جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 40

“Corren, I am back, baby.” The sudden female voice shattered the fragile moment. Cassienne flinched. She pulled away from Corren at once, her heart racing as reality crashed back in. The warmth between them vanished instantly. The office door was wide open. A beautiful blonde woman walked in without knocking, moving as if she owned the place. She was slim, tall, and confident, with straight legs that seemed to go on forever. She wore a short lilac dress that hugged her body perfectly, showing off her smooth skin and elegant shape. Her lips were painted with matte red lipstick, bold and confident. Her lashes were thick and long, framing her blue eyes that held familiarity with the space—and with Corren. Cassienne’s gaze lingered on her for a second. For reasons she could not explain, her chest tightened. The woman reminded her of Tina. The same confidence. The same beauty. The same kind of presence. Cassienne felt uncomfortable, and a strange sadness crept into her heart. S

Cassienne wished the earth would open up and swallow her whole. If that was possible, she would gladly step into it right now. Her face burned with embarrassment, and her heart beat so loudly in her chest that she was sure everyone could hear it. She could not even lift her head. She felt exposed, naked, and painfully aware of herself. How could she ever face them again? Just moments ago, she had gathered all the courage she had left and asked Daisy that question. A question she had buried deep inside her for years. A question she had never said out loud to anyone. And now… now the wrong people have heard it. Great. Just great. Now everyone would know. Cassienne Rhodes was twenty-seven years old, divorced, and still a virgin. What a good way to start her divorce life. The shame hit her all at once. Not because she was ashamed of who she was, no. But because the world had always made her feel like something was wrong with her. Like she had failed at being a woman. Like

Cassienne’s car slowed down and finally stopped right in front of Prawn & Lobster Restaurant, one of the most expensive and well-known restaurants in the city. The soft golden lights from the building reflected on the shiny black surface of the car, making the place look even more elegant. Her new official driver, Felix, quickly stepped out and walked around to the back. He opened the door and held it open politely until Cassienne stepped out. “Thank you, Felix,” Cassienne said softly as she adjusted her purse on her shoulder. “I’ll call you once I’m done.” Felix nodded respectfully. “Alright, ma’am.” He closed the door gently and remained standing beside the car as Cassienne walked toward the restaurant entrance. Her heels clicked lightly against the tiled floor, her steps were measured and steady despite her heart being anything but calm. The doorman noticed her and opened the door before she reached it. As she stepped inside, the warm air of the restaurant wrapped around her.

No matter how much Cassienne tried to get used to the way people looked at her in Coralreach, she still couldn’t. It was almost impossible. Every single day, the moment she stepped into the tall glass building of Coralreach Tower, it felt the same. Just like the very first day she resumed work there, all eyes always turned in her direction. Some people stared openly. While some pretended not to look, but still stole glances anyway. And others? They whispered behind their hands. Cassienne often wondered what exactly they saw when they looked at her. Was she strange to them? Was she too different? Or did they see her as something rare, something out of place? Sometimes, it made her feel like an alien who had just landed on Earth. Other times, it made her feel like she was being judged as the most beautiful woman in the world. Either way, the attention made her uncomfortable. As she walked further inside the building, she noticed two women standing close to each other near the rec

The room fell into a deep silence. For a long moment, neither Gabriel nor Cassienne said a word. It was the kind of silence that felt heavy, filled with thoughts that were too painful to speak out loud. Cassienne stared at the floor, while Gabriel leaned back slightly in his seat, his face tight with disappointment. Gabriel was not happy with what he had just heard. In fact, he was deeply disappointed. He had always believed that Dreston would be able to hold his marriage together. He knew the problems in their marriage. He knew Dreston loved another woman. But Gabriel had thought and hoped that Dreston would do the right thing. Just like Gabriel himself had done. Gabriel had once been in a similar situation. He had loved another woman while married to Isla. It had been messy and painful. But in the end, he chose his marriage. He fought for it. He believed Dreston would do the same. But he didn’t. That was what hurt the most. Cassienne was the one who finally broke the silence.