Chapter Six: His Confusion

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 yesterday… he had hurt both women.

One was his pregnant lover.

The other was the friend who had become his wife in a loveless marriage.

In five years, he had never raised his voice at Cassienne. Not once. But yesterday, he had shouted at her in front of people. In front of his staff. And he regretted it deeply.

He hadn’t gone home afterward. He didn’t have the courage. He should have apologized. He should have spoken gently. But instead, he had avoided her… avoided the guilt sitting heavily in his chest.

His original plan had been to talk to her about Tina joining the company. He wanted her to understand. He wanted her to hear it from him first. But instead, he had ruined everything, choosing the wrong words—hurtful words.

He hadn’t even known she was in the building. He thought she had stayed home sick. If he had known she was at work…

He never would have let something like that happen in his office. Not when she was nearby.

Even earlier, when Tina had come to his office and straddled him, he had intended to stop her. He wanted to tell her it wasn’t appropriate. But he remembered what the doctor had said about her hormones and her need for comfort, and he gave in.

He knew whatever Cassienne did yesterday had come from jealousy—from hurt. But she could have waited. She could have let him handle it.

Their marriage might have been loveless, but he still respected her. He always had.

But seeing her push Tina—pregnant, fragile Tina—had sent his temper flying. He had reacted without thinking.

Today, he planned to call Cassienne into his office and apologize. She deserved at least that. She was gentle and kind to a fault. He believed she would understand and forgive him.

He just needed to control his temper. He couldn’t let yesterday repeat itself.

A knock came at his door.

“Please, come in,” he said immediately.

It must be Peter—Cassiene’s direct boss. Dreston had called him earlier.

“Good afternoon, sir,” Peter greeted.

Dreston looked up. “I would like to see my wife in my office. I hope you don’t mind.”

Peter understood his relationship with Cassienne better than anyone else. He never questioned it.

But suddenly, Peter’s expression shifted. Confusion filled his eyes, and the man didn’t like what that implied.

“Is something wrong?” he asked, irritation starting to rise.

“Sir… I thought you knew already.”

“Knew what exactly?” Dreston's voice sharpened, impatient with Peter’s tone.

“Mrs. Tremont submitted her resignation yesterday. I thought you were aware.”

Dreston shot up from his chair. “She resigned? Why? And how?”

His chest tightened. She resigned? She just walked away?

“How come I’m only hearing this now? Who authorized her resignation?”

“Officially, no one,” Peter replied.

He felt a small wave of relief.

“You can go,” he said tightly. “I’ll handle it myself.”

Once Peter left, he sank back into his chair, breathing hard. His mind spun wildly.

She had resigned and left, without saying a single word to him.

He grabbed his phone and dialed Steve.

“Get the car ready. I’m going home now.”

Then he hit the intercom. “Cancel all my appointments for today. I won’t be available.”

When he arrived home, Mrs. Rawlings met him at the entrance. Her face lacked its usual warmth.

“Where is my wife?” he asked, walking past her without waiting for an answer. He needed Cassienne to explain why she had resigned so suddenly.

He pushed open Cassienne’s bedroom door without knocking—something he never did before. But he needed answers. He needed to know why she had resigned without talking to him first.

The room was empty.

He turned to leave, but something on the nightstand caught his eye.

He stepped closer… and froze.

Her wedding ring.

He picked it up slowly, confusion and shock running through him—no, something deeper, actually. His gaze dropped instinctively to his own ring finger. His wedding ring was still securely there.

Was she in the bathroom?

Before he could take another step, a voice spoke behind him.

“She’s not inside.”

He turned to see Mrs. Rawlings standing by the door.

She stepped closer and handed him an envelope.

“She left this morning and asked me to give you the letter.”

He opened it quickly and skimmed the contents.

Divorce papers.

Her signature was already there.

“Thank you, Mrs. Rawlings. You can go back to work now,” he said softly.

She nodded and left the room quietly.

He stood still for a moment, staring at the envelope in his hand. A faint breath escaped him, almost forming a laugh. Cassienne and her dramatic attempts… she really believed she could fool him with something like this?

He knew her too well. She wasn’t planning to leave him—not truly. He was so sure of it.

He tore the papers into shreds and dumped them into the waste bin before leaving her room.