Bones Learn To Listen When Silence Speaks by Ryn Miles 13

Chapter 13 

After the chaos finally died down, a crowd rushed over to help Cassian and Tessa. 

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Aurelia was shoved aside in the commotion, her body swaying uncontrollably until she stumbled into a wall and caught her balance. 

All she could see was a sea of heads, but through the gaps, she spotted Cassian shielding Tessa, holding her tightly beneath him. 

A sharp sting shot through the gash on Aurelia’s arm. She glanced down at it and let out a small, bitter smile. 

The panic, fear, and worry that had overwhelmed her moments ago slowly drained away, leaving behind a hollow calm. 

Habit was a frightening thing. In the face of danger, her first instinct was still to protect Cassian. 

Just like three years ago, when she and Cassian had gone to another city to inspect a real estate project, a dispute had broken out between the developer and the locals, and someone had hurled something at Cassian. 

Without thinking, Aurelia had stepped in front of him. And when the man had reached for another rotten egg, she’d raised her hand and slapped him hard. 

That single slap had sent Honoria Capital’s stock soaring against the market trend. 

But now, the man she once shielded with her own life was protecting another woman with everything he had. Dorian checked Cassian’s injuries, confirmed they weren’t serious, and let out a long sigh of relief. 

Tessa, on the other hand, was pale and trembling, her eyes red. “Cassian, does it hurt?” she asked, her voice quivering. 

“It’s just a small cut. Don’t worry,” Cassian said softly. 

“But it’s bleeding. How can it not hurt?” Tears welled up as Tessa carefully blew on the wound. “I’ll go to the hospital with you.” 

“I don’t need to,” Cassian said, brushing it off. 

But Tessa wouldn’t let it go. “You have to, Cassian. Please, just listen to me, okay?” 

Her tone left no room for refusal, and Cassian finally nodded. 

Since the accident had happened at SkyPulse Company, Dorian had to go with them. He quickly arranged for a car and personally escorted Cassian out. 

Once everyone was inside the car, Dorian suddenly remembered Aurelia. “Where’s Ms. Corin? Why isn’t she here? It was chaos earlier–did she get hurt?” 

Tessa replied, “She was standing pretty far away. She should be fine. Besides, she’s not a kid. If she were hurt, 

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Chapter 13 

she would’ve said something.” 

Things had been too hectic, and Dorian hadn’t noticed Aurelia at all. 

Cassian’s voice came from the back seat. “Don’t worry about her.” 

With that, Dorian told the driver to head for the hospital. 

Aurelia, standing not far from the car, heard every word. 

Those four simple words were cold and distant–as cold as the rain in Luneford City, seeping into her bones. 

Aurelia looked down at her wounded arm and let out a soft, self–mocking laugh, 

Seven years of love, and in the end, it meant nothing. She was the first thing he’d chosen to leave behind. 

Aurelia flew back to Ashmont that night. Before boarding, she sent Cassian a message on his work WhatsApp, letting him know she was heading home. 

As expected, he didn’t reply. 

On the plane, Aurelia told herself maybe he hadn’t seen it–or maybe he was just busy. 

But when she landed and turned on her phone, there was still no reply. 

Instead, she saw a new Instagram notification–Cassian had posted something. 

That surprised her–Cassian never posted on Instagram. 

Curious, Aurelia tapped it open. 

[It feels so warm to be taken care of.] 

Below the caption was a photo–just a simple shot of food. 

But it was a live photo, and when Aurelia pressed it, a familiar voice played. 

“Cassian, you’re hurt, so you need to eat more to recover,” Tessa said gently. “I bought this fish soup especially for you–it helps wounds heal.” 

The clip was short, so Aurelia couldn’t hear Cassian’s response. But she didn’t need to. He’d posted it himself. 

What hit Aurelia hardest was that Cassian hated fish. He couldn’t even stand the smell of it. 

But for Tessa, he’d eaten it anyway–and even risked an allergic reaction to alcohol just to drink for her. 

Aurelia thought maybe this was what real love looked like. 

Before she could close the app, two comments popped up under Cassian’s post. Both were from Jasper. 

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She only had Jasper’s WhatsApp number and Instagram because of Cassian. 

Back then, their group often went out together. One night, Jasper had called her, saying Cassian had drunk too much and needed his allergy medicine. 

Cassian’s phone had died, so Aurelia had added Jasper to get the location. 

She’d kept his contact ever since. Whenever Cassian went drinking with friends, she’d message Jasper, asking him to watch Cassian and make sure he didn’t drink. 

Jasper had never once replied. 

Aurelia knew he thought she wasn’t worth replying to–just like all of Cassian’s friends. They’d always looked down on her. 

Back then, she hadn’t cared. She thought love was between two people; it had nothing to do with anyone else. So she never paid attention to what they thought. 

But now, Jasper was leaving excited comments under Cassian’s post. 

[Cassian, I can’t believe you’re actually showing off your love on Instagram. This must be true love.] 

Then another, maybe replying to someone else: [Come on. That’s what people do when they’re in love–they show it off. If you don’t, it’s not real.] 

He was right. But it seemed Aurelia had learned that truth too late. 

In seven long years, she had never once appeared on Cassian’s Instagram. Their relationship had always been a secret known only to a handful of people. 

Seven years of love, and she had nothing to show for it–no title, no acknowledgment. 

After giving him everything, the final thing she learned was how to let go. 

***** 

Over the weekend, Aurelia packed up all of Cassian’s things and had a moving company send them to a storage unit owned by the company. 

The room that had once felt full now stood empty–and somehow, lighter. 

She glanced around, and her gaze fell on a velvet box on the shelf containing their matching rings. She still hadn’t decided what to do with them. 

***** 

On Monday morning, as soon as Cassian got to the office, he dialed Aurelia’s extension, planning to tell her to prep for the weekly meeting. 

But it wasn’t her voice that answered–it was Miranda’s. 

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Chapter 13 

Cassian frowned. “Where’s Aurelia?” 

“She called in sick,” Miranda said. 

“She’s sick, huh?” His voice carried a hint of confusion. 

Miranda sounded even more puzzled. “You didn’t know? You were with her on the trip, right? She was hurt when some things fell at the SkyPulse Company factory, so she’s on sick leave.” 

Cassian paused, silent for a moment. Then he said evenly, “I see.” 

After the morning meeting, Cassian got a call from his friend, Liam Porter. “Hey, Cassian, did Aurelia quit Honoria Capital?” 

Cassian frowned. “Why would you think that?” 

“I was playing golf today and heard Sean from Synerda Group say that Michael got him a meeting with Aurelia,” Liam said. “I figured Michael was bluffing—no way Aurelia would leave Honoria Capital or you. 

“But Sean seemed so sure. It didn’t sound like he was lying. So, what’s going on?” 

“It’s not true,” Cassian said right away. 

Liam laughed. “I knew it.” 

After all, everyone believed the same thing–Aurelia would never leave Honoria Capital. And she would never leave Cassian. 

Even Cassian himself believed that. 

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