Ambergris Locakboxes Traveled Salt Routes by Hugh Calder 48

Chapter Forty–Eight: Tina Is Not Pregnant.

Cassienne’s blue eyes stayed locked on Dreston’s grey ones, and the intensity between them was hard to ignore. What made him ask such a question? She had done nothing to give him the right to think that way.

“You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to,” Dreston added quietly.

But deep inside, he wanted her to respond. He needed her to. Cassienne looked away instead and returned to her phone, continuing her text as if the question had never been asked.

She did not owe him any explanation. Why should she? It was the same as her asking him about Tina. She knew very well that he would never answer such a question.

So she chose silence.

“When we were together,” Dreston spoke again, his voice low, “you always respected me. You paid attention to me. What changed?” 1

Cassienne paused.

For a moment, she wondered why he was suddenly opening wounds that were already healing. But then she thought–why not? If he wanted to talk about the past, she could allow it. There was nothing left to protect anymore. They were already divorced.

She placed her phone on the table in front of her and adjusted her sitting position.

“Why are you suddenly talking about the past?” she asked calmly. “And why are you interested in knowing about my sex life?”

Although, that was not the answer to his question. But Dreston didn’t understand it himself. Hearing those words -sex life–did something to him. Something dark and unsettling. The thought of Cassienne being intimate with another man twisted his chest painfully. 1

She shouldn’t be with anyone else. He didn’t want her to be.

Cassienne watched his reaction closely, reading him like an open book. Was that jealousy? Was Dreston finally feeling something for her?

If that was the case, then it was already too late.

Tina was carrying his child. And Cassienne had already decided she wanted nothing to do with him anymore.

She knew moving on would not be easy. Loving him had become a habit, one that refused to fade quickly. But she was determined.

No matter how long it took, she would move on. She had to.

So, slowly, she lifted her head and looked straight into his eyes again. This time, her smile was gone. It was replaced with an expression that was calm, but cold.

“Why would you ask me that?” she said quietly.

Dreston held her gaze. “Because you look… happy,” he replied. “And I know that look.”

Cassienne let out a soft laugh–one without humor.

“You lost the right to question my happiness the moment you chose someone else, Dreston,” she said. “Who I talk to, who I smile with, who I share my time with–that is none of your business anymore.”

Chapter Forty Eight Ting to Not Pregnant

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Dreston clenched his jaw. “You’re wrong.

“No,” she said firmly. “I’m not.”

She leaned back in her seat, holding his gaze without fear,

“You asked me earlier if I still love you,”

“Oh, I thought you didn’t hear that? So you weren’t sleeping then” Dreston accused.

“No, I wasn’t. I just didn’t see the need to give you a reply.”

Dreston studied her. He had been looking for the opportunity to have this conversation with her. And he was glad she was responding now.

Cassienne continued. “That question alone shows how unfair you are. You want answers you are not ready to take responsibility for.”

Silence filled the space between them.

“I didn’t answer you,” she added softly, “because I know myself. And I know you.”

Dreston said nothing.

Cassienne looked down at her phone and locked the screen.

“I won’t let you confuse me again,” she said. “Not for old memories. Not for unfinished feelings. And definitely not for questions that lead nowhere.”

The jet continued to soar through the sky.

But inside, something had already begun to fall apart.

“You still haven’t answered my question,” Dreston said, his voice firm but strained. “Do you still love me? It was a simple question.” He shrugged. 1

Cassienne didn’t hesitate. Not even for a second.

“No. I don’t,” she lied smoothly. “Are you happy now?”

The words hit him harder than he expected.

Dreston’s jaw tightened, the muscles in his face hardening as anger and something more flashed in his grey eyes. He looked upset–no, he looked wounded. But Cassienne wasn’t done talking. Not yet.

“Since you’re suddenly in the mood to talk about our past relationship,” she continued calmly, even though her heart was racing, “I might as well ask you some questions too.”

Dreston lifted a brow slowly, clearly surprised. Now she wants answers? he thought bitterly. After everything?

“Why didn’t you touch me,” Cassienne asked, her voice quieter now, and desperate. “despite everything?”

That question caught him completely off guard.

For a brief moment, Dreston said nothing. His mind raced. If he answered her truthfully–if he told her the real reason–she might walk away from him forever. And that was something he wasn’t ready for.

“I don’t know,” he said finally. “It just… happened.”

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Chapter Forty–Eight Tina is Not Pregnant

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Cassienne stared at him, disbelief flashing across her face. That answer was too easy and careless. He was playing games with her, and she hated it.

Her eyes slowly scanned the inside of the jet. The hostesses were nowhere in sight. The bodyguards were far enough away, clearly not paying attention to them. They were alone in their silence.

“Is Tina carrying your baby?” Cassienne asked suddenly.

She already knew the answer. She had seen it herself. But she wanted to hear it from him. She needed him to say it.

“Tina is not pregnant,” Dreston replied without blinking.

Cassienne let out a bitter laugh. “You’re lying.”

“I’m not,” he said calmly. “That’s the truth.”

“I saw you at the hospital,” Cassienne snapped, her voice rising despite herself. “I heard everything the doctor said about her pregnancy. So don’t lie to me.”

Her words stirred something deep inside Dreston. Something bitter and something heavy.

So she knew. Was that why she filed for the divorce so suddenly?

Was that why she walked away without looking back?

“Tina was pregnant,” he said slowly. “But not anymore.” His voice was a whisper now.

And Cassienne froze.

The world seemed to stop around her. Her breathing slowed, her heart skipping painfully in her chest.

Not anymore?

Her mind filled with questions she wasn’t ready to ask.

How? What happened? And why did this suddenly hurt more than she expected?

She looked at Dreston, searching his face for answers, but his expression had already closed off.

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