Chapter 188

In Chapter 187 of “Before Rain Touches Earth Memories Return With Gentle Warmth,” Reyna tries to shield Cassian from the rain, expressing her concern for him as he stands drenched and angry, waiting for Gemma. Despite her soothing words, Cassian’s frustration boils over, leading him to abandon the umbrella and walk into the downpour. Reyna, feeling a sense of triumph, follows him, confident that her plan is unfolding as intended. She has manipulated the situation by ensuring that a hotel concierge will deny knowing Gemma, allowing her to control the narrative.
As they reach the hotel, tension fills the elevator. Reyna feigns dizziness, prompting Cassian to show concern, which she cleverly exploits. He offers to help her to her room, and she leans against him, enjoying the closeness as he lays her down on the bed, determined to stay until her fever breaks. Reyna’s internal victory grows as she realizes she has successfully drawn Cassian’s attention away from Gemma, who is presumably lost in her own troubles.
Meanwhile, Gemma and her friends face an unexpected storm at the dock, leading to an emergency overnight stay at the resort. As they rush to secure a room, Gemma’s thoughts are consumed by guilt for missing her lunch with Cassian. She discovers numerous missed calls from him, which intensifies her internal conflict. Just as she grapples with her emotions, she sees a social media post from Reyna, showcasing an intimate moment with Cassian. The sight of him, wearing the tie she had tied for him earlier, shatters her composure, leaving her feeling betrayed and heartbroken.
The chapter captures the emotional turmoil of both Reyna and Gemma, with Reyna reveling in her manipulation while Gemma grapples with feelings of guilt and despair. The storm serves as a metaphor for the brewing conflicts in their lives, as both women navigate their complicated relationships with Cassian amidst the chaos of their surroundings.
**Before Rain Touches Earth Memories Return With Gentle Warmth by Eli Dane Crest 187**
**Chapter 187**
**Reyna’s POV**
I lift the umbrella a fraction higher, inching closer to him, ensuring that not a single drop of rain dares to touch his skin.
“You’re completely drenched…” I murmur, my voice barely above a whisper, careful to keep the concern in my tone soft.
“Gemma would be devastated if she knew you were out here like this. She must have gotten caught up in something, Cassian! She wouldn’t just leave you hanging like this.”
The words roll off my tongue like honey, sweet and smooth, even though I know they’re a bitter pill for him to swallow.
Cassian’s jaw tightens, his fingers gripping the umbrella handle tightly, as if it were the only thing keeping him anchored.
Forget it! She’s not coming.
With a sudden surge of frustration, he flings the umbrella aside, stepping boldly into the downpour, as if he’s just delivered a final decree.
He strides away from the restaurant, and I tighten my grip on the umbrella, hurrying after him, a small, triumphant smile threatening to break free.
Everything is falling into place just as I envisioned.
—
The concierge girl downstairs had been visibly shaken at first, her hands trembling as I offered her the money.
Yet, she accepted it, trading her integrity for a single, well-crafted lie. She was to claim that she had never seen, met, or even heard of a Mrs. Gemma Blackwell.
From that moment on, it was just a matter of sending a well-timed text and exercising a little patience. Now, the game is firmly in my hands.
“Cassian!” I call out, my voice cutting through the rain-soaked air. “Wait, please! You’ll catch a cold out there!”
By the time we reach the hotel, Cassian’s anger has only intensified, a storm brewing within him. And honestly, that works to my advantage: anger is so much easier to manipulate than indifference.
The elevator ride is thick with tension, the air crackling with unspoken words. As the doors slide open, I deliberately pause for a heartbeat, just as I anticipated he would notice.
Reyna?
I blink, momentarily dazed, feigning surprise. “Oh! I didn’t realize we had arrived…”
I take a hesitant step toward him, allowing my knees to give way, the umbrella slipping from my grasp and landing with a soft thud on the floor.
“C…Cassian…”
His head whips around, surprise flashing in his eyes. “Reyna?”
“I-I’m fine, really… just a little dizzy.” I place a hand on my forehead, trying to appear as if I’m struggling to steady myself. “It’s probably just the rain…”
He reaches out, his fingers brushing against my forehead, his frown deepening. “You’re burning up.”
“It’s just a slight fever. Don’t worry, I can handle it.”
I mumble, letting my eyelids flutter as if I’m barely able to keep them open.
To my relief, he doesn’t walk away. His lips press together, frustration and concern battling within him, before he finally wraps an arm around my back. “You can’t walk like this. Come on, I’ll help you to your room.”
He supports me all the way to my suite, our clothes leaving a trail of water droplets in our wake. I lean my head against his shoulder just a fraction, but it’s enough for him to hold onto me throughout the journey.
He lays me down gently on the bed, reaching for the blanket.
“Cassian…” I murmur, attempting to sound bashful. “You really don’t have to stay—”
“You’re sick. I’m not leaving until your fever breaks.”
A victorious smile threatens to escape as I nod obediently. He closes the door quietly behind him and heads to the bathroom to fetch a damp towel.
When I hear his footsteps approaching, I quickly lean back, pulling the blanket up to my chin, my eyes half-closed, embodying the picture of vulnerability.
The hook is set. He’s here, right beside me.
And as for Gemma… let her remain lost wherever she chose to drown herself in those waters.
