Chapter 169

In Chapter 169 of “Before Rain Touches Earth Memories Return With Gentle Warmth,” Gemma finds herself caught in a whirlwind of emotions as her aunt Lydia exuberantly celebrates a planned afternoon outing. Lydia’s excitement is palpable as she reveals a flashy diamond necklace intended for Gemma’s mother, Lisette. However, Gemma feels a heaviness in her heart, aware that the necklace is a cheap imitation rather than a genuine treasure. Despite her mother’s delight, Gemma intervenes, suggesting that the necklace is too ostentatious and should not be worn in their current environment, revealing her protective instincts.
As they prepare to leave, Lydia’s curiosity about Gemma’s husband, Cassian, takes center stage. Gemma remains stoic as Lydia bombards her with questions about Cassian’s family’s wealth and status, which only heightens her internal conflict. The drive to the restaurant is filled with Lydia’s chatter, contrasting with Gemma’s growing anxiety about Cassian’s potential absence. She is all too familiar with the disappointment of waiting for him to show up, leading to a sense of dread as they arrive at the restaurant.
When Cassian finally arrives, he commands the room with his presence, leaving both Lydia and Kitty momentarily speechless. His confident demeanor starkly contrasts with Gemma’s internal turmoil as she grapples with the expectations of her family and her own feelings towards Cassian. Lydia’s attempts to steer the conversation toward Gemma’s desires for Kitty to intern at Cassian’s company create an awkward tension at the table. Gemma braces herself for Cassian’s typical indifference, but to her surprise, he agrees to consider Kitty’s application, leaving her confused and questioning the man beside her.
The chapter encapsulates Gemma’s struggle between familial loyalty and her complicated relationship with Cassian. As Lydia’s exuberance clashes with Gemma’s protective instincts and Cassian’s unexpected responses, the atmosphere is charged with unspoken emotions and unresolved tensions. Gemma’s feelings of uncertainty about Cassian’s character and her role in their relationship linger, setting the stage for deeper exploration of their dynamics in the chapters to come.
**Before Rain Touches Earth Memories Return With Gentle Warmth by Eli Dane Crest**
**Chapter 169**
Gemma’s POV
As soon as I hang up the phone, Lydia claps her hands together in delight, her expression radiating joy as if she had just won a grand prize on a game show.
“Well, that’s settled then! We’re going to have such a lovely afternoon,” she exclaims, her voice bubbling with excitement as she digs through her purse with fervor.
“Lisette, I have something special for you too, since you won’t be able to join us, right?” she adds, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
I can see the light in my mother’s eyes dim slightly at the mention of her absence, but Lydia barrels on, oblivious to the shift in mood.
“You know my husband has been dealing in diamonds lately, and oh my goodness! I have more of these little treasures lying around the house than I know what to do with!” she proclaims, her voice rising with each word.
With a flourish, she produces a delicate gold chain adorned with a single, glaringly bright diamond that sparkles with an intensity that feels almost artificial. It’s gaudy, the kind of jewelry that screams for attention rather than whispers elegance.
“Here, see if you like it—”
She leans forward eagerly, already reaching to fasten the chain around my mother’s neck.
“I think you should keep this one,” she insists, her enthusiasm palpable.
Mom’s face lights up, her fingers trembling as they brush against the pendant.
“Oh Lydia, thank you! Gemma, isn’t it beautiful?” she gushes, her tone filled with genuine admiration.
I manage a smile, but inside, my heart feels heavy. My mother’s innocence is both endearing and heartbreaking. She doesn’t realize the truth behind the gift. I glance at the diamond again, a cheap imitation that feels more like a burden than a blessing.
“Actually, aunty, I don’t think this kind of jewelry suits her,” I interject lightly, reaching out to unclasp it from her neck.
“Mom, you shouldn’t wear something so ostentatious around here. The other residents might get envious or, worse, try to take it from you. I’ll find you something more understated, something that truly reflects your grace,” I suggest, dropping the necklace back into Lydia’s palm.
