Ambergris Locakboxes Traveled Salt Routes by Hugh Calder 46

Chapter Forty–Six: Do You Still Love Me?

The drive to the airport was quiet and heavy with unspoken thoughts.

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Cassienne sat in the back seat beside Dreston, her body stiff, her hands folded tightly on her lap. Neither of them spoke. They both stared out of the window, watching the calm lagoon stretch endlessly beneath the early morning sun. The sunlight danced gently on the water as their car passed under the wide overhead bridge of Gulfport.

They both wore dark sunglasses, hiding their eyes and whatever emotions threatened to escape.

Gulfport was the fastest route to Nile Airport. It was a private airport, though Cassienne did not know that yet. To her, it just felt like a strange, unfamiliar road–too quiet, too empty and too controlled.

Earlier that morning, Dreston had made quick arrangements. He had chartered a private jet to Lisbourn without hesitation. It was the fastest and most efficient option, and speed was all that mattered now.

What Cassienne did not know was that, in Dreston’s mind, she was still his responsibility.

He knew Cassienne had once loved him deeply. He knew she might still carry those feelings, even if she tried hard to hide them. And the only way he believed he could repay that love was through care–not romance, not promises, just protection.

He cared about her well–being. He also cared about her safety. And he cared about her life.

But Dreston was a man bound by principles.

Long ago, he had made a promise to a young girl, and he was determined to keep it. No matter how complicated things became, no matter how confusing his emotions grew, that promise stood firm in his heart.

His mind drifted back to the past.

He remembered Tina as a child. He remembered how she smiled, looking up at him with complete trust.

“I promise to marry you when I grow up,” he had told her.

It was an innocent promise, spoken without full understanding. But to Dreston, a promise was a promise. He had sealed it in his heart, and he intended to fulfill it.

Beside him, Cassienne’s thoughts were far away from promises and past memories.

Her mind was fixed on one thing–her mother.

She worried silently, her chest tight with fear and hope. She prayed they were not too late. She prayed her mother was still strong enough to see them.

“Don’t worry,” Dreston suddenly said, breaking the silence. “She will be fine.”

His voice snapped Cassienne out of her thoughts.

She turned to look at him. He was already looking at her, his face looked calm and unreadable behind the sunglasses. For a moment, their eyes met through the dark lenses.

Cassienne nodded slowly. “Thank you,” she whispered.

He gave a small nod in response and turned his face away again.

Dreston knew he could not keep looking at her like that.

Chapter Forty–Six Do You Still Love Me?

It was too dangerous.

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Especially after the dream he had the night before.

Nothing like that had ever happened between them before. The closest they had ever been was the previous night at the club, when he had grabbed her to stop her from falling. Even that brief contact had done strange things to him.

Feelings he could not name.

Thoughts he did not understand.

He had promised himself that he would find answers. But not now. And definitely not today.

The car slowed down and rolled onto the private airport tarmac.

Cassienne lifted her head when she saw the jet waiting ahead. Her brows pulled together in confusion. This was not the airport she had expected. The place was too quiet, too exclusive.

She had suspected something when they crossed the Gulfport bridge, but she thought maybe it was just a shorter

route.

This?

This was something else.

Before she could ask a question, the car doors were opened.

A bodyguard opened Cassienne’s door without even looking at her. Another opened Dreston’s door. They stepped out of the car and were instantly greeted by the warmth of the morning sun.

A sky–blue jet stood proudly in front of them.

Two hostesses waited by the stairs, smiling professionally, their posture perfect.

Cassienne froze slightly.

Dreston turned to her. “Cassienne, come with me,” he said.

She looked confused but nodded and followed him. The bodyguards brought out their luggage and walked behind

them.

“You didn’t tell me we were taking a chartered jet,” Cassienne whispered as they walked.

Dreston did not respond immediately.

She glanced at him again, waiting. When he realized she was still looking at him, he stopped walking and turned to face her. Slowly, he removed his sunglasses.

Cassienne almost gasped.

His grey eyes met hers directly.

Those eyes.

She cursed herself for looking. No matter how hard she tried, she could never get used to how those eyes made her feel. They stirred emotions she had tried so hard to bury.

She quickly looked away, her cheeks warming.

Chapter Forty–Six Do You Still Love Me?

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“This is the best option,” Dreston said calmly. “You said we needed to get there as fast as possible. This is how we do that.”

He paused briefly, then added, “And don’t start any lecture about money. I won’t entertain it.”

He put his sunglasses back on and turned away. “Let’s go.

Cassienne felt hurt by his tone.

If this were not about her mother, she would never have called him. Never. She swallowed her feelings and

climbed the stairs.

Inside the jet, the hostesses greeted her warmly.

Cassienne looked around in quiet amazement. The interior was beautiful–soft leather seats, polished surfaces, warm lighting. Everything smelled new and expensive.

Dreston had already taken his seat. One leg was crossed over the other, his posture relaxed, his attention fully on his phone.

Cassienne took the seat across from him.

She did not say another word.

She fastened her seatbelt, leaned back, and closed her eyes, waiting for takeoff.

Dreston glanced up from his phone and looked at her.

He had spoken harshly on purpose. Cassienne was always careful about spending money, and he did not want to hear complaints so early in the morning.

But as he watched her sitting there quietly, eyes closed, something tugged at his chest again.

That pull.

The same one from the night before.

This time, he could not ignore it.

There was something he needed to know. Something that had been bothering him since the moment he saw her this morning.

Before he could stop himself, the words left his mouth.

“Do you still love me?”

The question hung in the air between them.

Cassienne’s eyes were still closed.

But her heart skipped painfully, then began to race.

Dreston knew it was a foolish question.

But he had asked anyway.

And now, he waited for her answer.

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