Chapter 263

Chapter 262
Cassian’s POV
“Fine! Then go on … ”
I step into Rhett’s place for the first time, and the air feels heavier than it should. His house is neat, but not in a lived–in way, more like someone’s been waiting to leave for a while.
My eyes land on the glass cabinet by the wall, and I spot something familiar and pause.
Inside, behind the glass, is a paper windmill. Blue and white, edges frayed with time… Reyna’s windmill.
Back in college, right before the examination, she had torn a page from her notebook, folded it under the sun on the lawn, and handed it to me, along with a note.
I had put it aside, and when I got up to leave that day, it was gone. I never thought about it again, until now.
My gaze lingers too long and Rhett notices. He shifts, stepping in front of the cabinet like a wall.
“I said go on! Is there something you want to say or are you just here to waste my time?”
His voice is defensive, his posture stiffer than steel. I lower
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< Chapter 262 +2 Bonus myself onto his sofa deliberately, stretching my shoulders. “I could ask you the same. Have you decided to leave Blackwell Industries? ” He presses his lips together, half–packed clothes still hanging from his hand. His silence says enough. Finally, he mutters, “After all, Blackwell Industries doesn’t really have a place for me.” I narrow my eyes. “If being a high level executive and project manager isn’t a place, then what is? ” My tone is calm, but the edge cuts through. Liam jumps in, restless as ever, his voice rising. “Rhett, don’t you feel guilty saying that? We’ve all worked our asses off, and you-” Rhett slams his hand on the table. “You call it being a manager, but what is it really? Supervising? Watching others come up with solutions while I rot in the office? You and Cassian go out wining and dining, closing deals, getting recognition! When was I ever invited to that? Even when Cassian went on his honeymoon, who did he leave projects with? You, Liam!” He’s been holding on to this resentment for years, and his words make it clear. I pinch the bridge of my nose, exhaling slowly. “Rhett… we all 2/7 15:14 < Chapter 262 +2 Bonus know since college that you’re not good at socializing. You yourself have announced thousands of times that you’d rather handle things quietly. I respected that, so I didn’t force you to go out and meet clients.” He shakes his head, bitterness twisting his expression. “Excuses-” Liam can’t hold back. He leans forward, snapping, “At least let’s agree to stop pretending this is about work. It’s not. This is about Reyna!” The moment her name leaves his mouth, Rhett’s face turns red. His arm shoots up, fist clenched, as if he’s about to swing at Liam. I rise, stepping between them before it explodes. DING DONG! The sound breaks the tense atmosphere and Rhett freezes, fist still hovering in the air. Slowly, he lowers it while his eyes dart to the door. Very few people know where he lives. Besides me and Liam… there’s only one other person. Reyna. Liam scoffs, throwing his hands up. “Look at him! So spineless. 3/7 15:14 < Chapter 262 Even now, with all her dirt being dragged out online, he’s waiting for her like she’s his salvation.” Rhett ignores him and strides to the door, every movement displaying his desperation. He opens it. As expected, Reyna is standing on the other side. +2 Bonus Her hair is tousled, her face pale, streaked with tears. She looks like a tragic heroine, one hand clutching the doorframe as though she might collapse without Rhett to hold her up. “Rhett… I didn’t know where else to go.” I watch him, drinking her in, like water in the desert. But I know… Reyna isn’t here for Rhett’s sake. She’s here because she has run out of places to hide. Reyna’s POV The moment I step inside, I stop dead in my tracks. Cassian is here. Not just Rhett, Cassian and Liam, both sitting in the living room. My breath catches, and my palms go cold. I thought only Rhett would be here, that’s why I dared to show my face at all. I came to seek comfort, to find someone who wouldn’t turn me away. 4/7 15:14 < Chapter 262 But Cassian’s eyes lock on me, coll and unreadable, making panic rush through me. 42 Bonus I stumble forward, instinet pulling me toward him. But before I can sit beside him, he shifts back, recoiling like my presence is that unbearable. The rejection cuts into my self–esteem. My legs tremble, and I sink into the seat across from him instead, my throat dry. “Cassian…do you, too, think I’m a bitch?” Liam snorts, “Is there any reason not to?” I bite my lip, ignoring him and forcing tears into my eyes. “Cassian, I can explain.” My words shake, my chest tightening. I hadn’t expected Gemma to be so reckless, to reveal everything and to turn the whole world against me. How the hell can she do that without thinking even once? Now every post online is cursing at me, with hundreds of comments spitting on my name. Liam crosses his arms. “Explain? You’ve lost the time to explain, considering the evidence online!” “Will you ever shut up?” 5/7 15:14 < Chapter 262 Rhett snaps at him, glaring. But before it can erupt further, Cassian’s voice cuts through. “Enough.” +2 Bonus Rhett and Liam shut their mouths and I seize the chance, clutching my hands together. “Cassian, I’ve told you before… some of those things, they weren’t my choice. My mother… she made decisions for me. I couldn’t control them. And the note… I only wanted to check on you, to see if you were alright. That’s why I had the receptionist deliver it. I never thought it would be exposed like that.” Cassian’s silence is suffocating. I push forward, desperate. “As for those rumors about old lovers… I admit, I haven’t completely forgotten our past. That’s why I didn’t immediately clarify. I… I was weak.” “What past?” Liam barks, eyes burning into me. “Back then, you told us some guy was stalking you and driving you nuts by calling you and showing up at your door, so you had Cassian stage an act to protect you. And now you’re twisting it into some tragic love story? You never explained it in all these years, so don’t act innocent now.” I grit my teeth, swallowing down my anger. “It’s not like that…” Cassian finally speaks, but it’s not what I want to hear. “What about those photos of Gemma? And the video of Claire? How do you explain that?” 6/7 15:14 < Chapter 262 My heart stops. +2 Bonus “The video of Claire… it was mine, yes, but it was just for a fun personal blog. I lost my phone in a taxi that day. Later, I got it back… I don’t know if someone unlocked it in the meantime. I didn’t leak it. Why would I? Claire is my friend, and that video showed her face. If it went public, I’d be the first suspect. Why would I be that stupid?” Cassian doesn’t move. I lower my eyes, tears streaming freely now. “As for Gemma…” My lips tremble, “I admit…I sold that video to the paparazzi.” 717 Write your comment 1r Gifts 15:14 admin