Ambergris Locakboxes Traveled Salt Routes by Hugh Calder 35

Chapter Thirty–Five: Her Rejection.

That strange feeling crept over Cassienne’s skin again.

It was the kind of feeling you get when someone is watching you closely. The kind that makes the air feel heavy, as if it presses against your body. It caused tiny shivers to rise along her arms, even though the room was warm.

Cassienne did not lift her eyes.

She focused on the seafood in front of her, cutting it slowly, carefully, as if nothing else existed. But she knew. She could feel it clearly.

Dreston was watching her.

His eyes had been on her for a long time now.

Why?

What exactly did he want from her?

The thought made her chest tighten. She hated this feeling. It felt too familiar, too dangerous. It felt like the beginning of old wounds reopening. She hated the idea that maybe–just maybe he had finally realized his mistake. Probably he now wanted her back.

That thought angered her.

It had better not be that.

Everything between them was over. Completely over. Nothing could bring them back together again. No apologies. No regret, or memories could fix anything now.

She lifted her glass and drank more water than she needed, trying to wash down the emotions building inside her. When she finally set her cutlery down, she raised her eyes.

Her gaze locked with Dreston’s.

He seemed lost in thought, his eyes dark and distant, as if he was looking at her but seeing something else entirely. When he noticed that she had stopped eating, he also set his cutlery aside and wiped his mouth with a napkin.

“Can we talk now?” Cassienne asked.

Her voice was calm, but inside, her heart was pounding.

Dreston nodded slowly. “Of course. We can.”

His voice was gentle. It almost sounded like a whisper, and it made her uncomfortable.

“I found out,” he said after a short pause, “that you are the creator of VELUX. And that Tina was the one who stole it from you. Not the other way around.”

Cassienne rolled her eyes.

Of course he had found out. She had known he would. It was only a matter of time. But by the time he discovered the truth, it was already too late.

She had already made her decision.

Chapter Thirty Five Her Rejection.

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“Yes,” she replied flatly. “You found out.”

She knew how easy it would be to prove that VELUX belonged to her. She had always known. But what was the point now? The product no longer mattered to her. As far as she was concerned, VELUX belonged to Auralink Systems now. She had handed it over willingly. She has nothing to do with it anymore.

“For that, I am sorry, Cassienne,” Dreston said quietly. “I should have believed you when you told me it was yours.”

“But you didn’t,” she muttered.

Her words were soft, but they carried years of pain.

Dreston swallowed. “I know. And I regret it deeply. I am truly sorry. Please forgive the hurtful things I said to you.” He paused, then added, “You are the most intelligent woman I have ever met. Someone ordinary could never have created something like VELUX.”

Cassienne listened without reacting.

She was not moved.

She had expected this apology. She had always known that the day he realized his mistake, he would come back with regret in his eyes and apologies on his lips. This moment was not surprising to her.

“It’s fine,” she said calmly. “Apology accepted. Can I go now?”

Dreston stiffened.

“No,” he said.

Cassienne raised an eyebrow. “No?”

“What else is there to discuss?” she asked. “VELUX is yours now, Dreston. I meant every word I said. That product was meant to pay for everything your family did to me. I will not take it back.”

Dreston opened his mouth, then closed it again. He knew she was still hurting. He could see it clearly now. But even so, he still had to say what he came here to say.

“I am sorry again,” he said slowly. “But I also have an offer for you.”

“An offer?” Cassienne repeated, surprised. “What kind of offer?”

“Come back to Auralink,” Dreston said. “Work for me again.”

Cassienne inhaled sharply, about to speak, but he continued.

“I will make you the CTO,” he said firmly. “Second in command. You will have full authority.”

Her eyes widened slightly.

“And that’s not all,” he added quickly. “I will also give you seventy percent of the profits from VELUX. That belongs to you. It’s only fair.”

Cassienne stared at him.

For a moment, she could not speak.

Why now?

Chapter Thirty five Her Rejection

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Why did he wait until everything was destroyed before seeing her worth?

Why didn’t he say these things when they were still married?

Why didn’t he believe her when she tried to show him who she was?

Nothing he said now could erase the past.

Nothing could erase the way he spoke to her with coldness. Nothing could erase the way he dismissed her. And nothing could erase the pain of knowing he gave another woman the right to carry his child while she remained untouched.

She married him as a virgin.

She divorced him as a virgin.

Five years.

Five long years of loving him, of hoping and dreaming.

She had imagined what it would feel like to be close to him. She had imagined his hands on her, his lips, the warmth of his body against hers. But he never once crossed that line. He never once made that mistake.

She shook her head slowly.. 1

No.

She could not work with him. She could not stay close to him. She could not allow herself to hope again.

She still loved him. She knew that. She probably always would. But love alone was not enough. It never was.

She pushed her chair back and stood up. She grabbed her purse and straightened her shoulders, forcing strength into her posture.

“I have moved past this,” she said clearly. “I accept your apology. But I’m sorry, Dreston. I have to reject your offer.”

Dreston froze.

He stared at her, unable to believe what he had just heard. That offer could change anyone’s life. No one had ever rejected something like that from him before.

But Cassienne did not hesitate.

She knew Tina would always come first in his life. She knew that deep down, nothing had changed. Dreston was a businessman. A man who always calculated his moves.

He had not come because he loved her.

He came because he realized losing her could cost his company dearly.

“Please,” Cassienne continued, her voice calm but firm, “don’t call me out like this again. I have let go of the past. I am trying to move forward. If you truly care about me, then at least be happy for me.”

She turned away without waiting for his reply.

Dreston could not speak. His mind was blank, and words refused to form.

He watched as Cassienne walked toward the door. He watched as she opened it. And as she stepped out of his life

Chapter Thirty–five Her Rejection

again.

The door closed softly behind her.

Silence filled the room now, and it was suffocating.

Dreston sat there, staring at the empty chair across from him.

What had just happened?

This woman was not the Cassienne he lived with for five years.

Or was it that he had never truly known the woman he married and lived with for five years?

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Crown Imagination Author

Dear Readers,

Happy New year to you all. I am super excited that this year will be good for everyone. Yes, I am back from my short break and now, you will have your two chapters daily updates now….

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