Ambergris Locakboxes Traveled Salt Routes by Hugh Calder 102

Chapter One Hundred And Two: Stay Away From Dreston.

All through the day, Corren avoided Cassienne.

It wasn’t easy. In fact, it was one of the hardest things he had done in a long time. Every instinct in him wanted to look for her, to check if she was okay, to read her face and understand what she was feeling after what he had seen the night before.

But Merrick’s words echoed clearly in his head.

Focus.

This was not the time to let emotions derail everything. His company needed him composed. They need his unshackling presence. The expo was bigger than personal feelings, no matter how much his heart protested. So he buried himself in meetings, investor conversations, and technical reviews–anything to keep his mind busy.

Still, Cassienne lingered in his thoughts.

By the time night fell, exhaustion settled into his bones. Corren returned to his suite, loosened his tie, and prepared to sleep, hoping rest would silence the storm in his head.

Just as he was about to lie down, the doorbell rang. And he frowned.

It was late, far too late for casual visits. He wasn’t expecting anyone. For a brief moment, he considered ignoring it. But something in his chest tightened, a strange sense of anticipation stirring.

Reluctantly, he left his bedroom and walked toward the door. Before opening it, his eyes drifted to the security monitor mounted beside it.

Cassienne stood there.

His heart slammed violently against his ribs.

What now?

Why was she at his door at this hour?

Without thinking any further, he unlocked the door and pulled it open. There she was, standing right in front of him, her posture tense, her expression guarded.

“Hi,” she said softly.

“Hey,” Corren replied, his voice betraying none of the chaos inside him.

“Can I come in?” she asked.

He nodded and stepped aside immediately. Cassienne walked in, her arms wrapped around her body as if she was shielding herself from something unseen.

Corren closed the door behind them and followed her in, deliberately keeping some distance between them. He didn’t trust himself with her.

Cassienne noticed it instantly.

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Chapter Ono Hundred And Twey Stay Away from Chestory

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She noticed the space, the restraints and the emotional wall between them.

“What is it?” she asked quietly.

He shrugged, avoiding her eyes. “Nothing. I’m just… giving you time. Time to decide what you want.”

Her brows pulled together. “I don’t understand what you mean.”

Corren finally looked at her. There was something different about her tonight, something fragile beneath the calm. But he pushed that thought aside and spoke honestly.

“I saw you with Dreston last night.”

Cassienne closed her eyes briefly. So he had seen them.

Her chest tightened. She hadn’t planned on him finding out that way, but perhaps this made what she came to do even more necessary.

“That’s actually the reason I’m here,” she said.

His jaw tightened. “Are you back together?”

The question slipped out even though he knew he shouldn’t ask it.

Cassienne met his gaze, her arms still wrapped around herself like armor.

“No,” she said firmly. “We’re not back together.”

Corren studied her face, searching for hesitation, for deception, but he found none. The silence stretched between them before he finally spoke again, his voice softer now.

“Then what happened?”

Cassienne exhaled slowly and let her arms fall to her sides.

“I received a message from an unknown number,” she explained. “It scared me. And Dreston showed up at that moment. I panicked and ran into his arms… looking for comfort.”

She swallowed.

“It was a mistake. We addressed it immediately. I didn’t know you saw us. I came here because I didn’t want to lie to you. If whatever this is between us is going to work, it has to be built on honesty.”

Corren nodded slowly, absorbing every word.

“What message?” he asked.

“Someone trying to scare me,” she replied with a shrug before taking a seat. “At first, I thought they knew something I wouldn’t want exposed. But now… I’m convinced it was just someone playing games.”

Corren’s expression darkened slightly.

“People like that exist,” he said after a moment. “They enjoy provoking fear just to force mistakes. They play dirty.”

Chapter One Hundred And Two. Stay Away From Breston

+25 Bonus

Cassienne frowned. “I think you’re right.”

She stood up and walked closer to him, stopping just a few steps away.

“Now that we’re good,” she said gently, “I should go back to my suite.”

Corren hesitated, then nodded. “I’ll walk you.”

“Thank you,” she smiled.

They moved toward the door, but just as Cassienne reached for the handle, Corren stepped in front of her, blocking her path.

She raised her brows, surprised.

“Stay away from Dreston,” he said quietly but firmly. “He wants you back.”

The air between them shifted.

Cassienne held his gaze, her expression unreadable.

“I know,” she replied.

And with that, the unspoken tension between past and present tightened, pulling all three of them into a collision that was only just beginning. And neither of the men was ready to let go.

Crown Imagination

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I sincerely apologize for the duplicate update and the delay in update. At the time, I was unable to make changes because it was the weekend and the editors were un

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