When Love Finds Its Way Back (Cassienne and Dreston) novel Chapter 371

The observation room remained quiet. The steady beeping of the heart monitor filled the silence while soft evening light filtered through the curtains.

Cassienne lay against the raised hospital bed, her face pale from exhaustion. The doctors had assured everyone that she and the baby were stable for now, but they had also made it clear that she needed complete rest. The emotional shock had been too much for her body, especially now that her pregnancy is nearing the due date.

That was exactly why everyone had panicked when she collapsed.

Now the room was peaceful again.

Abigail sat quietly beside the bed, gently stroking Cassienne's hair.

Jessica occupied the chair near the window, her hands folded on her lap as she watched her cousin with worried eyes.

For several minutes, nobody spoke.

Cassienne finally opened her eyes.

The first thing she did was look toward the door almost instinctively, as if she expected Dreston to walk in wearing that confident smile that always made her feel safe.

But the doorway remained empty. Her eyes slowly returned to Abigail. "They still won't let me see him?"

Abigail's heart tightened. She reached for Cassienne's hand. "Not yet, sweetheart."

Cassienne lowered her eyes. A tear escaped before she could stop it. "I just..." Her voice trembled. "I just want him to know I'm here."

Abigail squeezed her hand gently. "He knows."

Cassienne shook her head. "What if he wakes up? What if..."

She couldn't finish the sentence. Her lips quivered. "What if he opens his eyes and I'm not beside him?"

The room fell silent again.

Jessica looked away, blinking back tears.

Abigail leaned forward and brushed a strand of hair away from Cassienne's face. "Listen to me."

Cassienne slowly looked up.

"You know your husband better than anyone." A faint smile appeared on Abigail's face despite the tears in her own eyes. "That stubborn boy has been worrying everyone since he was little."

Jessica couldn't help smiling slightly.

Abigail continued softly. "When he was younger, there were times he frightened me too."

She looked down for a brief moment before meeting Cassienne's eyes again. "I learned something during those difficult days."

"What?"

Cassienne whispered.

"Never stop believing until God says it's over."

The words settled gently inside the room.

Abigail continued. "I know what the doctors said, I heard every word, but I also know my son. He is a fighter."

She looked briefly at Cassienne's stomach.

"And your little one is a fighter too."

Fresh tears rolled down Cassienne's cheeks. "I don't know how to be strong anymore."

Abigail smiled sadly. "You don't have to. You only have to hold on."

Cassienne's fingers tightened around Abigail's hand. After a long silence, Jessica finally spoke. "You know..."

Both women turned toward her.

Jessica smiled through watery eyes. "I've known Cousin Dreston my whole life."

Cassienne listened quietly.

"He always gets his way." A tiny laugh escaped Jessica. "It used to annoy me."

Another small smile appeared on Abigail's face.

Jessica shrugged lightly. "So I refuse to believe this is the one thing he won't win."

Cassienne managed the faintest smile. "He's too stubborn."

Jessica nodded immediately. "Exactly."

The little exchange didn't remove the pain.

But since she collapsed, Cassienne felt herself breathe a little easier. Just then, the phone resting on the bedside table began to ring.

Jessica glanced at the screen.

Unknown number.

She didn't want the ringing to disturb Cassienne, so she quietly picked up the phone.

"I'll be right back." She stepped outside the observation room before answering. "Hello?"

A weak female voice came from the other end. "Can I... please speak to Cassienne?"

Jessica frowned slightly. "And you are?"

"My name is Tina."

Jessica immediately straightened. "I'll give her the phone."

She returned to the room and walked over to the bed. "Cassienne."

Cassienne looked at her.

"It's for you."

She accepted the phone curiously. "Hello?"

"Cassienne."

Tina shook her head.

…….

Inside Justice Elena Simpson's home office, Joseph remained seated across from her desk.

The file still lay open before him.

His eyes had not left the photographs inside.

Elena quietly arranged several additional documents into neat piles.

Joseph slowly closed the file. "So we're getting closer."

"We are." Elena's voice remained calm. "But we're not close enough."

She tapped one document with her finger. "We know the family. But we still need the individual."

Joseph nodded thoughtfully. "And Donatus is the only person who can give us that."

…….

In Southvale Central Police Headquarters.

Donatus Richardson sat alone inside an interrogation room. His expensive suit was wrinkled.

His hands rested calmly on the metal table.

The confidence he wore earlier had faded slightly, but not completely, enough for an experienced investigator to notice.

Across the hallway, the tattooed man occupied another interrogation room.

The young woman who had worked with him sat inside a separate holding room.

Each of them had been questioned repeatedly. Each of them continued refusing to speak.

The lead investigator stood outside Donatus' room, reading through the latest reports.

Another officer approached him. "The Richardson statement has been completed."

"Garry?"

"Yes." The investigator nodded slowly. "And?"

"He confirmed everything we already suspected."

The investigator closed the file. "Good."

He looked through the glass window at Donatus. "For now..."

Donatus sat motionless, staring at the empty wall, waiting, still believing someone would come for him. Still believing he would not face this alone.

He had no idea that, one by one, every door around him was quietly closing.

And somewhere inside Southvale General Hospital, Dreston Tremont continued fighting for his life while the truth that nearly destroyed two families moved steadily toward the light.