When Love Finds Its Way Back (Cassienne and Dreston) novel Chapter 89

Chapter Eighty–Nine: You’re NULLWRAITH?

The tension in the dining room thickened until it became almost suffocating. Cassienne shifted slightly in her seat, her fingers curling gently around her napkin as she tried to steady herself.

She still hadn’t answered Joseph’s question directly, and she knew he wouldn’t let it go easily. She remembered the last time they had spoken about this, how she had chosen her words carefully, not because she agreed with him, but because she didn’t want to be the reason Joseph and Abigail fought again.

Yet here they were. History repeating itself again.

If not for Aunt Sheila, Cassienne would have avoided Joseph entirely. She had hoped–foolishly, it seemed that tonight would be different. That this dinner would be a warm and simple dinner, free of confrontation. But luck, as always, wasn’t on her side.

“I still don’t understand what’s so special about her anyway,” Nora suddenly said, her tone mean and dismissive. “If it were up to me, I’d recommend Tina for Dreston. She suits him better. Just because Cassienne has brushed up her appearance doesn’t mean she’s changed who she really is.”

Her words hit harder than anyone could ever imagine it to be.

Cassienne stiffened, but before she could react, Joseph slammed his hand lightly on the table.

“Will you shut your filthy mouth?” he barked. “How dare you compare my daughter to the daughter of a devil?”

Nora’s eyes widened, but she didn’t back down. “Uncle, her parents are late. You shouldn’t talk about the dead like that.”

Joseph rose slightly from his seat, his expression darkening. “You’re pushing me too far, Nora. And you know exactly what happens when you do that. I suggest you shut your mouth now.”

Silence fell instantly.

Everyone at the table knew Joseph Tremont’s temper. When he reached this point, reason became irrelevant.

Cassienne cleared her throat gently, forcing herself to speak before the situation escalated further.

“Father,” she said softly, and in a kind manner. “You don’t have to worry about anything right now. We still have time for that conversation.”

Joseph turned his sharp gaze toward her.

“And concerning Corren,” Cassienne continued calmly, “he’s a good friend of mine. You don’t need to worry so much.”

Dreston’s jaw clenched the moment Corren’s name left her lips. His fingers tightened around his fork, but he said nothing.

“That man likes you,” Joseph snapped. “I saw the way he looked at you in the hospital. He was far too close for my comfort. You should stay away from him.”

Cassienne let out a small laugh–not mocking, but controlled. She knew better than to challenge Joseph directly. He was stubborn, relentless, and convinced that his way was the only right way.

But she also knew that she would not let him dictate her life again. He had done that once, but not anymore. She won’t allow that.

Still, tonight wasn’t the time to fight. And she absolutely didn’t want Abigail dragged into another argument.

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So Cassienne played her card carefully.

She turned to Jessica instead, her voice softening. “Jessica, would you like to play a game with me?”

Jessica blinked, surprised, then her face lit up immediately.

“Yes! I’d love to,” she said, already standing. “Come on, let’s go.‘

Cassienne rose as well, excusing herself from the table and following Jessica out of the dining room. The moment they disappeared down the hallway, Abigail turned sharply to Joseph.

“You have no right to control her like that,” Abigail said coldly. “She has her own life to live. If Dreston had managed his marriage properly, we wouldn’t be in this situation.”

“She went through a lot,” Sheila added gently, and carefully. “She needs time to heal.”

Joseph scoffed but said nothing.

Dreston stood quietly, pushing his chair back. “I think it’s time I call it a night.”

He turned to Sheila, leaned down, and kissed her forehead. “I’ll see you tomorrow. Take care.”

Sheila smiled warmly. “Try to win your wife back,” she whispered. “I know it’s not easy, but don’t give up.‘

Dreston smiled faintly. Even he didn’t understand himself anymore. “Good night,” he said.

He greeted his parents politely, then turned to Nora, ruffling her hair. “Good night, princess.”

Nora smiled and immediately followed him out.

Soon, only the elders remained in the room.

Upstairs, in Jessica’s room, the mood was lighter.

Cassienne settled beside Jessica in front of the gaming setup, but her mind was elsewhere. It was still tangled in the tension downstairs, the unspoken emotions, the weight of everything that had happened in the last few days.

Absent–mindedly, she logged into the game, and she didn’t even notice.

But Jessica did. And she froze.

For a full minute, she didn’t move, she didn’t breathe, and she didn’t blink. Her heart began to race.

There, glowing on the screen, unmistakable and undeniable, was the username every gamer dreamed of seeing.

NULLWRAITH. The ghost player. The legend, and the impossible one. This isn’t happening. Jessica’s mouth fell open. No…No way.

Cassienne still wasn’t paying attention, her thoughts far away. But the online match had already gone live.

The chat box exploded instantly.

“WAIT–NULLWRAITH just signed in from Jessica’s side???”

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