—
**Gemma’s POV**
By the time we return to the dock, the sky has transformed into a deep, ominous gray. The wind picks up, whipping around us, while the waves crash against the pier with a force that sends spray flying over the walkway.
“Uh…” Zina murmurs, clutching her towel tighter around her. “Does it look stormy to you guys too?”
Before I can respond, the tour guide rushes over, his rain jacket flapping like a flag in the wind.
“I just received an update,” he says, breathless and urgent. “No boats will leave the island tonight. A tropical storm is on the way, and the coastguard has shut down all routes.”
“What?!” Zina and I exclaim in unison, disbelief coloring our voices.
“It’s going to be an emergency overnight stay. There are still a few rooms available at the resort, but you need to hurry.”
Everyone around us begins to scramble, panic setting in as they rush toward the hotel.
Jace glances up at the darkening sky, determination etched on his face. “Let’s go.”
—
We rush toward the hotel lobby, sand clinging to our damp feet. My hair drips from the swim, and my shoulders ache pleasantly from the exertion, but all of that fades away when I finally pull out my phone.
22 missed calls, all from the same name flashing on the screen.
Cassian Blackwell.
I stare at the phone, my thumb hovering over the call button. Should I return his call? Should I send him a text?
Part of me yearns to explain, to alleviate the worry I’ve caused him, especially when a message from him pops up with the details of the restaurant.
Guilt washes over me for standing him up, but another part hesitates, the part that overheard Reyna discussing their lunch plans with him.
Zina is at the reception, negotiating for whatever rooms are left. Jace stands behind her, arms crossed, a silent pillar of support.
Neither of them would be good to ask if I’m overreacting, so I absentmindedly flick through my social media notifications.
Just then, a new post catches my eye.
@Reylife (Reyna Holloway) 5 minutes ago
“So lucky to have you on this special night. Even if we missed the dinner reservation, I’m happy as long as we are together…”
The accompanying photo shows her lounging on a hotel bed, a light blanket draped over her lap, her pale calves displayed. Flowers and candles are artfully arranged around her, but it’s the bottom right corner that steals my breath away.
A man’s back, clad in a black shirt. His shoulders are tense, the image slightly blurred as he seems to be turning away from the camera.
But the dark gray tie is unmistakable, still knotted in the Eldredge style I had tied for him that very morning.
I’m torn between wanting to cry and wanting to shatter something in frustration, but my phone shouldn’t bear the brunt of my emotions.
The screen blurs momentarily, and I blink hard, forcing the image to sharpen before I slip the phone quietly back into my pocket.
In the aftermath of the storm, both emotional and literal, the paths of Reyna, Cassian, and Gemma have become irrevocably entwined. Reyna’s calculated manipulation has led Cassian into a vulnerable space, where he finds himself torn between frustration and concern for Reyna’s feigned illness. As he wraps his arm around her, the line between compassion and entrapment blurs, revealing the depth of his feelings that he had long suppressed. Reyna’s heart swells with triumph, knowing that she has successfully drawn him closer, yet beneath her victorious facade lies a flicker of doubt about the lengths she is willing to go to secure his affection. The rain outside mirrors the turmoil within, a tempest of emotions that threatens to spill over at any moment.
Meanwhile, Gemma stands on the precipice of heartbreak, her world crashing down with the realization of Cassian’s betrayal. The image of Reyna and Cassian together, captured in a moment of intimacy, shatters her resolve. The storm that has trapped her at the resort serves as a metaphor for the tempest of emotions raging inside her. As she grapples with feelings of guilt, anger, and despair, she must confront the truth of her own choices and the impact they have on those she loves. The rain may wash away the physical traces of their encounters, but the memories and emotions linger, leaving Gemma to question whether she can reclaim her place in Cassian’s heart or if she has already lost him to Reyna’s calculated charm. The stage is set for a confrontation that will determine the future of their intertwined lives, as the storm outside rages on, echoing the chaos within.
**What to Expect in the Next Chapter?**
As the storm brews both outside and within the hearts of our characters, the tension is set to escalate. In the next chapter, we can expect Gemma to grapple with the emotional turmoil of seeing Cassian with Reyna, igniting a fierce inner conflict. Will she confront her feelings and the betrayal she senses, or will she choose to retreat further into her own despair? The storm may be raging outside, but it mirrors the tempest brewing within her, leading to decisions that could change everything.
Meanwhile, Reyna’s carefully laid plans are on the verge of unraveling. With Cassian’s concern for Reyna growing, will he remain oblivious to the strings being pulled around him? As he tends to her supposed illness, the facade Reyna has constructed may begin to crack under the weight of her own manipulations. Expect moments of vulnerability and revelation that could either deepen their bond or expose the fragile foundation of trust that Reyna is trying to build. The stakes are high, and every choice made will ripple through their lives in unexpected ways.
As the night unfolds, the looming tropical storm threatens to trap Gemma and her companions in the resort, creating the perfect storm for confrontations and revelations. With emotions running high and secrets threatening to spill over, the next chapter promises a whirlwind of drama, heartache, and the possibility of redemption. Will Gemma find the courage to confront Cassian and Reyna, or will she allow herself to be swept away by the tide of uncertainty? Prepare for a chapter that will leave readers breathless, yearning for answers as the rain continues to fall.
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