“Besides, aunt Lydia, it was a gift from your husband, wasn’t it? It’s best not to interfere in a married couple’s affairs,” I add, letting my words hang in the air.
Lydia’s smile falters, her eyes narrowing slightly, but she can’t argue without revealing the truth—that it isn’t a diamond at all. She tucks it into her handbag with stiff fingers, and I let the silence stretch, allowing her discomfort to simmer.
After a few moments, Kitty glances at her phone, the silence breaking like a fragile bubble. “I just got the call confirming our reservation. We should head out,” she announces, cutting through the tension.
I bend down to wrap my arms around my mother in a warm embrace. “I’ll be back soon, okay?” I whisper, and she nods, her smile still bright despite the earlier awkwardness.
As we step outside, Lydia makes a show of admiring the car I arrived in, her fingers trailing along the polished door handle as if it might transform into a pumpkin if she stares too long.
“Wow!” she breathes, her eyes wide with surprise. “I didn’t expect your car to be this top-tier.”
I respond with a noncommittal hum, slipping into the driver’s seat while Lydia and Kitty settle in the back. The drive isn’t long, but it feels like an eternity, each moment stretching as Lydia launches into her inquiries.
“So, this family of Cassian’s… the Blackwells, right? Their empire must be worth what now? Millions? Or is it billions?” she asks, her curiosity insatiable.
I keep my gaze fixed on the road ahead, offering a vague response just to quiet her incessant chatter.
“One of their businesses is worth billions,” I finally concede.
Kitty’s eyes widen in disbelief. “Mom, don’t you know they own at least twenty such companies? They’re a syndicate, not just a startup,” she replies, her tone laced with incredulity.
Lydia whistles, her voice dripping with awe. “My, my. You married a mafia prince, huh? How old is he, by the way?”
I roll my eyes, suppressing a sigh. “Older than me,” I reply flatly.
“No doubt! I just hope he still has some hair left on his head and teeth in his mouth, even if it’s just for show,” she quips, her laughter light.
“Mm-hm…” I murmur, my mind racing with thoughts I dare not voice.
“But after seeing your mother’s state, wasn’t it risky to get involved with someone from the Mafia again? Or maybe there’s a reason? A shotgun wedding, perhaps? You know how stories go… a mysterious pregnancy that conveniently disappears later?” Kitty giggles, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
I maintain a blank expression, refusing to engage.
“Rich guys always marry the perfect-looking trophy wife for public image… but that doesn’t mean they don’t chase butterflies in their gardens, right? Especially when they’re surrounded by so many flowers,” she adds with a sly grin.
I grip the steering wheel tighter, my knuckles whitening. I’ve faced worse than their gossip, and I refuse to be reduced to a mere trophy in a glass case.
As we pull up to the restaurant, I brace myself for the inevitable disappointment. I’ve been down this road before—Cassian agreeing to join us over the phone, only to vanish into thin air when the time comes. I keep glancing at the door, pretending not to care as I start to eat.
My aunt, however, is buzzing with excitement.
“It’s okay, dear. He must be very busy. Running an empire is a big deal, after all,” she reassures me, her voice bright.
Kitty doesn’t even look up from her phone, her indifference palpable. “Or maybe he’s just not coming,” she shrugs, her tone dismissive.
I focus on the water glass in front of me, stifling the urge to agree with her. The latter option feels far more believable.
Just then, the front doors swing open, and Cassian strides in, his muscular frame accentuated by the tailored black button-down shirt, sleeves rolled up to reveal strong forearms.
His expensive watch glints under the restaurant lights as he adjusts the jacket draped over his arm, exuding an air of confidence that commands attention. He strides directly toward our table, his presence unmistakable.
Kitty freezes, her thumb hovering over her phone screen, her jaw slightly agape as she takes in his appearance. I notice her quickly run a hand through her hair, a nervous habit.
Lydia stands up halfway, her fake smile stretching across her face. “Oh my goodness! You made it, dear Cassian… we’re so honored to meet you!” she coos, pulling a chair next to Kitty, her eyes scanning him for any signs of imperfection.
