Ambergris Locakboxes Traveled Salt Routes by Hugh Calder 15

Chapter Fifteen: A Promise.

As soon as Dreston got home, he quietly stepped out of his car and walked straight toward the mansion. Cassienne was fast asleep in his arms, her head resting weakly against his chest. She felt so light, almost weightless, and that only made his heart ache more. He pushed the front door open with his shoulder, trying not to wake her.

Mrs. Rawlings was standing near the entrance, preparing to close the curtains for the night, when she suddenly saw him. Her eyes widened in shock.

“Is she okay?” she asked quickly, her voice filled with worry as she rushed closer.

“She will be,” Dreston said softly. “Please get me some warm lemon water.”

Mrs. Rawlings nodded immediately and hurried off toward the kitchen. Without wasting time, Dreston carried Cassienne upstairs. Her body was warm and trembling slightly, like she’d been crying even in her sleep. He tightened his hold on her and walked faster.

When he reached his bedroom, he gently placed her on his bed. She sank into the soft sheets, curled slightly like a small child. For a few seconds, Dreston just stood there, staring at her in silence.

Her face… even in sleep, she looked like she was hurting. Her eyebrows were slightly pulled together, and her lips trembled from time to time, as if she was fighting some pain in her dreams. Seeing her like that broke his heart in a way he didn’t fully understand.

He slowly sat on the edge of the bed and reached for her hand. Her fingers were cold. He wrapped both his hands around them, rubbing gently as if trying to give her warmth. Then he leaned forward and tucked the loose strands of her hair behind her ear. His movements were tender, almost protective.

Cassienne began to mutter something in her sleep. Her lips moved weakly, but her voice was soft, too soft for him to understand. Dreston leaned closer, trying to hear, but the words were unclear, more like helpless sounds escaping her unconscious mind.

He swallowed hard.

How could she love him this much?

How could she give her whole heart to him, even when he had done nothing but make her suffer?

The thought stabbed him deeply.

But then his mind drifted to Tina–his childhood love, his first love. The girl he had known since they were small. The girl he had always imagined a future with. Even when they separated for some years,

reconnecting in high school only made their bond stronger. Tina had been there from the beginning. Loving her had always felt natural.

Cassienne was… different. She was his friend at first. A quiet girl, gentle and respectful. He had liked her, but only as a friend. Then his parents chose her for him. They chose her over Tina. And instead of fighting for what he wanted, he agreed. That had been his greatest mistake, and now Cassienne was the one paying for

The only one who kept suffering… was her.

Chapter Fifteen: A Promise.

A sharp pain settled in his chest as he watched her sleeping. He didn’t want this for her. Even if they were going to go their separate ways, it shouldn’t be like this. She didn’t deserve to be sad. She didn’t deserve to cry herself to sleep every night.

But how could he explain that to her?

How was he supposed to tell her that after five years of living together, he had indeed grown close to her? That he had come to depend on her presence, on her quietness, on her gentle routines?

How could he tell her that holding on to her wasn’t because he loved her romantically… but simply because he liked having her with him?

And how would she react when she learned about Tina’s talent? Tina was a tech expert, and her skills would strengthen his family’s company. She was valuable in ways Cassienne wasn’t. Would Cassienne think he chose Tina for that reason too? Would she think she was never good enough? 1

His thoughts were cut short when his phone vibrated in his pocket. The sound was sudden and Cassienne stirred faintly, her brows squeezing tighter. Dreston quietly cursed under his breath and stood up, moving out of the bedroom as fast and quietly as he could. He closed the door behind him before pulling out his phone.

“Yes, Garry,” he answered, breathing out tiredly.

“Dreston…” Garry’s voice was tense. “Tina collapsed. We’re at Ray’s Hospital. You need to come now.”

Dreston dragged a hand down his face, stress tightening his shoulders. “Okay. I’m on my way.”

He ended the call and walked toward the living room. Mrs. Rawlings looked up from the kitchen doorway, concern still written on her face.

“Please take care of Cassienne,” he said quietly. “I’ll be back.”

And then he left.

At the Hospital

It was almost midnight–past twelve–when Dreston finally arrived at the hospital. The parking lot was quiet, and the cold breeze made the place feel even more tense. Garry was already outside, pacing back and forth near the double glass doors.

As soon as Garry saw him, he hurried over.

“Where is she?” Dreston asked, his voice low but urgent.

“She’s inside. Come with me.”

They walked down the hospital hallway together. The air smelled like disinfectant, and distant beeping sounds came from different rooms. When they entered Tina’s ward, Dreston saw her sitting up on the bed, her face pale and swollen from crying. She looked fragile, like she could break at any moment.

His chest tightened.

Chapter Fifteen: A Promise.

He felt guilty for leaving her behind. But what else could he have done? Cassienne had been drunk, helpless and vulnerable. He couldn’t leave her with another man, even if that man was just a friend.

Dreston moved closer and sat beside Tina on the bed.

“I’m sorry for leaving you,” he said quietly, “I should’ve taken you with me.”

Tina looked up at him, her eyes red and tired. She sniffled, her lips trembling before more tears spilled down her cheeks.

“I had a miscarriage,” she whispered.

The world around him blurred. Dreston froze, his mind blanking out.

“What? Why?” he breathed, his voice filled with shock and devastation.

Tina wiped her face with shaking fingers. “The doctor said it was because of stress. And you know you are the cause of it, Dreston.”

She wasn’t yelling. Her voice was weak and hopeless, like she didn’t even have the strength to be angry

anymore.

“If you had divorced Cassienne when I asked you to… I wouldn’t have been so stressed. I wouldn’t have been in so much pain about the pregnancy. But now-” her voice cracked, “—this is the result of your stubbornness.”

“I’m sorry,” he whispered. “I’m so sorry for what happened. I promise… we will have another baby when we finally get married.‘

Tina looked at him with broken eyes. “And when will that be, Dreston? Cassienne is still your wife. How can we get married when you haven’t even divorced her yet?”

Dreston closed his eyes for a few seconds, taking in a slow breath. Then he opened them and leaned slightly toward her.

“This is my promise to you,” he said softly. “Once my parents are back… I will divorce her.”

More tears streamed down Tina’s face. Dreston gently reached out and wiped them away with his thumb.

“I promise,” he whispered again.

And Tina believed him.

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.