Bones Learn To Listen When Silence Speaks by Ryn Miles 122

Chapter 122 

Aurelia never expected Cassian to be this petty. 

He’d made an appointment a week ago, but he’d sorted things out through Breon. 

So she really had no clue what he wanted from her now. 

But the rule was her own, and turning him away would just make her look bad. 

“Let him in,” Aurelia finally relented. 

When Cassian knocked and walked in, Aurelia was still busy, not even glancing his way. 

Her eyes stayed glued to the computer screen as she asked casually, “Did you need something, Mr. Locke?” 

“You’re still not done?” Cassian shot back, ignoring her question. 

“If you don’t have anything, please leave. I’m pretty busy,” she said, making it clear he wasn’t welcome. 

“No matter how busy you are, you still need to eat properly,” Cassian said. 

They were both just talking past each other. 

It almost sounded like he cared. 

She used to crave that kind of concern. 

But now, she didn’t want it anymore. 

Care and love that come too late are worth less than weeds. 

Since she couldn’t figure out what Cassian wanted, Aurelia decided not to waste her energy guessing or responding. She just buried herself in her work, ignoring him completely. 

With what she knew about Cassian, he’d probably get bored and walk out soon enough. 

Before she knew it, an hour had slipped by. 

As she stretched her neck and looked up, Aurelia was startled to see Cassian still sitting on the couch. 

She frowned, “Why are you still here?” 

Cassian leaned back, his face half–hidden in the shadows. “I’m waiting for you.” 

“Waiting for me? For what?” Aurelia asked, completely baffled. 

“Dinner,” Cassian said. 

“Did I ever say I’d have dinner with you?” Aurelia shot back. 

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“Abigail asked me to come and pick you up for dinner,” Cassian explained. “She’s been busy all day, made king crab again, and told me I absolutely had to bring you over.” 

He added, “You know I always do what Abigail says.” 

He made it sound like he had no choice. 

Aurelia could turn Cassian down, but she couldn’t say no to Abigail’s good intentions. 

Cassian said it himself, didn’t he? 

Abigail had spent the whole day at home, cooking Aurelia’s favorite king crab again. 

Aurelia thought, ‘I should tell Abigail that she could call me next time. No need to get Cassian involved. It really kills the vibe.’ 

Aurelia didn’t bother riding with Cassian. She just drove herself over to the Locke residence. 

Cassian didn’t push it. 

They didn’t even show up at the Locke residence at the same time. 

Cassian turned up half an hour late, and Abigail wanted to know what took him so long. 

He said he’d been outside making a call and got caught up. 

Abigail grumbled, “What call was so important you had to make it outside? It’s freezing out there.” 

Aurelia sipped her coffee as if she didn’t hear a thing, not reacting at all. 

Cassian came over and sat down across from Aurelia, keeping Benjamin company over coffee. 

Aurelia got up and headed to the kitchen to lend Abigail a hand. 

Truth be told, she wasn’t actually helping. She just wanted to avoid being around Cassian. 

But it wasn’t long before Cassian wandered into the kitchen, too, so Aurelia took the opportunity to make a quick exit to the living room. 

Bottom line: if she could steer clear of him, she absolutely would. 

The father and son were probably discussing work. There was a port renovation project plan lying on the coffee table. 

Benjamin went to the bathroom, leaving Aurelia alone in the living room. 

If Aurelia didn’t have such a strong sense of professional integrity, she could’ve easily taken a look and learned 

a ton of business secrets. 

But her work ethic just wouldn’t let her. 

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Abigail had really laid out a feast. Cassian wasn’t kidding about that. 

Abigail even opened up a nice bottle of wine and asked Aurelia to join Benjamin for a few drinks. 

Aurelia said she’d driven herself, so she couldn’t drink. 

“Just let Cassian drive you home later. He doesn’t drink anyway,” Abigail said, giving Aurelia a meaningful wink. 

Suddenly, Aurelia remembered. The anniversary of Benjamin’s late wife’s passing was just around the corner. 

No wonder Abigail wanted her to join Benjamin for a drink. 

This time, Aurelia didn’t turn her down and shared a quiet drink with Benjamin. 

Cassian, as always, didn’t touch a drop. 

Abigail said to him, “You’re just sitting there anyway. Why don’t you crack the crab for Aurelia? The shells are tough and could hurt her hands.” 

