Chapter 158

In Chapter 158 of “Before Rain Touches Earth Memories Return With Gentle Warmth,” Reyna finds herself in a hospital room, ready to be discharged after a minor incident involving pool water. The nurse informs her that her fiancé, Cassian, is on his way to pick her up. Despite the nurse’s condescending tone, Reyna maintains a polite demeanor, all while feeling frustrated with her situation. She reflects on how Cassian had rushed her to the hospital in a panic, only to leave abruptly after receiving news about his grandfather, Donovan Blackwell, who has been admitted due to cardiac arrest.
Determined to make the most of her time in the hospital, Reyna decides to visit Donovan in his room, hoping to earn some favor with him. However, the meeting quickly turns tense. Donovan greets her with disdain, clearly unhappy about Cassian sharing his health issues with her. Reyna, despite feeling a surge of anger, tries to control her emotions and expresses her concern for Cassian. She asserts that their bond is strong and that no one, including Donovan, can dictate their relationship. This confrontation reveals the deep-seated animosity between Reyna and Donovan, as he dismisses her intentions and belittles her worthiness as Cassian’s partner.
As the dialogue escalates, Reyna stands her ground, challenging Donovan’s authority over his grandson’s life. She argues that his attempts to keep them apart will ultimately fail, igniting a fiery exchange between them. Donovan insults Reyna, drawing on her family’s past and questioning her motives. The tension reaches a boiling point when Reyna delivers a biting remark about Cassian’s lack of acceptance of Gemma, Donovan’s preferred choice for him. This revelation catches Donovan off guard, momentarily shifting the power dynamics between them.
Reyna’s emotions fluctuate between anger and determination as she confronts Donovan. The chapter encapsulates her struggle for autonomy in a relationship that is fraught with external pressures and familial expectations. Ultimately, Reyna’s defiance against Donovan’s dismissive attitude showcases her resilience and commitment to Cassian, setting the stage for an ongoing battle for their love amidst adversity.
**Before Rain Touches Earth Memories Return With Gentle Warmth by Eli Dane Crest 158**
**Chapter 158**
**Reyna’s POV**
The door creaked open, and in walked the nurse, her expression shifting from routine calm to a flustered surprise upon catching sight of me perched upright on the hospital bed, my fingers idly scrolling through my phone.
“Oh dear! Didn’t I mention it before? The doctor cleared you for discharge nearly an hour ago. You can head home now, sweetheart.”
Her tone dripped with an unwarranted condescension, and I fought the urge to roll my eyes dramatically. Seriously, is this place really a five-star hospital? Who is handing out licenses to these incompetent fools?
Instead, I plastered a sheepish smile on my face, the kind that said I was trying to be understanding.
“Oh no, you did tell me! But my fiancé is on his way to pick me up, so I thought I’d wait here until he arrives.”
“Of course! Just rest until then, honey,” she replied, her smile brightening as she shuffled out of the room. I couldn’t help but scoff softly as the door clicked shut behind her.
Naturally, I was more than ready to be discharged. After all, I had merely choked on a bit of chlorinated pool water. Hardly a medical emergency, let alone a near-death experience! But I played my part well enough to keep Cassian by my side.
He had rushed me here in a full-blown panic, his face a mask of worry, but barely five minutes had passed when his phone rang. From the snippets of conversation I overheard, it seemed that someone had informed him that his grandfather had collapsed.
Like a dutiful grandson, off he went, disappearing before I could even muster one of my “please don’t leave me” puppy dog expressions.
Yet, it wasn’t the worst scenario. I could eavesdrop on some juicy gossip since nurses are known to gossip more than a group of teenage girls.
I overheard that Donovan Blackwell had been admitted to the private ward, Room 402, due to cardiac arrest.
Looks like that old fossil was finally cracking under the weight of his own inflated ego! All the better for me, since the sooner he leaves this world, the sooner I can have Cassian all to myself.
I ran my fingers through my hair, attempting to smooth out the tangles that had formed after my unexpected dip in the pool. It would have to do for now.
Adjusting the IV cannula taped to my hand, I decided to step out in my hospital scrubs—after all, it added to the fragile image I wanted to project. I reached for the bouquet of fresh roses the nurse had left earlier and headed straight for Donovan Blackwell’s room.
**Time to collect some brownie points!**
Ward 402: the gold plaque outside the door gleamed as I steeled my expression into one of gentle concern before pushing the door open.
Cassian wasn’t there yet. Inside, Donovan was half-sitting, half-lying on the bed, an IV needle protruding from his hand and a tray of untouched food languishing nearby. His eyes were closed, but they snapped open the moment I greeted him.
“Hello, Mr. Blackwell! Cassian mentioned you weren’t feeling well, so I came to wish you a speedy recovery.”
His face looked tired and gaunt, but he managed to muster an icy scowl, as if he had just spotted a rat scurrying across his pristine restaurant floor.
Old habits die hard, it seems. But I refused to be easily disheartened.
With a wistful sigh, I continued, “Unfortunately, I had a little accident myself today, due to—”
“There was no need for such formality, Reyna,” he interrupted coldly. “And in any case, I don’t appreciate Cassian sharing my affairs with outsiders.”
A fire ignited beneath my skin, and my smile faltered momentarily, only to be twisted back into place with effort.
“I’m sorry if it felt like an intrusion, Grandpa, but I care deeply about Cassian and I’m trying to support him—”
“It’s Mr. Blackwell or Donovan for you. We share no family ties.”
