Ambergris Locakboxes Traveled Salt Routes by Hugh Calder 115

Chapter One Hundred And Fifteen: Doctor Marvin.

Cassienne’s apartment is buzzing with soft music.

The living room lights were dimmed, the city skyline glowing through the glass walls. Her heels were long gone, replaced with thick cotton socks. She had changed into an oversized grey sweatshirt and soft black lounge pants, her hair pulled into a loose bun at the nape of her neck.

This time, no cameras, no flashing lights and no chanting. Just familiar faces. Her best friends.

Aurora had claimed the single armchair near the window, curled up with a glass of sparkling wine. Daisy was half -sprawled on the rug with a bowl of snacks between her legs, scrolling through her phone and gasping every few

seconds.

Merrick stood near the kitchen island, pouring drinks like he owned the place.

Corren sat beside Cassienne on the wide sofa. He was so close.

“Do you realize,” Daisy burst out dramatically, “you’ve gained almost four million followers in less than twelve hours?”

Cassienne groaned softly and covered her face with one hand.

“Don’t say it like that.”

Aurora laughed. “Like what? Like it’s insane? Because it is insane.”

Merrick raised his glass. “To the living legend.”

They all clinked glasses, even Cassienne, though she only sipped lightly.

The room buzzed with excitement.

It was a celebration without press releases. Joy without pressure. At least for now.

Aurora leaned forward, her eyes sharp in that calculating way she had.

“There was no doubt that Cassienne will become a billionaire if she is smart enough.”

The words dropped into the room like a stone into still water. Everyone froze. Daisy slowly lowered her phone.

Merrick stopped mid–sip.

Corren turned his head slightly toward Cassienne.

Billionaire.

The word felt heavy, causing cassienne to blink repeatedly.

“I didn’t ask for any of this,” she kept saying.

Aurora shrugged. “No one asks for power. They either use it or let it use them.”

Silence lingered for a moment before Daisy clapped her hands lightly.

Chapter One Hundred And Fifteen: Doctor Marvin.

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“Okay! Enough serious talk. This is still a celebration night.”

Laughter returned. Music hummed low in the background. But the word billionaire lingered in Cassienne’s mind.

She leaned back slightly. Her head brushed against Corren’s chest as he shifted closer. He instinctively wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

And she didn’t pull away. But she didn’t lean in fully either. Her body relaxed against him. But her heart did not.

Inside her mind. It wasn’t Corren’s arms she remembered. It was Dreston’s hands ruffling her hair in that small locked room at the arena.

The way he had scolded her.

“You’re getting reckless.”

The way his voice had softened after.

The familiar gesture of roughening her hair, just like when they were teenagers and she beat him at arcade games. She could almost hear his low laugh. She smiled unconsciously.

Corren looked down at her. His heart swelled. He thought the smile was for him.

He tightened his hold slightly, brushing his thumb gently against her shoulder. She didn’t even notice. Her mind was somewhere else now.

She remembered the moment on stage. The chaos. How the media rushed towards her, shouting. And how Dreston ran. Not walking. Not calculating. But running, shielding her body with his own.

How he pulled her away before the cameras could swallow her. And sanding between her and the storm.

Her lips curved again. A softer smile flashed this time. And Corren felt it.

He bent slightly, pressing a light kiss to the top of her head. “I’m proud of you,” he whispered.

Cassienne blinked. Her thoughts snapped back to the present. “Oh.” She forced her focus onto him.

“Thank you.”

But Corren studied her face. There was warmth there. But something distant too. Merrick watched them from

across the room.

He noticed Cassienne’s hesitation. He always noticed every little thing.

Aurora poured another drink and leaned toward Daisy.

“She’s glowing, see.”

“She’s conflicted,” Daisy whispered back.

The night couldn’t get any better. On the sofa, Corren brushed his fingers gently along Cassienne’s arm, whispering words into her ear.

“You don’t regret revealing yourself… Do you?”

Chapter One Hundred And Fifteen: Doctor Marvin.

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Cassienne hesitated before giving a reply. “No.” And that was true. She didn’t regret it. She just wasn’t sure

what came next.

Aurora suddenly stood and lifted her glass again.

“Speech!”

“No!” Cassienne protested immediately.

“Yes!” Daisy countered.

Merrick grinned. “Just one sentence.”

Cassienne sighed dramatically but stood up anyway. She looked at her friends. Her safe circle. And her real world.

“Thank you,” she said simply. “For being the best friends I could ever get.”

Aurora scoffed. “You are the best, girl.”

Daisy wiped an imaginary tear. “Stop before I cry.”

They laughed again, and the tension melted. Cassienne sat back down beside Corren. He pulled her closer this time, his arm sliding more firmly around her waist.

Cassienne felt the warmth of his hand. He leaned slightly toward her ear.

“You know,” he murmured, “I am so in love with you.”

Cassienne froze. She wasn’t expecting him to talk about something that complicated. Love is a strong word. She rather he didn’t use that word.

So, she didn’t answer, because deep down, her mind drifted to Dreston’s face in the VIP area.

To the way he looked when investors surrounded him after her win. To the way he buried his pride and told Corren to protect her.

That memory hit her harder than she expected.

Her lips curved again. A faint, almost secret smile flashed again. And Corren mistook it as her way of accepting his love for her.

He rested his chin lightly against her head.

“If you keep smiling like that,” he said quietly, “I might forget to be a gentleman tonight.”

She forced her focus back to him and smiled. But her heart wasn’t steady.

It wasn’t him she saw when she closed her eyes. And that scared her.

Music continued to play softly.

Aurora and Daisy argued about potential brand deals. Merrick joked about being her unofficial manager.

Corren held her like she was already his future. And Cassienne?

Chapter One Hundred And Fifteen: Doctor Marvin.

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Cassienne sat in the middle of it all, smiling, and laughing. While fighting a quiet war inside.

Suddenly, her phone rang. The room quieted instinctively. Cassienne glanced at the screen.

Then her expression changed immediately. Color drained from her face. Corren felt her body stiffen.

Aurora stood up slowly.

“Cassienne?”

She swallowed.

The name on the screen glowed like a warning.

Dr. Marvin.

Her fingers trembled slightly as she answered. “Hello?” Silence filled the apartment.

Everyone watched her. No one breathed. Her eyes widened slightly. She didn’t speak for a few seconds.

Then, “…What?”

The word barely left her lips. Corren’s hand tightened around her.

Aurora stepped closer, and Daisy’s smile vanished completely. She rose to her feet.

Merrick set his drink down, slowly.

Cassienne stood up slowly. Her legs are almost unsteady. Whatever Dr. Marvin was saying on the other end of that call, something very important.

Even though Corren might not understand it. The others knew.

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