Chapter 166

In Chapter 166 of “Before Rain Touches Earth Memories Return With Gentle Warmth,” Reyna struggles with her emotions as she walks into a meeting with Rhett, attempting to project confidence despite feeling betrayed. She chooses to sit across from Cassian, who is leading the meeting with a cold demeanor. When Cassian announces that he will be assigning Liam to oversee a crucial project, Reyna is taken aback, especially when he mentions going away with his wife, Gemma, for a honeymoon. This news hits Reyna hard, as she grapples with feelings of inadequacy and jealousy, realizing that Cassian has never shown her the same level of care or concern.
As the meeting unfolds, Cassian’s light-hearted banter with Liam about the vacation only deepens Reyna’s sense of isolation and betrayal. She tries to maintain her composure but feels the weight of her emotions as she watches Cassian joke about his relationship with Gemma, contrasting sharply with her own experiences of feeling overlooked and unappreciated. Reyna’s internal struggle becomes palpable as she fights back tears, feeling invisible in a room filled with laughter that seems to mock her pain.
After the meeting, Cassian coolly instructs Reyna to hand over her work to Adam, further dismissing her presence. Reyna’s heart sinks as she realizes that her contributions and loyalty mean little to him. In a moment of vulnerability, she stands frozen, feeling the sting of tears without anyone noticing her distress. This moment highlights her loneliness and the emotional toll of her relationship with Cassian.
Meanwhile, Cassian is confronted by Rhett, who is visibly upset about Reyna’s treatment. Rhett’s passionate defense of Reyna reveals the depth of her loyalty and the betrayal she feels from Cassian’s decision to prioritize his wife over her. The tension escalates as Rhett challenges Cassian’s actions, accusing him of allowing Gemma to manipulate their professional relationships. Cassian’s defensiveness and anger at Rhett’s accusations only serve to underline the growing rift between them, as well as the complexities of loyalty and love within their circle.
Ultimately, this chapter encapsulates Reyna’s emotional turmoil and the shifting dynamics within their group, setting the stage for further conflict and introspection as they navigate their intertwined relationships.
**TITLE: Before Rain Touches Earth Memories Return With Gentle Warmth by Eli Dane Crest 166**
**CONTENT: Chapter 166-1**
**Reyna’s POV**
As I walk alongside Rhett, I strive to project an air of confidence, masking the turmoil within me.
I only allow him to hold the door open for a fleeting moment, just long enough for me to offer him a faint smile—a small gesture of gratitude, perhaps, but also a way to keep my distance. I don’t want him beside me during the meeting; I need to assert my independence. Choosing a seat across from him, I settle in alone, deliberately positioning myself as a figure of resilience, someone who still stands tall despite the weight of betrayal heavy on my heart.
I slide into my chair, scanning the room, but Cassian’s gaze remains elusive, not a single glance in my direction yet.
At the head of the table, he stands poised, his demeanor all business.
“Now that you’re all present, let’s commence,” he begins, his voice devoid of warmth. He meticulously reads through a list of project reassignments, the monotony of his tone sending a chill through the air. As he approaches the final item on the agenda, his announcement feels like a bolt from the blue.
“And lastly, I’m assigning Liam to oversee the remaining aspects of the Dumas armory merger. The handover is critical, and with deadlines looming, I need someone dedicated to the task.”
What in the world? That project has been Cassian’s baby; he’s been micromanaging every detail for months. Why would he relinquish control now, when it’s just within reach of completion?
Rhett, clearly bewildered, breaks the stunned silence that hangs in the air.
“But you’ve been directly overseeing that project for months. Why step back now?”
“Because I’ll be out of the country. I’ll be in Nassau with my wife, Gemma.”
My stomach plummets at the mention of her name, but he continues as if it’s nothing.
“We have a final deal with the Nassau Royal Army before the handover, and Liam is more than capable of seeing the other projects to fruition since the due date is in ten days. I’ll be back in two weeks.”