“Come, sit here. This is Kitty, she is my daugh–”
“No thank you,” he interrupts smoothly, his voice firm. “I prefer to sit beside my wife.”
He pulls out the chair next to me and settles in effortlessly, as if it were the only seat that ever mattered. Lydia’s expression wavers, her smile faltering for just a moment before she laughs lightly. “Oh, of course. Still stuck in that honeymoon phase, right Gemma?”
I don’t respond, my focus on the plate before me as I stab my fork into the rice, the lunch dragging on slowly. I barely touch my food, and Cassian seems content to sit in silence as well.
But Lydia, ever the persistent one, isn’t ready to let the conversation die.
“Gemma, dear, didn’t you have something to ask Cassian?” she prompts, her teeth clenched in a forced smile. I glance at Kitty, who is suddenly all wide-eyed innocence, eagerly waiting for my response.
With a resigned sigh, I set my fork down, knowing full well how this is going to play out.
“Cassian, Kitty wants to intern at Blackwell Industries this summer. I mentioned she could apply through the regular process, but if you think there’s any spot open, maybe you could consider her?” I say, my voice steady despite the tension in the air.
I brace myself for the cold nod or the bored glance I expect, a clear signal of his disinterest. He has always been reluctant to mix business with personal favors, especially when it involves family.
“Alright,” he replies, surprising me.
“Really?” I blink, taken aback.
He nods, his expression unreadable. “She can send her resume to Adam, and I’ll make sure it gets to the right team.”
Confusion washes over me. Is this some sort of sarcasm? A setup, or perhaps even mockery?
But his attention is already on his glass of water, and the moment has passed. I lean back slowly, watching him from the corner of my eye.
Who is this man sitting beside me, and what have they done with the real Cassian? Today of all days, I needed him to embody that familiar aura of indifference that usually surrounds him.
As the afternoon unfolds, I find myself caught in a whirlwind of emotions, oscillating between hope and doubt. Cassian’s unexpected agreement to consider Kitty for an internship feels like a small victory, yet it is overshadowed by the uncertainty of his presence and intentions. I had longed for this moment—a chance for him to bridge the gap between our worlds, to show my family that he is more than just a shadow of his past. But as I sit there, the silence between us growing thicker, I can’t shake the feeling that the man beside me is a stranger in some ways, a reflection of the complexities that lie beneath the surface of our relationship.
Yet, amidst the tension and the noise of my aunt and cousin, I realize that this moment is also a turning point. My mother’s earlier delight, Lydia’s obliviousness, and even Cassian’s surprising willingness to engage with my family are reminders of the delicate balance of love and loyalty that define our lives. I am determined to navigate this path, to embrace the warmth of the memories we are creating while acknowledging the shadows that linger. As the rain begins to patter softly against the restaurant windows, I find solace in the gentle reminder that even the heaviest storms eventually pass, leaving behind a clearer sky and a chance for new beginnings.
**What to Expect in Next Chapter?**
As the tension at the table simmers, the atmosphere thickens with unspoken words and hidden agendas. In the upcoming chapter, Gemma will find herself navigating the precarious dynamics between her family and Cassian, whose unexpected willingness to help Kitty may unravel deeper secrets. Will this gesture of goodwill signal a shift in their relationship, or is it merely a façade masking his true intentions? Gemma’s internal conflict will intensify as she grapples with her feelings for Cassian and the implications of his actions on her family’s perception of him.
Moreover, Lydia’s insatiable curiosity and probing questions will likely escalate, pushing Gemma to confront uncomfortable truths about her marriage and the world Cassian inhabits. With the looming presence of the Blackwell empire, Gemma may be forced to reassess her understanding of loyalty and ambition. As the chapter unfolds, readers can anticipate a whirlwind of revelations that could alter the course of Gemma’s life, igniting a spark of intrigue that promises to keep them on the edge of their seats. What lies beneath Cassian’s confident exterior? And how will Gemma choose to navigate the treacherous waters ahead? The answers await just beyond the next page.
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