When Love Finds Its Way Back (Cassienne and Dreston) novel Chapter 331

Chapter Three Hundred And Thirty Where Are You?

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Kael shook his head. “No.”

Then?”

He was quiet for several seconds.

Finally, he admitted: “Nora wants me to officially meet her family.”

Daisy blinked. “What?”

Kael nodded. “I agreed.”

That surprised her a lot. Because Kael never agreed to anything he wasn’t serious about.

“You actually agreed?”

“Yes.”

Daisy studied him carefully. And for the first time, she realized this might become real. Not because he loved Nora. But because he was trying to move on.

Unfortunately, the sadness in his eyes told her he wasn’t succeeding. At least not yet.

Finally, Daisy stood and walked over to him. Then gently tapped his shoulder. “Maybe you’re right.”

Kael looked at her.

Daisy smiled. “Maybe one day you’ll see that mystery girl again.”

He stared at her. Hope flickered briefly inside his eyes. Only briefly. Then it disappeared. “Maybe.”

After Daisy left, silence returned to the room.

For several moments, Kael remained standing by the window. Then slowly crossed the room toward a drawer hidden inside a cabinet.

He opened it carefully and reached inside. He removed a small leather folder.

Inside was a single sheet of paper, and nothing more. Just a sketch.

A face he had drawn years ago from memory. A face he had never forgotten.

Kael stared at it quietly. Then smiled sadly. “Where are you?”

The room offered no answer.

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Chapter Three Hundred And Thirty-One: Trouble Follows

Chapter Three Hundred And Thirty-One: Trouble Follows

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Cassienne had been working for nearly three hours when Jessica finally appeared. Sunlight filtered through the tall windows, casting long shadows across the room while several holographic projections floated above/ Cassienne’s desk. Her assistants had already left after the morning meeting, leaving her alone to review the latest reports from Nerox Technology.

At least, she had been alone. But the moment the office door opened without warning, Cassienne didn’t even bother looking up. “I hope you’re here for a good reason.”

No reply came. That immediately caught her attention because Jessica Tremont always had something to say.

Cassienne finally lifted her eyes from the report in front of her. Jessica stood near the door holding a bottle of

water.

For once, she wasn’t smiling. That alone was enough to make Cassienne suspicious.

Slowly, Cassienne removed her glasses and leaned back in her chair. “Who died?”

Jessica blinked. “What?”

“You look depressed.”

“I do not.”

“You absolutely do.”

Jessica rolled her eyes and walked further into the office before dropping into one of the chairs opposite the desk.

Normally she would have protested. But today she didn’t.

That worried Cassienne slightly. For a few moments neither woman spoke.

Then Cassienne folded her arms. “I think it’s time you got yourself a boyfriend.”

The response came automatically.

There was a reflex. The exact reaction Cassienne expected. Or at least, it should have been. Instead Jessica simply looked down at the bottle in her hands.

Then quietly twisted the cap open. Cassienne’s eyebrows lifted immediately.

Well.

That was new.

She stood up from behind her desk and walked around it. And without saying another word, she dragged a chair closer and sat beside Jessica instead.

The movement finally earned a small smile. “You’re dramatic.”

“No,” Cassienne replied calmly. “You’re sad.”

Jessica looked away.

For the first time since entering the room, she seemed unsure of what to say. And that alone told Cassienne everything.

Because Jessica Tremont was many things. She can be loud, fearless, competitive and annoying. But uncertain?

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Pe Hundred And Thirty-One Trouble Follows

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Almost never.

Eventually Jessica released a small sigh. “You know, I think you’re right.”

Cassienne knew it.

Jessica laughed softly. It was a kind of tired laugh. The kind that carried more honesty than humor. “I spent so much time building my career that I forgot about everything else.”

Cassienne remained silent. She knew Jessica well enough not to interrupt her.

Jessica continued. “When everyone else was dating, I was competing.” A smile appeared briefly on her face.” When everyone else was falling in love, I was practicing.”

Another smile. “When everyone else was attending parties, I was locked inside training rooms trying to become the best.”

Cassienne understood it more than Jessica realized. Because in many ways, they were similar. Both women had sacrificed huge portions of their lives chasing success.

The difference was that Cassienne had found Dreston along the way, but Jessica hadn’t found anyone.

At least not yet.

“What brought this on?” Cassienne asked softly.

Jessica stared at the water bottle for several seconds before answering.

“Nora.”

That surprised Cassienne. “Nora?”

Jessica nodded.

Then she finally looked up. “She announced that her boyfriend is coming to meet the family.”

Cassienne’s eyes widened slightly. At least, that explained some things.

The Tremont family was incredibly close despite all their differences. Any major relationship announcement would naturally become family news.

Still, something about Jessica’s expression told her that wasn’t the whole story. “You’re happy for her.”

It wasn’t a question.

Jessica smiled immediately. “Genuinely.”

Cassienne believed her. Because despite how different the twins were, Jessica loved her sister. That had never

been in doubt.

“Nora has always known what she wants.” Jessica leaned back in her chair. “When she likes something, she goes after it.”

Cassienne almost laughed.

That was probably the nicest way anyone had ever described Nora Tremont.

Jessica noticed her expression and laughed too. “See? You understand.”

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“I understand perfectly.”

The laughter eventually faded, then silence returned.

Jessica spoke again. “You know what’s strange?”

Cassienne turned toward her. “What?”

Jessica looked toward the office window. “Watching everyone move forward.” Her voice was low, more vulnerable. “Dreston and you.”

She counted on her fingers. “Corren and Aurora.” She kept counting. “Nora and her boyfriend.” Then she lowered her hand. “And I’m just…”

She stopped.

Cassienne finished the sentence for her. “Standing still?”

Jessica looked at her. Then nodded slowly.

The honesty in that small movement touched Cassienne more than she expected.

Because beneath all the jokes and laughter, Jessica sometimes carried a loneliness that few people noticed.

Everyone assumed she was happy because she always smiled.

Everyone assumed she was fine because she always made other people laugh. Nobody ever stopped to ask whether she wanted something more.

Cassienne reached over and squeezed her hand. “You are not standing still.”

Jessica looked unconvinced.

Cassienne smiled. “Your life isn’t a competition.”

Jessica snorted. “Coming from a woman who owns half the technology sector?”

Cassienne ignored that. “You don’t have to find love on someone else’s schedule.”

Jessica remained quiet.

Cassienne continued. “Look at me.”

Jessica did.

“I spent years thinking my life was perfectly planned.” A soft smile appeared on Cassienne’s face. “And then Dreston happened.”

Jessica laughed. “Dreston happened when you were children.”

“Details.”

“They are important details.”

Cassienne laughed too.

For the first time since entering the room, some of the heaviness around Jessica seemed lighter. Not totally gone. But lighter.

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hapter Three Hundred And Thirty-One Trouble Follows

Which was enough.

Then Cassienne suddenly narrowed her eyes.

Jessica immediately looked suspicious. “What?”

“I still think you need a boyfriend.”

Jessica groaned.

“There she is.” Cassienne pointed at her dramatically. “You laughed. You’re feeling better.’

“I hate you.”

“No you don’t.”

Jessica shook her head while smiling. Then something occurred to Cassienne.

A strange thought. One she couldn’t quite explain. “You know,” she said slowly, “I have a feeling.”

Jessica immediately became nervous.

“Whenever you say that, trouble follows.”