When Love Finds Its Way Back (Cassienne and Dreston) novel Chapter 329

Chapter Three Hundred And Twenty-Nine: My Mother Insist

Nether-Kingdom seemed to be talking about only two things now. Corren Thornwyck. And Dreston Tremont. The first had shocked everyone by announcing his engagement to Aurora Stephen.

And the second had nearly caused collective emotional damage by publicly declaring that Cassienne Rhodes was his childhood love, his teenage love, and now his beloved wife carrying their unborn child.

Meanwhile, inside Coral Reach Systems, the reaction was equally ridiculous. Every employee suddenly became interested in Aurora Stephen.

Searches for her boutique increased dramatically. Fashion pages began discussing her designs. Technology blogs started writing articles about the woman who had apparently captured Corren Thornwyck’s attention.

One article referred to her as: “The Quiet Beauty Behind Southvale’s Biggest Engagement.”

Aurora nearly threw her phone away when she heard it. She had spent years avoiding unnecessary attention.

Now strangers were discussing her favorite coffee. It was terrifying. But perhaps the biggest surprise came from public opinion itself.

The same people who had spent months attacking Cassienne were suddenly changing sides.

Old articles disappeared naturally, and new ones appeared. Comment sections shifted. People who once criticized her now defended her.

People who believed rumors suddenly looked embarrassed.

At Coral Reach System. The moment Corren Thornwyck stepped onto the executive floor, he immediately knew something was wrong.

People were looking at him. Not the normal way employees looked at a CEO.

No.

This was different. They were trying very hard not to look at him. Which somehow made it worse.

One assistant nearly walked into a glass door because she was too busy pretending not to stare.

Another quickly lowered his tablet when Corren glanced in his direction.

Corren sighed quietly. The engagement announcement had been public for less than twenty-four hours.

And already the entire company had lost its mind.

By the time he reached his office, he was beginning to regret ever giving journalists access to a microphone.

The door closed behind him. And silence finally settled inside him. He loosened his tie slightly before placing his tablet on the desk. The city of Southvale stretched beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows behind him, but he barely looked at it.

His attention immediately went to the dozens of unread messages waiting on his phone from business partners, shareholders, journalists, and family friends.

Three different marriage proposal memes sent by Jessica Tremont.

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Corren deleted those first.

Then his office door opened without warning. Corren didn’t even need to look up.

Only one person in the entire building entered his office like that.

Merrick Ashbourne. The CTO of Coral Reach Systems. Co-owner and his friend. He is a brother in every way except blood.

Merrick walked inside holding a tablet under one arm and a cup of coffee in the other.

He stopped directly in front of the desk.

Corren calmly looked up. And Merrick stared at him.

Corren stared back.

The silence lasted nearly ten seconds. Then Merrick finally spoke. “Have you completely lost your mind?”

Corren smiled. “There it is.”

Merrick threw the tablet onto the desk. The screen immediately displayed a dozen different news articles. Every single one featured Corren and Aurora.

One headline read: TECH GIANT CORREN THORNWYCK ANNOUNCES SHOCK ENGAGEMENT.

Another: AURORA STEPHEN CAPTURES SOUTHVALE’S MOST ELIGIBLE BACHELOR.

Merrick pointed dramatically at the screen. “What is this?”

Corren leaned back comfortably. “News.”

“Don’t do that.”

“Do what?”

“Answer me like a lawyer.”

Corren laughed quietly. And Merrick looked genuinely offended. “You got engaged.”

“I did.”

“You proposed.”

“I did.”

“You announced it publicly.”

“I did.”

“You involved the press.”

“I did.”

Merrick stared at him. Then shook his head slowly, disappointedly. “You’re insane.” Corren folded his arms. “Yet somehow it worked.”

Merrick hated that answer because it was true. The internet was practically celebrating.

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Corren’s reputation remained intact. Cassienne’s name had been cleared. Aurora had been introduced properly.

And somehow the entire thing looked romantic.

Merrick dropped into the chair opposite the desk before taking a long drink from his coffee.

For a moment neither of them spoke. Then Merrick sighed. “Seriously.”

His voice became softer now. At least, less teasing, and more genuine. “What happened?”

Corren looked out toward the city briefly. The answer should have been complicated. Instead it felt surprisingly simple. “I got tired.”

Merrick frowned. “Tired?”

Corren nodded. “Tired of temporary things.”

The room became quiet.

Merrick knew him too well. Too many failures. Too many nights spent building Coral Reach from almost nothing into one of the largest technology companies in Nether-Kingdom.

So when Corren said he was tired, Merrick listened.

Corren leaned back in his chair and looked toward the ceiling briefly. “I’ve spent most of my life building companies.”

Merrick nodded. “True.”

“I’ve spent the other half avoiding relationships.”

“Also true.”

Corren smiled faintly. Then his expression softened. “Aurora makes me feel peaceful.”

The statement surprised even Merrick slightly. Not because of what Corren said. But because of how he said it. There is no hesitation or regret in his words.

Corren continued quietly. “When I’m around her, things feel simple.”

Merrick remained silent.

“She doesn’t want anything from me.” Another pause. “She doesn’t care about my money.” Another silence. “She doesn’t care about my status.”

Merrick slowly nodded. Because all of that sounded exactly like Aurora Stephen.

Corren lowered his eyes briefly. Then finally admitted what he had probably been thinking for weeks. “I think she’s the kind of woman who can make me happy.”

The words settled quietly inside the room. And somehow they carried more weight than any declaration of love could have.

Because Corren wasn’t a man who spoke carelessly. If he said something like that, he meant it.

Merrick sat back slowly. His expression softened considerably. The teasing and the jokes disappeared. Because suddenly this wasn’t funny anymore.

This was real.

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He thought about Aurora. And about all the years she had spent beside Cassienne and Daisy. Aurora had never chased powerful men.

She had never chased attention. Or wealth. If anything, she spent most of her time avoiding unnecessary/drama, which made her perfect for Corren.

Merrick released a long breath. Then finally, he stood up.

Corren looked at him curiously.

Without saying anything, Merrick walked around the desk and extended his hand.

Corren looked at it. Then at him. And suddenly understood. As a smile slowly appeared on his face.

He stood and accepted the handshake immediately.

Merrick squeezed his shoulder afterward. Then said the words Corren didn’t realize he needed to hear. Congratulations.”

Corren remained silent. But Merrick smiled slightly. “You finally chose the right woman.’

Something about that statement hit harder than expected. Because it wasn’t approval by a business partner, or shareholder.

Corren looked away briefly before shaking his head. “You’ve become emotional.”

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