From the back of the room, another employee named Dario shouts,
“Will the handover really take that long, boss?”
Despite my carefully constructed facade, I can’t help but turn my head sharply, my eyes locking onto Cassian’s as I hold my breath. He despises being questioned, especially by his subordinates.
But to my surprise, he doesn’t explode. Instead, his mood shifts, transforming into something almost… lighter.
“No, since I’ll be going there anyway, I decided to take two weeks off and enjoy our vacation too. In any case, I owe Gemma a honeymoon, so it’s a special gift.”
The blood rushes in my ears. Honeymoon?!
A flicker of a smile dances on his lips as he speaks, and my throat tightens, dryness creeping in.
Liam chuckles, and I can’t shake the feeling that he’s laughing at my expense.
“Wait, does that offer extend to your business partners too? Because I haven’t taken a vacation with you either, and islands are definitely my kind of place—”
Cassian smirks, his eyes glinting with mischief. “Sure! As long as you’re willing to take a bullet for me on the return flight, we’d be happy to sponsor you. We’re in need of a pet dog anyway.”
“As long as you promise me unlimited booze and a buffet, I’ll bark and wag my tail for you too!”
Laughter erupts around the table, yet everyone exchanges uncertain smiles. I can hardly believe this… Cassian Blackwell, joking at the office?
My nails bite into my palms. Since when does he care so deeply about that woman? Keeping track of what he owes her, what he must do for her! He has never shown such concern for me, not even once.
Heat rises in my cheeks as I maintain my expression, a portrait of sorrow: head bowed, shadows casting over my eyes, my lips trembling ever so slightly, and a well-timed yet feeble sigh of despair escaping me.
But it feels as though the universe is mocking me.
The one person I had hoped would acknowledge my presence doesn’t even spare me a glance. Instead, Rhett’s gaze finds me, and I can see the pity etched in his features.
“I’m sorry,” he mouths silently, and I shake my head slowly, signaling that it’s nothing, hoping Cassian notices and remembers all that I have endured for him.
Yet he remains oblivious, dismissing the meeting with the sound of chairs scraping against the floor. I begin to walk away, shoulders slumped, feet dragging with the weight of defeat, when his voice slices through the noise.
“Oh, and Reyna?”
**Chapter 166-2**
**Reyna’s POV**
My heart leaps in my chest like a fool, and I turn back to him, forcing myself to don a wounded expression while my heart flutters with a flicker of hope.
“Yes…?”
“Make sure you properly hand over your work to Adam before the end of the day. I expect all pending tasks completed before you leave.”
That’s it? That’s how casually he dismisses me?
Before I can muster a response, he slides his hands into his pant pockets and glides past me, as if I’m merely an obstacle in his path.
I remain frozen, blinking back the sudden sting of tears that threaten to spill.
And for the first time, no one even notices my distress.
**Cassian’s POV**
I’m just about to turn the corner back to my office when I notice the shadow lingering beneath the glass door.
Someone is waiting.
I step inside and pause at the threshold. It’s Rhett.
He stands rigidly by my desk, an air of tension radiating from him, his demeanor suggesting he’s deeply troubled. I’m not shocked; he’s been on edge lately, especially after that public confrontation with Liam.
These two are engaged in some silent rivalry, and I suspect he’s here to request more responsibility to compete with Liam while I’m away. Fine, I have five minutes to deal with that.
“Didn’t know I had a meeting with you. What’s up?”
I say, walking over to hang my jacket on the stand, but Rhett remains still, his eyes narrowed, jaw clenched so tightly it seems he’s trying to grind his own teeth into dust.
“I’ve been waiting for you.”
Each word is spat out deliberately, as if he’s savoring the bitterness of the moment.
“So you said. What is it?”
He doesn’t respond immediately, taking a step closer before he snaps.
“Don’t you know what it is? You fired Reyna! After everything. After all her work, her loyalty, her dedication to you! And you didn’t even have the guts to tell her why.”
“This is about Reyna?”
