Bones Learn To Listen When Silence Speaks by Ryn Miles 39

Cassian’s voice and expression were full of urgency. After all, Tessa meant a lot to him. 

But Aurelia couldn’t understand why he was so panicked after not seeing Tessa for just a short while. 

“Speak up. Where is she?” Cassian’s tone grew sharper, his impatience showing. 

Aurelia frowned, thinking he was being ridiculous. “How would I know where she is? She’s not a child. It’s not my job to keep an eye on her.” 

Standing nearby, Jasper spoke up with a nasty edge. “Nadia said you’d know where she went. Who else should we ask, then?” Aurelia frowned. Even though their attitude irritated her, she didn’t have time to argue. Tessa’s safety mattered more. 

She answered honestly, “Ms. Rowe left with Mr. Vance from Novalen Capital. Maybe he knows where she is.” 

The second she finished speaking, Cassian’s face went rigid, his expression turning ice–cold. A chill ran down Aurelia’s spine. “Aurelia, you know what kind of man Graham is, and you still let him take Tessa, huh?” His voice was sharp, full of accusation. 

Aurelia froze. He didn’t even ask what had happened–he just immediately blamed her. 

Jasper’s expression darkened. He knew Graham’s reputation. “Aurelia, if anything happens to Tessa, I’ll never forgive you,” he snapped before running off to find them, terrified something might have happened. 

Cassian’s eyes stayed locked on Aurelia, dark and cutting. “Aurelia, even if you don’t like her, you didn’t have to use such dirty tricks against her.” 

A wave of cold washed through Aurelia. In that moment, she finally realized how Cassian saw her–as someone petty and vicious, willing to do anything for her own gain. 

***** 

Aurelia was the one who had planned this entire party. She knew the layout better than anyone. 

Even though Cassian and Jasper had gone off looking before her, she was the one who found Tessa first. 

By then, Graham had already taken Tessa to a private lounge. 

Aurelia couldn’t understand how Tessa could be so naive–how she could just let Graham lead her into a private room alone. 

When Aurelia suddenly pushed open the door, Graham, who had been on the verge of getting what he wanted, instantly 

looked furious. 

His expression hardened. “Ms. Corin, when did you become so rude? Don’t you know how to knock? Is this how Honorial Capital treats its guests?” 

Tessa had clearly had too much to drink. Her face was flushed, her steps unsteady, and she barely seemed to grasp what was going on. 

But she still tried to smooth things over. “Mr. Vance, don’t be mad. I’ll drink a glass to apologize.” 

Graham’s arm snaked around her waist, his body pressing close. “I’m not angry,” he said with a leering smile. 

“Hey, Mr. Vance, what are you doing… Tessa’s voice wavered as she tried to push him away, startled by his sudden closeness. 

Chapter 39 

But she was drunk–her movements were weak and slow, which only seemed to excite Graham more. 

Tessa was the woman Cassian treasured most. If anything happened to her, he’d lose his mind. 

Aurelia quickly dialed Cassian while stepping between them. “Mr. Vance, she’s had too much to drink. Let me help her rest. Graham’s eyes darkened with irritation. “Aurelia, what the hell do you think you’re doing?” 

“Ms. Rowe is a close friend of Mr. Locke’s,” Aurelia said. 

She didn’t dare use the word “girlfriend.” Cassian hadn’t made it official, and she had no right to say it–but she wanted to make Graham think twice. 

“I’m also friends with Mr. Locke,” he sneered. “He won’t mind. Now get out.” His hands moved toward Tessa again. 

“Mr. Locke is looking for Ms. Rowe. You should let her go, Mr. Vance. I’ll drink with you instead,” Aurelia said, forcing a polite smile as she stepped in front of Tessa. 

Graham squinted at her. She was attractive, no doubt, but he was so close to getting Tessa that giving up now felt unbearable. 

There were plenty of unspoken rules in the business world, and Aurelia knew them all too well. The fact that she still insisted on ruining his fun infuriated him. 

Graham grabbed a glass of wine and suddenly threw it in Aurelia’s face. “Who the hell do you think you are? Why should I show you any respect? You’re just a secretary! What gives you the right to tell me what to do?” 

The wine hit her full–on. Cold liquid streamed down her face, soaking her collar–but the shock of it helped her stay calm. 

“Mr. Vance, you’ve already thrown your drink and vented your anger,” she said. “I’m taking Ms. Rowe now. Please enjoy the rest of your night–we won’t disturb you again.” 

Without another glance at him, Aurelia wrapped an arm around the limp Tessa and led her out, ignoring Graham’s curses and the vile things he yelled after them. 

At the end of the long hallway, Cassian and Jasper appeared, rushing toward them. 

“Tessa!” Jasper called out the moment he saw her. 

Hearing his voice, Tessa, who’d been leaning weakly on Aurelia, suddenly shoved her away and stumbled toward Cassian, collapsing straight into his arms. 

Aurelia hit the wall hard. She was drenched, disheveled, and trembling. 

By the time she steadied herself, Cassian already had Tessa cradled tightly in his arms, his face filled with concern. “Are you okay?” 

Tessa’s eyes were red, her voice small and pitiful. “I didn’t know Mr. Vance would try to touch me…“. 

Cassian’s expression darkened. When he looked up at Aurelia, his eyes were icy cold. “Aurelia, you’d better give me an explanation.” 

Aurelia didn’t even know what to say–and she knew it didn’t matter anyway. 

No matter how she explained, Cassian wouldn’t believe her. 

So she simply said, her voice flat, “I’m sorry. It was my mistake.” 

“And that’s it? You think one apology makes it right, huh?” Cassian’s voice was sharp as frost. “Is this how you handle things?” 

18:13 Fri, Dec 19 /// 

Chapter 39 

Just as she expected–even admitting fault wasn’t enough for him. 

“It was my mistake,” Aurelia said again, her expression blank. I’ll resign and take full responsibility. She unpinned her work badge from her chest. 

The air around them went heavy–stiff and suffocating. 

Then Graham staggered out of the lounge, breaking the silence. “Mr. Locke! I’m so sorry–I had too much to drink and got confused. You know how I am when I drink. Luckily, nothing really happened.” 

At the sound of his voice, Tessa flinched and pressed herself deeper into Cassian’s arms. 

Cassian’s expression darkened. Holding Tessa close, he said coldly, “Mr. Vance, you should drink less next time.” 

“Yes, yes, of course, Mr. Locke. I’ll remember that,” Graham said quickly. 

“Cassian, I don’t feel good,” Tessa murmured, her voice trembling like a frightened child. 

Cassian’s jaw tightened. Without another word, he turned and led her away, leaving Aurelia behind to deal with the mess on her own. 

He knew exactly what kind of man Graham was–and still, he didn’t care. He just left her there. 

A hollow, deathly numbness crept over Aurelia, spreading through her chest until she couldn’t feel a thing. 

AD