Every ounce of my self-control was tested as I fought the urge to scream.
My hand tightened around the stems of the roses, the thorns biting into my palm, but I quickly composed myself, biting the inside of my cheek to maintain a pleasant tone.
“Right. Mr. Blackwell. I apologize on Cassian’s behalf if you find it inappropriate that he shares his burdens with me. But with all due respect, you’ve tried to separate us before, haven’t you? And yet, we always find our way back to each other. Doesn’t that make you feel like the universe is conspiring for us to be together?”
“No!”
He replied flatly, irritation etched all over his features. “I refuse to let a so-called universe dictate my life.”
Taking a deep breath, I fought to keep from combusting into flames.
“Well,” I said, tightening my grip on the flowers, “what I’m saying, Mr. Blackwell, is that you can’t dictate Cassian’s life either. Forcing him to be with someone who is utterly incompatible with him is just plain unfair.”
I paused, lifting my chin defiantly, refusing to cower under his intimidating glare.
“I’m the one he’s meant to be with. Even if we face every obstacle in our path, it won’t change a thing. Your stubbornness may delay our union, but it can’t prevent it.”
If I thought my words might strike a chord with the old man, I was sorely mistaken.
Instead, the Mafia overlord regarded me with pure disgust, sending a chill crawling up my spine, as though he might shoot me down right then and there with just a look.
“So you’re threatening me with a smile… thinking I’ll fall for it?”
I maintained my pleasant expression, even as a storm brewed within me. Of course, I couldn’t afford to be openly hostile towards Donovan Blackwell.
“I’ve always known it, but I’m still surprised by how cunning and manipulative you are. And that’s exactly why I don’t want you anywhere near my family… unlike Gemma, who’s pure and honest. She doesn’t need to scheme or beg for attention.”
Bitterness coursed through my veins as he leaned forward slightly, his tone as cold as ice.
“On the other hand, it’s in your blood, isn’t it? Your mother might have succeeded in capturing Lucien Marino’s attention with her cheap tactics, but don’t you dare think you can do the same with my grandson.”
My teeth ground together so tightly that pain shot through my neck.
“Don’t forget, I raised Cassian. Those are my values running through his veins. He will never choose you over Gemma, and he’ll never leave her.”
He leaned back against the pillows, dismissing me with a wave of his hand.
“So stop pretending you’re here out of concern; you’re not fooling me. I don’t want to see you anymore. Get out.”
He turned his head aside as if I were no longer worth his time, and something inside me snapped.
Anger and humiliation flooded my vision, turning everything red. For a moment, I tried to swallow the fury that burned like acid in my lungs, but I failed.
Screw it!
If I was headed for hell, I might as well go down laughing. I was ready to burn this whole situation to the ground.
I let out a soft, sarcastic chuckle, tilting my head at him.
“Oh really?” I said sweetly. “For all your supposed wisdom, you’re at least partially right, Mr. Blackwell.”
His brows knitted into a frown, but he still wouldn’t look at me.
“Because how can Cassian leave Gemma… when he never accepted her at all?”
His head snapped back toward me, eyes wide in disbelief.
Bingo!
As I stepped out of Donovan Blackwell’s room, the weight of my confrontation lingered in the air like an unshakeable fog. My heart raced, not just from the adrenaline of standing up to the man who had wielded so much power over Cassian’s life, but from the realization that I had crossed a threshold. The words I had spoken were not just a defense of my love for Cassian; they were a declaration of my own identity and worth. I had fought fiercely for our bond, and in that moment, I understood that love wasn’t merely about soft whispers and gentle caresses—it was about standing your ground, even in the face of disdain. The thorns of the roses still pressed into my palm, a reminder of the pain that often accompanied passion, yet I felt emboldened, ready to embrace whatever storm lay ahead.
As I waited for Cassian to arrive, I reflected on the emotional tumult of the day. The fear of losing him had driven me to confront his grandfather, igniting a fire within me that I never knew existed. I had stepped out of the shadows of insecurity and into the light of determination, and that was a victory in itself. The hospital room had become a battleground, and though I had emerged bruised and weary, I was no longer the passive figure waiting for someone to rescue me. I was Reyna, a woman who recognized her worth and the depth of her love. With each passing moment, I felt the warmth of hope wrap around me, a promise that no matter the obstacles, love would always find a way to flourish—just like the roses I held tightly in my grasp.
**What to Expect in Next Chapter?**
In the upcoming chapter, tensions will reach a boiling point as Reyna stands her ground against Donovan Blackwell’s icy demeanor. With her heart racing and anger simmering just beneath the surface, she will delve deeper into the web of family dynamics and power struggles that threaten her relationship with Cassian. As Reyna grapples with the weight of Donovan’s disdain, she will have to summon all her courage and cunning to assert her place in Cassian’s life. Will she manage to break through the walls that Donovan has built around his family, or will his cold-hearted manipulation succeed in driving a wedge between her and Cassian?
Meanwhile, Cassian’s absence looms large, and his reaction to Reyna’s confrontation with his grandfather will be pivotal. As he navigates his own familial crises, including the alarming health of Donovan, Reyna’s bold move could either fortify their bond or push him further into the clutches of his grandfather’s expectations. The chapter promises to unveil the complexities of loyalty, love, and ambition, as Reyna’s fierce determination to claim her place in Cassian’s heart faces its greatest test yet. Expect unexpected alliances, fiery confrontations, and perhaps even revelations that could change the course of their lives forever. Will Reyna’s gamble pay off, or will it all come crashing down around her?
admin