Chapter 25

In Chapter 25, Gemma reflects on a recent phone call filled with excitement about the upcoming family dinner with Cassian. However, as she sits on her bed, she realizes that her attendance at the dinner was more of a favor for Cassian, and she feels a sense of disappointment as she recalls how he often prioritized his work over visiting her mother. With their divorce looming, she doubts he would reciprocate the favor she extended to him, leading to a sense of resignation as she sends him a text, knowing it might not elicit a response.
The next morning, Gemma wakes up to find no reply from Cassian, which she accepts without much pain. She prepares to visit her mother in the hospital, feeling a mix of gratitude for the care her mother receives and sadness over her mother’s circumstances. As she approaches her mother’s room, she is struck by the sight of her mother looking out at the river, embodying the gentleness that has always defined her. Gemma reflects on her mother’s past and the impact of her father’s criminal life, feeling a deep ache for the life her mother should have had.
Upon entering her mother’s room, Gemma is greeted with warmth, but the conversation quickly turns to gifts her mother has prepared for Cassian and his grandfather. Gemma feels a pang of sadness as she realizes her mother’s intentions are rooted in kindness, yet she knows that Cassian would not appreciate the meager gifts. Gemma struggles to maintain her composure as she tries to persuade her mother to keep the money for herself, fearing the disappointment her mother would feel if she knew Cassian’s likely reaction.
The chapter culminates in tension as Cassian enters the room, his imposing presence contrasting sharply with the warmth of the moment. Gemma feels a shiver of apprehension as Cassian’s cold gaze lands on the gifts her mother prepared. The emotional complexity of their relationships is palpable, filled with unspoken expectations and the weight of past decisions. Gemma’s internal conflict and her mother’s innocence set the stage for a poignant exploration of love, disappointment, and familial bonds amidst the backdrop of their troubled lives.
**Chapter 25**
**Gemma**
Our conversation lingers, filled with excitement, before we finally hang up. Her voice, brimming with joy at the thought of seeing both Cassian and me, echoes in my mind long after the call ends.
I find myself sinking onto the edge of my bed, the fabric cool against my skin as I ponder our exchange. It dawns on me that attending Cassian’s family dinner today was a favor to him. Perhaps I could call in that favor now.
After all, he owes me that much, doesn’t he?
Yet, as I reflect on our time together, I realize that even during my charade of being his cheerful little wife, Cassian was often too preoccupied with his work to visit my mother.
Of course, why would the esteemed head of the Blackwell family take the time to visit a woman deemed “crazy” by society? He was far too busy with clandestine meetings in shadowy gambling dens and orchestrating his illicit flights across international borders.
Now, as our divorce looms over us like a storm cloud, I know there’s no way he would consider returning the favor I extended to him.
18:46
With a deep sigh, I send him a quick text, despite knowing it’s futile, and then I drift off to sleep, my mind swirling with thoughts.
Morning breaks, and I awaken to find no response from Cassian. I hadn’t anticipated one, so the absence of his reply doesn’t sting as much as I thought it would.
Honestly? It’s probably for the best. I need to break the news to my mother that my relationship with him has come to an end, and it’ll be much easier without him lurking in the background.
As I make my way to the hospital, I take the elevator up to my mother’s floor. The hospital is nestled just outside the city, surrounded by a lush forest, its wide windows and glass walls creating an illusion of openness and freedom that feels so rare in our lives.
Upon stepping onto her floor, I’m greeted by the sight of numerous patients gathered in the lounge, where nurses and volunteers engage them in games and puzzles.
The atmosphere is serene, and I can’t help but feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude towards Donovan for ensuring my mother could stay here, rather than being shuffled off to a state-run facility or, worse, left to fend for herself on the streets.
I approach her room, the door ajar, and pause for a moment, watching her gaze out the window at the river that flows gracefully behind the hospital.
2/6
18:46
My heart aches at the sight. My mother was never meant to be entangled in the mafia world; that much is painfully obvious just by looking at her.
She hailed from a wealthy, old family that cast her aside after her marriage, their pride wounded by their connection to a criminal.
And my mother? I’ve often wondered what drew her to my father. There’s nothing hard or ruthless about her; she’s always seemed so gentle, so elegantly poised. I’ve never witnessed her lose her temper, unlike the other mafia wives I’ve encountered.
Her kindness has always been her defining trait, and I believe it’s what blinded her to the true nature of my father for so long.
Suddenly, my thoughts drift back to my father’s funeral, to those harrowing days that followed when our lives felt like they were hanging by a thread.
I remember the day after his funeral, the day she was poisoned.
