Where Soft Light Shines Darkness Fades From Tired Hearts by Evan Holt Crane 490
The Heartbroken Luna’s Choice: Banish Love
Third Person’s POV
09
Finished
Cassian turned a shade paler, forcing a shake of his head and insisting he was fine.
While Randolph turned away to talk to the waiter, Cassian instinctively rolled his shoulders to ease the stinging pain–a tiny movement, but Trista caught it. She knew him too well.
Even though Cassian’s PR team had smoothed over her jilting him at the temple, there was no way the two old tyrants at Ironthorn would let him off without a brutal taste of “family discipline.”
In her past life, whenever he defied the elders for Samantha, his back would end up a bloody mess.
Trista forced herself to look away from his stiff, aching back and focused on the food in front of her.
Cassian quietly pulled on a pair of disposable gloves. He didn’t say another word, just sat beside her and patiently started peeling her crawfish.
Ulvá, knowing Cassian had a sensitive stomach, ordered a mild seafood chowder. “Cassian, have some hot soup first.”
The waiter arrived with the non–spicy BBQ, and Attwater jumped up to clear some space. “Put the plain stuff here. That’s for Alpha Cassian.”
Randolph swapped out Cassian’s hard liquor for a light beer. “You’ve got work calls all the time. Just have a little of this to wet your whistle.”
Across the street, inside a black armored SUV, Wilmot and Alaina were watching their son peel shrimp at a roadside stand.
Alaina pulled her gaze back and looked at her husband. “Now do you see why he’d rather sit in the cold wind than have a formal dinner with you at the estate?”
Wilmot let out a dismissive snort. “The Alpha of Ironthorn eating fast food on a sidewalk? He’s trashing his
own status,”
“Our union was a business deal–a strategic merger to secure your position,” Alaina said, her voice dripping with irony.
“To you, Cassian isn’t your own flesh and blood. He’s a tool to keep Ironthorn standing. You don’t give a damn about what he actually wants.”
Wilmot’s brow furrowed, his voice rising. “He’s a natural–born Alpha! He has the network, the wealth, and the power! An Alpha’s focus should be his pack, not playing house!”
Alaina rolled up the window, cutting off the noise of the night. “Wilmot, if you keep using ‘family interests‘ to hijack my children’s lives, I swear I will terminate our mating bond.”
She knew the truth.
Her son might hold the scepter of Ironthorn, but Howard and Wilmot were like vultures, micromanaging
17
3:56 pm P W
Chapter 490.
his every move.
They even tried to control his mating bond.
Finished
In reality, Cassian was just a puppet for the two cold–blooded men at the estate–a living weapon for their legacy.
And the simple, messy warmth of the Silverlight family was the only “home” a beast trapped at the peak of power actually craved.
Late that night, Trista was back at the new apartment.
Instead of sleeping, she spent the night sorting and packing every expensive gift Cassian had ever given her, across both lifetimes. She even printed out a detailed asset list.
Under her desk lamp, the calculator clicked rapidly as she tallied up every loan and expense.
Monday was her first day at the Blade Healing Center.
She had to use her Sunday break to find Cassian and hand him the massive check and the keys to his house.
Lying in bed and staring at the ceiling, her thoughts settled.
Cassian had compromised at the airport, agreeing to go back to being “friends.”
If she just threw years‘ worth of jewelry and bags back in his face now, it would be too aggressive—a total ɔridge–burning move.
She had lived through too much to be impulsive or start fights over who was right.
No scenes, no drama–just a clean, polite exit.
Even if her heart was a storm, she had to stay calm on the surface. That was the clarity she had paid for with two lifetimes of pain.
The next afternoon, Trista timed it for when Cassian would be wrapping up work and headed to the Ironthorn headquarters.
Inside the penthouse office, Humphrey was giving a report. “Alpha Cassian, it went exactly as planned. Those families panicked after the supply chain cuts. They’ve all signed the profit–sharing agreements to get back in our good graces. Also, they’ve all signed NDAS–they won’t breathe a word against Miss Holmes in public ever again.”
Just then, Cassian’s phone lit up on the desk.
Seeing a message from Trista, his dark eyes sparked instantly. He stood up from his leather chair so fast it nearly tipped.
Yesterday at the BBQ, she’d barely looked at him and refused to let him drive her home.
He thought they were back at sub–zero temperatures, but here she was–messaging him, asking him out to
dinner.
Sara Lili
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.