“Of course it is!” He scoffs, his frustration palpable. “She’s shattered, Cassian. You just tossed her aside like she was a used tissue. Do you think you can treat everyone else like garbage—”
“Watch your tone.”
My spine straightens, but he doesn’t relent.
“You should be the one watching your actions before you become a complete puppet at the hands of your wife! I always knew this Gemma girl was trouble—who am I even telling this to? You’ve spent years hearing how she and her mother used to torment Reyna, and yet you let yourself get played? Not cool! That woman has been stirring up drama since day one, and now you’re going to allow her to divide us? The four of us were supposed to be in this together, right? But it seems your precious Gemma has finally shown her true colors.”
“Have you forgotten where you’re standing?”
My voice is low, the tension between us thick enough to feel the rage simmering just beneath the surface, a reminder of who I am when we’re not on friendly terms.
“This is my office, my company. I don’t owe you, or anyone, an explanation for any hiring or firing decisions made here—”
“Bullshit! You didn’t say this when you brought her on board just weeks after she returned from abroad—”
“Exactly, and since you’re so invested, let me clarify something. Unlike you and Liam, Reyna never went through the official channels to secure her position. I brought her in based on our personal connection, and now I have to let her go for her own good before the entire office starts making connections between us and questions about favoritism or worse.”
“You expect me to believe that crap?”
“I don’t care what you believe. But you will not come into my office and speak about my wife like that again—”
My words are abruptly cut off as Rhett lunges forward, grabbing my collar, his fist pressing against my chest.
“Don’t you fucking lie to me, you jerk!”
In the aftermath of the meeting, Reyna stands at a crossroads, her heart heavy with the weight of unacknowledged sacrifices and lost affection. The laughter that once echoed in the room feels like a distant memory, overshadowed by the sting of Cassian’s indifference. As she watches him dismiss her with a mere task, a sense of defeat washes over her, leaving her feeling invisible and unworthy. The flicker of hope she felt when he called her name is extinguished, replaced by the harsh reality that her loyalty has been met with betrayal. In that moment, she realizes that the warmth she sought from Cassian has been replaced by the coldness of his newfound priorities, leaving her to grapple with the bitter taste of unrequited devotion.
Meanwhile, Cassian’s confrontation with Rhett serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of his choices. As Rhett’s words pierce through the facade of professionalism, Cassian is forced to confront the emotional fallout of his actions, particularly the impact on Reyna. The tension in the air is thick with unresolved feelings, and for the first time, Cassian is faced with the reality that his decisions have not only affected his work but have also fractured the bonds he once held dear. As he stands in his office, grappling with Rhett’s accusations and the truth behind them, a flicker of doubt begins to creep in. The laughter that once filled the room now feels like a haunting echo of what could have been, leaving Cassian to question whether the path he chose was truly worth the cost of losing someone so integral to his life.
In the upcoming chapter, readers can expect the tension between Reyna and Cassian to reach a boiling point as the fallout from their meeting continues to ripple through the office dynamics. With Cassian’s dismissal of Reyna still fresh in her mind, she grapples with feelings of betrayal and confusion. Will she confront him about his callousness, or will she choose to retreat further into her shell, allowing the weight of his indifference to crush her spirit? As Reyna navigates her emotions, the stage is set for a confrontation that could either mend their fractured relationship or push her to make a decision that changes everything.
Meanwhile, Rhett’s confrontation with Cassian adds another layer of complexity to the narrative. The stakes are higher than ever as Rhett’s loyalty to Reyna clashes with Cassian’s unyielding demeanor. Will Rhett manage to break through Cassian’s defenses and force him to confront the repercussions of his actions? The tension in their exchange promises to unveil hidden truths and unresolved conflicts that could alter the course of their relationships. As secrets are laid bare and emotions run high, readers will be left on the edge of their seats, wondering if the bonds of friendship can withstand the strain of jealousy and betrayal, or if they will ultimately shatter under the pressure.
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