When Love Finds Its Way Back

Cassienne stepped away from the pillar, feeling smaller than ever. Her mood was exactly what it always seemed to be—sadness, sorrow, regret, and a stubborn hope that refused to die no matter how much it hurt her. She wiped her tears with the back of her hand and pressed the down button for the next elevator. When the doors opened, she walked in and leaned against the glass wall. The cool surface supported her weight as memories washed over her. She remembered high school so clearly. How Dreston had forgotten her. How they used to play together and eat lunch side by side. And how everything shattered the moment Tina appeared, stealing his attention and pulling his friends away from her. She remembered the first time she saw them kiss. Even as a teenager, she had known that kiss was too intimate—nothing childish about it. Yet her love for him never changed. Tina had known that Dreston and Cassienne were together back then, but she still stepped between them and claimed him for her

Peter cut in before Cassienne could react. “No, Miss Ackley, you’re mistaken.” Tina leaned forward, resting her perfectly manicured hands on the executive desk. Her head tilted slightly, her expression sharp and challenging. “How so?” she asked. “You said my PA would resume in an hour. And now she’s not?” Cassienne scoffed quietly under her breath. She recognized the tone. Tina wasn’t asking out of confusion—she was asking to humiliate her, to make her look small in front of Peter. But Cassienne refused to give her that satisfaction, so she forced out a small, stiff smile. “Mrs. Tremont is one of our newbies,” Peter explained calmly. “She’s skilled in software design. She’s not the assistant I mentioned.” Tina’s face darkened. Disappointment flickered in her eyes even though she tried to hide it behind a professional mask. She didn’t want Cassienne as her assistant—she wanted Cassienne beneath her. “Very well then,” Tina said coolly. “Now that I know, you both may return t

Dreston hated himself right now, he truly did. He felt like punching a wall… or even punching himself. He kept asking why he had ever agreed to his parents’ arrangement in the first place—why he had let them push him into decisions he never wanted. He blamed himself for everything that had happened, every single problem now eats him alive, refusing to let him rest. He had always been tied to two women—ever since high school. One was the woman he loved. The other was his best friend. And everything had been fine… until he married his best friend. What had he been thinking? Why hadn’t he refused? Why hadn’t he fought back? Instead, he had gone along with the plan and given Cassienne a false sense of hope. He hadn’t been blind. Even in their college years, he knew she had feelings for him. She tried to hide it, but he always noticed the way she looked at him. To him, she was a friend—a sweet, kind that was loyal. Someone he liked, yes… but not someone he loved in a romantic way.

“And if this is about the divorce settlement,” she said calmly, “then let’s meet in court on Monday.” “What?” His reaction was instant. Shock spread across his face like a slap he didn’t see coming. She narrowed her eyes on him. Why did he look so surprised? Hadn’t he received the divorce papers yet? She gave them directly to Mrs. Rawlings to deliver to him. So what was this performance? He straightened a little, glancing left and right as if searching for someone, or something, to blame. Then his eyes returned to her—only now, he looked strangely amused. “You’re serious about the divorce thing?” She scoffed and folded her arms across her chest. “I don’t think anyone jokes about a divorce agreement.” Then she added, with a firm frown, “And yes. I’m dead serious.” He stared at her with that ridiculous amused expression, like this was some kind of dramatic act she was putting on. Like this was a scene in a movie and he was waiting for the punchline. What does he think thi

The silence on Dreston’s side of the phone grew longer and longer. He could barely breathe. He still could not believe what he had just heard. Why was Cassienne suddenly pushing things this far? Why was she behaving like a different person? How did he live with her for five whole years and never see this side of her? Cassienne had always been calm, peaceful and soft-spoken. Even when she was hurting, she would smile and pretend everything was fine. So what changed? Why was she acting like a stranger now? “Mr. Dreston?” his lawyer called, trying to check if the line was still connected. “I’m still here,” Dreston replied quietly. His voice was too heavy. “Just ignore it.” Tina could not hear the exact words, but she knew the conversation was about Cassienne. Her heart beat with excitement and impatience. She could not wait for the divorce to be completed. She had waited too long already. But at the same time, something confused her. She didn’t understand Dreston anymore. Why was h