Aurelia didn’t even get a chance to protest before Cassian was already pulling on gloves and cracking open the crab for her. 

He really was all about following Abigail’s orders. 

Benjamin started asking Aurelia about her work, and she focused on answering his questions. 

Benjamin had always kept a close eye on Aurelia’s career and knew a lot about both Regal Investment and InquireMind. 

Cassian, who’d been busy cracking crab, suddenly chimed in with a jealous little jab, “Why don’t you ever care about my work like that? Sometimes I wonder if I’m your real child here.” 

Benjamin shot him a frosty look. “Didn’t your investment in AeroMind just tank 300 million dollars?” 

Cassian was stunned into silence. 

Classic dad. He always knew exactly where to jab for maximum pain. 

“Business is all about winning and losing. Isn’t that quite normal? It’s only 300 million dollars. Once we lock down the port renovation project, that kind of money is just chump change,” Cassian said. 

“Yeah, but you still have to win it first!” Benjamin shot back. 

“Relax. I’m telling you, in Ashmont, no one can go up against Honoria Capital. It’s a done deal,” Cassian said, sounding pretty cocky. 

But to be fair, Cassian could actually walk the talk. 

“Don’t count your chickens before they hatch,” Benjamin said. 

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Aurelia could tell that Benjamin’s parenting style was pure tough love. He never missed a chance to roast 

Cassian. 

Cassian wasn’t having it, though. He started bickering with Benjamin, refusing to let it go. 

They even started throwing around numbers for the bid. 

Neither of them treated her like an outsider, just like old times, they talked work right in front of her withou hiding a thing. 

If it had been before, Aurelia would’ve tried to calm the two of them down. 

But now, she just felt it was better to step away, 

“I’ll go and cut up some fruit, Aurelia said, getting up and heading to the kitchen. 

She hung out in the kitchen for a bit, making sure the two of them were done talking before heading back. 

When she sat down, there was a plate of crab meat waiting for her. 

Cassian clearly had way too much time on his hands. He’d actually shaped the crab meat into a heart. 

Honestly, it kind of killed her appetite. 

Aurelia picked her fork up, scrambled the heart shape, and started picking at the crab, slow and unbothered. 

Dinner went on for quite a while, and even Benjamin was happily buzzed, grinning and chatting away. 

Aurelia was tipsy herself, and as they were getting ready to leave, Abigail kept fussing over Cassian, telling him again and again to make sure he got Aurelia home safe. 

But the moment they stepped outside, Aurelia dropped the act. “I’ll grab a cab home myself.” 

“If you want me to get chewed out by Abigail, just say so,” Cassian said. 

“I’ll tell Abigail you drove me home,” Aurelia replied. 

Cassian’s expression was calm, but he wasn’t nearly as sharp as usual. “You really think she’s that easy to fool?” 

Right on cue, Abigail’s video call popped up just as Cassian finished talking. 

Cassian handed her the phone, saying, “You deal with it.” 

Aurelia had no choice but to answer. 

Abigail’s first question was, “Did Cassian bring you home?” Just like Aurelia expected. 

Aurelia quickly said, “Of course. See, I’m already in his car.” 

Abigail seemed relieved. “Alright, be careful, and let me know when you get home.” 

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After hanging up, Aurelia handed the phone back to Cassian. The screen was still on the recent calls hist 

She saw a familiar name. 

So that half hour he was gone. He was on the phone with Tessa. 

Aurelia buckled up, turned her face toward the window, and closed her eyes, going into full silent mode. She had zero intention of talking to Cassian. 

Cassian stayed quiet, too, just focused on driving. 

They rode in complete silence. 

Maybe it was wine or she was worn out from work, Aurelia dozed off in the car after only a few minutes. 

Cassian eased off the gas once he noticed she’d fallen asleep. 

He kept the ride smooth all the way until they reached her apartment building safely. 

When the car finally came to a stop, Cassian didn’t wake her. He just turned his head, quietly taking in the sight of Aurelia sleeping beside him. 

The wine had left her cheeks dusted with a soft, alluring pink, which was so captivating it made his heart skip 

a beat. 

Cassian’s gaze lingered on her lips for ages, his mind wandering. 

Eventually, he slipped out of the car, sat on the hood, and tugged at his collar, as if trying to let out all the pent–up emotion inside. 

He let the cold night air wash over him, the chill biting at his neck and making his collar tremble.