away in silence. He did not cry He did not speak. Instead, he slowly lowered himself onto one of the cold aluminum hospital benches nearby and rested both hands against the sides of his head, staring at the floot Thinking Trying to process everything that had shattered their world tonight.

The contrast between husband and wife felt painfully visible Marianne collapsed outwardly in raw emotion. Harold collapsed inwardly, retreating into himself where no one could see the full extent of his turmoil

Several minutes passed before Marianne finally calmed enough to breathe properly again Even then, her eyes remained red and

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swollen with tears that refused to stop falling.

“I want to see her,” she whispered weakly, her voice hoarse.

Dreston nodded once. “Only briefly.”

He personally walked both foster parents toward the ICU room afterward, with more calculated steps and protective interest And when Marianne finally saw Tina lying motionless beneath the machines and dim lights, another broken sob escaped her

“Tina…”

The sight itself was devastating.

The woman who once fought so desperately to be seen, to be loved, to matter… now looked frighteningly fragile. Still. Silent. Hooked up to countless tubes and monitors that beeped with mechanical indifference.

Marianne moved carefully toward the bedside, trembling as she reached out and touched Tina’s hand gently. Her tears fell immediately onto the white sheets. “You should’ve called us sooner,” she cried softly, her voice breaking again. “Why didn’t you call us…”

Dreston lowered his eyes briefly. Because honestly, he had asked himself the same question already.

Harold remained near the doorway quietly, staring at his daughter with unreadable eyes. Yet something about his expression disturbed Dreston slightly. It wasn’t just guilt or shock. It was recognition. As though something inside Harold’s mind had already begun connecting pieces that no one else could see.

But before Dreston could dwell further on it, Marianne broke down again quietly beside the bed. The raw sound pulled everyone’s focus back toward her completely.

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