I can’t fathom how to prove it, but one moment she was fine, and the next, she was spiraling into a chasm of mania and deep depression. I felt utterly helpless, unable to cope with the weight of her despair alone.
The months that elapsed between Dad’s funeral and the frantic night I fled to the Blackwell Mansion stand as my greatest failure.
I tried, I truly did, but I couldn’t care for my mother the way she needed me to.
I must have made some sound, because suddenly she turns, her long, flowing red hair swirling around her like a fiery halo. When she sees me, her face lights up with a radiant smile.
“Gemma! You came!” Her eyes dart around the room, momentarily clouded with confusion. “Where’s Cassian?”
“Sorry, Mom. He… had a flight today.”
“Oh,” she replies, her face momentarily falling, but then she brightens almost instantly. “That’s all right. I understand how busy he is. Come here! I have some gifts for Cassian and his grandfather! I ordered them online. Can you deliver them when you have a chance?”
A pang of sadness strikes my heart as I glance at the items spread across her bed.
There’s a shirt and a few other pieces of clothing, clearly from discount websites. The thought of Cassian’s likely scorn at such gifts makes me cringe.
“Mom, please. Just keep the money I send you or spend it on yourself. Cassian and Mr. Blackwell don’t need gifts from you.”
“Well, I’m your mother, and they’re your in-laws. We should be able to exchange gifts,” she insists, her voice tinged with a hint of defiance.
“Mom, seriously. It looks like you spent all the money I loaded onto your card on this stuff. Stop buying them things!”
I strive to maintain a gentle tone, yet I can hear the edge in my voice. Her eyes glisten with unshed tears, and her bottom lip quivers.
“I… I just feel like I owe them so much for paying for me to stay here. Don’t you think they’ll like them? I can return these and try to find something better!”
I close my eyes, grappling with my emotions. No, I don’t believe Cassian would appreciate any of this, but I can’t bring myself to tell my mother that. The thought of her devastation is unbearable.
Just then, I hear footsteps approaching, and I look up to see Cassian entering the room. His imposing presence fills the space, making it feel almost too small for the three of us.
His gaze sweeps over the bed, landing on my mother’s meager offerings. The coldness in his expression sends a shiver down my spine.
Then, his eyes fixate on the gifts laid out before him.
As I stand there, caught between my mother’s hopeful smile and Cassian’s icy demeanor, the weight of my choices presses heavily upon me. The stark contrast between my mother’s gentle spirit and Cassian’s hardened exterior serves as a painful reminder of the life I’ve been trapped in. I realize that my attempts to shield my mother from the harsh realities of our world have only deepened the chasm between us. The gifts she offers, meant to bridge connections, now feel like shackles binding me to a past I desperately want to escape. In this moment, I understand that the path forward requires me to confront not only my relationship with Cassian but also the painful truths about my family’s legacy.
As Cassian’s presence looms larger, I feel the fragile threads of my resolve unraveling. The impending divorce weighs heavily on my heart, yet it also ignites a flicker of hope for a new beginning—one where I can reclaim my identity and protect my mother from the shadows of our past. I want to tell her that it’s okay to let go of the burden of gratitude towards Cassian and his family. In her eyes, I see a reflection of the kindness that has always defined her, and I know that I must nurture that same kindness within myself. With a deep breath, I prepare to navigate this difficult conversation, determined to forge a future where love and compassion triumph over the darkness that has long overshadowed our lives.
In the next chapter of *Before Rain Touches Earth Memories Return With Gentle Warmth*, readers can expect the tension to escalate as Cassian confronts the reality of his fractured relationship with Gemma and the emotional turmoil surrounding her mother. With Cassian’s imposing presence now in the room, the atmosphere thickens with unspoken words and unresolved feelings. Will he dismiss her mother’s heartfelt gifts, or will he surprise everyone with an unexpected display of compassion? Gemma’s inner conflict about her mother’s well-being and her own crumbling marriage will take center stage, forcing her to navigate the delicate balance between familial loyalty and her own heartache.
As the chapter unfolds, Gemma will grapple with the haunting memories of her father’s funeral and the subsequent turmoil that has shaped her family’s dynamics. The past will come crashing into the present, revealing deeper layers of Gemma’s struggles and her desperate need for closure. Will she find the strength to confront Cassian about his indifference, or will she succumb to the weight of her emotions, allowing the cycle of silence to continue? The stakes are high, and the emotional fallout promises to be profound, leaving readers on the edge of their seats as they anticipate the choices Gemma will make in the face of her mother’s vulnerability and Cassian’s cold demeanor.
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