When Love Finds Its Way Back (Cassienne and Dreston) novel Chapter 361

Chapter Three Hundred And Sixty: Time To Free Garry Richardson 

Joseph Tremont finally left Emily’s residence carrying more than a storage drive. 

He carried guilt. The kind that settled heavily on a man’s shoulders and refused to leave. 

For years, he had convinced himself that he had done what was necessary. Auralink had been under attack. Investors had panicked. The media had been relentless. At that time, he was forced to make difficult decisions. 

That was what he told himself. 

Now, after watching Ethan Rhodes’ recordings, those justifications felt hollow. 

The truth was simple. 

Ethan asked for help. And Joseph hadn’t listened. 

The thought stayed with him during the drive across Lisbourn. 

Eventually, his vehicle entered the private driveway of the Simpson residence. 

The house stood proudly behind elegant iron gates. 

Joseph had visited many times over the years, but today felt different. Today he wasn’t visiting family, he was carrying evidence. 

The butler opened the door before Joseph could knock. 

“Mr. Tremont.” 

Joseph nodded politely. “Good afternoon.” 

He stepped inside. 

The familiar warmth of the house greeted him immediately. 

A moment later, footsteps approached. 

Dr. Victor Simpson appeared. The older man smiled warmly. “Joseph” 

Joseph managed a small smile. “Victor.” 

The two men shook hands. 

Victor immediately noticed the tiredness in Joseph’s eyes. “You look like you haven’t slept,” 

Joseph laughed quietly. “That obvious?” 

Victor raised an eyebrow. “You’ve looked better.” 

Before Joseph could reply, another voice joined them. “Uncle Joseph.” 

Joseph turned. Ray was descending the staircase. 

His shirt sleeves were rolled up, and he looked like he just came directly from the hospital. Which, knowing Ray, was probably true. 

Joseph nodded. “Ray.” 

Ray walked over and shook his hand. His sharp eyes immediately studied Joseph. 

Something was definitely different. Joseph wasn’t the type of man who looked shaken. Yet today he did. 

“Everything alright?” Ray asked. 

Joseph glanced toward him. Then toward Victor. For a moment, he considered lying. 

Instead, he simply said, “I need to speak with your mother.” 

That was all it took. 

Ray’s expression changed. 

Victor’s too. 

Both understood immediately. This was serious. 

A few moments later, Justice Elena Simpson appeared. 

Unlike the others, she immediately noticed the drive in Joseph’s hand. Her gazelingered on it briefly before returning to his face. “You found something.” 

Joseph nodded. “I did.” 

Elena exchanged a glance with her husband. 

Then she turned back toward Joseph. “Come with me.” 

Without another word, she led him toward her private office. The door closed behind them. 

Silence settled over the room. 

Elena moved behind her desk. 

Joseph remained standing for several seconds before finally taking a seat. 

Neither spoke immediately. Then Joseph placed the drive on the desk. 

Elena stared at it. “Where did it come from?” 

“Emily.” 

That answer alone was enough. 

Elena slowly leaned back in her chair. And for several moments, she simply stared at the drive. 

Then she said quietly, “Tell me everything.” 

Joseph did. 

From the moment Emily brought out the metal box, to Ethan’s suspicions, to James Freshman’s meetings with Mike Richardson, to the kidnapping, and to the explosion. 

Also the footage proving Ethan’s innocence. He told her everything. 

When he finally finished, Elena remained silent. 

Thinking. 

Analyzing. 

And processing. 

Eventually she reached for the drive. “May I?” 

Joseph nodded. 

Elena inserted it into her computer, and the footage loaded. 

She watched carefully and methodically. As a legal professional. 

As someone searching for facts. 

The first recording played. Then the second. Then selected portions of the third. 

Nearly an hour passed, finally Elena removed her glasses and placed them on her desk. 

The room fell silent. 

Joseph waited. 

Eventually she spoke. “This clears Ethan Rhodes.” 

Joseph closed his eyes briefly. 

Hearing another person say it somehow made it more real. 

Elena continued. “The recordings establish motive.” 

“They establish conspiracy.” 

“They establish that Ethan did not cause the explosion.” 

The words landed heavily inside the room. 

Dreston’s expression darkened immediately. But he remained silent. 

Steve opened the file. “According to Leo, Garry overheard a conversation several weeks ago.” 

Dreston held up a hand. “Don’t repeat what we already know.” 

Steve nodded. “Then let’s move forward.” He opened another page. “This part is new.” 

Immediately Dreston’s attention sharpened. 

Steve continued. “Leo said Garry confronted Donatus after overhearing a conversation.” Dreston already knew where this was going. “Garry never knew how to stay out of trouble.” 

Steve actually smiled briefly. “Apparently not.” 

Then his expression became serious again. 

“Garry confronted Donatus in front of another man. 

The room fell silent Dreston exchanged a glance with Steve. 

The second man again. The unknown figure. The one Leo couldn’t identify. 

Steve continued. “Leo said Garry returned from that meeting angry. He told him something wasn’t right.” 

“What exactly?” Dreston asked. 

Steve flipped through his notes. “According to Leo…” Steve paused briefly. Then read directly from the statement. “Donatus isn’t acting alone.”” 

Silence followed. Dreston’s eyes narrowed. Because suddenly the situation felt bigger. 

Much bigger. 

Steve continued. “Garry believed the second man was influential, and powerful. He said Donatus treated him like an equal.” 

That detail stayed with everyone. 

Then Steve reached the final page. “The next part is the reason I came immediately.” 

Dreston’s expression hardened. “What is it?” 

Steve looked directly at him. “Leo remembers hearing the location of one of Donatus Richardson’s private properties.” 

Dreston sat forward immediately. 

Steve continued. “The investigators verified it.” 

The room became completely silent. 

Then Steve placed a photograph on the desk. A large vineyard property in a remote, private and isolated place. The kind of place nobody would accidentally find. 

Dreston stared at it. His instincts immediately told him the same thing. 

Steve finally delivered the sentence everyone had been waiting to hear. “Sir.” 

His voice was calm. Measured. Careful. 

But the excitement was impossible to hide. “We believe Garry is being held there.” 

Silence filled the office. For several seconds, nobody moved. 

Then Dreston slowly stood. The dangerous look in his eyes returned. The same look he wore whenever someone threatened his family, his friends or the people he loved. 

This time, Garry Richardson was all three. 

Dreston’s gaze never left the photograph. When he finally spoke, his voice was calm. “Prepare everyone.” 

Steve nodded immediately. 

Dreston Tremont had made a decision. 

The Vineyard is a place Dreston is well familiar with. Now is the time to free Garry Richardson. And Donatus has no idea what is coming for him.