Ambergris Locakboxes Traveled Salt Routes by Hugh Calder 18

Chapter Eighteen: The Final Heartbreak

Cassienne walked into the Auralink Systems building with steady steps, her heels clicking sharply against the polished floor. The sound echoed through the wide glass lobby, and one by one, heads turned in her direction.

Everyone began to stare. Some whispered to one another while some just froze in place.

Cassienne did not look at anyone. She did not greet anyone. Those days were over. The days she normally is the first to smile. The days she greeted everyone politely, even when they ignored her. The days she tried to be kind, gentle, and understanding.

All of it had earned her nothing but pain.

Every single one of them had believed Tina’s lies, and had gossipped about her without asking or hearing her own part of the story. They judged her without knowing the truth.

So today, Cassienne walked past them like they did not exist.

Her head was held high, her shoulders straight. The oversized sweater slipped slightly off one shoulder, showing her smooth skin, while her fitted jeans hugged her perfectly. Her long black hair flowed freely down her back, shiny and confident.

She stepped into the elevator alone.

The doors closed with a soft sound, sealing her away from the judging eyes outside. Only then did she let out the breath she had been holding since she entered the building.

Her chest rose and fell slowly.

She closed her eyes for a moment.

This is just business, she told herself.

Sign the papers and walk away.

The elevator dinged softly when it reached Dreston’s floor.

As the doors opened, the first person to see her was the floor receptionist. The young woman looked surprised but quickly masked it with professionalism.

“Good morning, Mrs. Tremont,” she said politely.

Cassienne paused.

Since the greeting was genuine, she returned it.

“Good morning, Maria.”

And just as she returned the greeting, she walked past without stopping.

Behind her, Maria and a few other staff members stared openly. Their mouths hung slightly open, not because Cassienne was there or something, but because of how she looked.

This Cassienne was different. She looked different from the woman they used to know and they wondered if

Chapter Eighteen: The Final Heartbreak

she has always been like this without them knowing?

Gone was the quiet woman who dressed simply and tried to blend in. Gone was the wife who never tried to stand out. Today, she looked stylish, confident and beautiful.

Janet, Dreston’s assistant, saw her approaching and hurried forward, clearly planning to announce her arrival. But Cassienne did not slow down.

She walked straight past Janet–Straight into Dreston’s office.

Janet gasped, too late to even greet her.

The moment Cassienne stepped inside, she froze because the scene before her made her heart drop.

Dreston was seated on the couch, while Tina sat right beside him, close enough that their arms almost touched. Across from them sat Dreston’s lawyer, a middle–aged man with grey hair, carefully studying

some documents on the coffee table.

Cassienne breathed. “So this was it.”

She let out a quiet, bitter laugh under her breath.

Seeing their closeness only confirmed what she already knew. He never called her here for peace. He called her here to humiliate her.

Dreston looked up and met her eyes. His face was cold. It was too hard, and grim.

Cassienne wasn’t expecting warmth. Neither was she expecting this level of cruelty either.

Still, she kept her face calm and neutral. She refused to give him the satisfaction of seeing her hurt.

“Come,” Dreston said flatly. “Sit here and sign the documents.”

He gestured toward the chair beside the lawyer. Cassienne followed his hand with her eyes. She saw that the chair was directly opposite Tina.

Tina looked miserable. Her eyes were red, her lips trembling. She looked like she had been crying for hours.

What a drama queen, Cassienne thought.

She walked forward and sat down beside the lawyer without a word.

The lawyer slid the papers closer.

“I have decided to give you the divorce you wanted,” Dreston said.

Cassienne felt nothing. No relief. No joy. Only exhaustion.

“But before that,” he continued, turning his eyes to Tina, “there is something we need to address.”

Cassienne frowned slightly.

“You stole from Tina,” Dreston said coldly. “Before I take legal action against you, I advise you to return what you took.”

The room went silent. Cassienne’s eyes widened.

Chapter Eighteen. The Final Heartbreak

Then anger exploded inside her.

“I am glad you have finally decided to do the right thing,” she said sharply. “But don’t you think you’re being unfair?”

“Cassienne,” Dreston warned.

“You just accused me of theft,” she snapped. “And you expect me to stay quiet?”

Tina sobbed softly.

Dreston continued, his voice firm and accusing. “You stole an important project Tina has been working on. The company planned to launch it. She trusted you to test it, and instead of reporting back, you stole it.”

Cassienne almost laughed. Or cried.

She didn’t know which to do.

“I did no such thing,” she said slowly. “I don’t even know what you’re talking about.”

Dreston picked up his laptop and turned it toward her.

The screen lit up.

Cassienne recognized the interface immediately.

It was her software. The one that was hacked. The same one she just locked. So Tina was the hacker. How interesting.

Her heart pounded–but then she smiled inside.

So Tina had accessed her work and wanted it for herself.

Good thing she had locked it.

“So this is what you mean?” Cassienne stood up slowly. “That software belongs to me. Not Tina. If anyone is stealing anything, then it is her.”

“Enough!” Dreston snapped, standing up too. “Don’t push me.”

Tina sobbed louder now, burying her face in her hands.

“How did I never see this desperate side of you?” Dreston said bitterly.

The words hit Cassienne like a slap.

“Why do you think I hired Tina?” he continued. “It was because of her intelligence–something you clearly don’t have.”

Cassienne felt tears burn her eyes.

He just called her brainless.

“You couldn’t even get a promotion,” he went on cruelly. “And now you want to claim someone else’s hard work? Is that how desperate you are?”

Chapter Eighteen The Final Heartbreak

She felt something inside her crack.

Dreston pointed at Tina. “Look at her. Look how she’s crying. She trusted you, and you betrayed her. Just to impress me.”

That was it.

Cassienne turned to the lawyer.

“I am ready to sign the divorce papers.”

The lawyer hesitated but handed her the documents and a pen.

Cassienne signed without reading.

She stood and faced Dreston.

“I have nothing more to say to you. We can settle the rest in court if needed. But I will not stand here and listen to your lies and insults anymore.”

She turned to leave.

“Cassienne,” Dreston called. “Come to court tomorrow. The magistrate will be waiting.

She stopped near the door but she did not turn.

“And the software,” he added coldly. “We are launching it next week. You will hand it over to Tina. That is

final.”

Cassienne didn’t give a reply, she simply walked out. Her heart pained so much and it was burning. The insults and accusations were too much and she couldn’t hold it in anymore.

Her legs felt weak. Her chest hurt. The hallway blurred as tears finally fell.

She pulled out her phone with trembling fingers.

“If you’re in the office,” she whispered into the call, “please come pick me up from Auralink. I need help.”

Chapter Nineteen Fucking is Diving?

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.