Bones Learn To Listen When Silence Speaks by Ryn Miles 30

Chapter 30 

Halfway through the meal, when Cassian stepped out to pay the bill, Jasper followed him. 

He jogged to catch up, lowering his voice like he was sharing some juicy gossip. “Aurelia’s here too. She’s eating with Gideon.” Cassian didn’t even flinch. His expression stayed calm, as if Aurelia meant absolutely nothing to him. 

That made Jasper feel smug–but not satisfied. He couldn’t resist adding a jab. “I have no idea how she got close to Gideon, and they looked cozy. Maybe it’s her new trick to get your attention again, huh?” 

Jasper found the idea pretty convincing. “Before, she tried getting your attention by pretending to job–hunt through headhunters. You ignored her, so now she’s trying a different angle. She’s sneaky like that.” 

“Got a cigarette?” Cassian asked suddenly. 

Jasper blinked, caught off guard. “You don’t smoke, do you?” 

“Just felt like having one,” Cassian muttered. 

Jasper wanted to ask what was bothering him, but one look at Cassian’s stormy face made him swallow his words. 

***** 

The favor Gideon wanted from Aurelia was simple: he wanted her to be his date to a party. 

Aurelia thought he was joking. With his status, plenty of women would kill for that spot. 

But seeing the doubt on her face, Gideon came clean. “I just got reassigned to Gold Gauntlet. Everyone in Ashmont is watching my every move. I can’t afford even the smallest mistake. You get what I mean?” 

He didn’t have to say much more for her to understand. 

Gold Gauntlet had been in chaos for the past two years–infighting, power struggles, one mess after another. 

Gideon’s return clearly meant he’d been sent to clean house. Anyone who got close to him probably had their own agenda. 

“You sure you trust me that much, huh?” Aurelia asked with a faint, teasing smile. “What if I’m not as innocent as you think?” 

After all, parties like that were full of powerful people and opportunities–anyone would kill to go. 

Gideon didn’t even blink. “If I dared to ask you, I already thought through the risks.” 

He leaned back, his lips curving into a relaxed smile. “So, are you in or not?” 

“I’m in,” Aurelia said without hesitation. She’d be an idiot to turn it down. 

Dinner turned out to be surprisingly enjoyable. Whatever bad mood Cassian had left her in earlier had completely faded 

away. 

She was starting to believe that new people—and new beginnings–really could help one move on from old wounds. 

When Gideon insisted on driving her home, Aurelia couldn’t find a reason to refuse. 

He’d been to her place once before, so he remembered the way. On the drive, he asked, “You own that apartment or rent it?” 

“Rent,” Aurelia said with a small laugh. “Buying a place here costs a fortune.” 

Chapter 30 

“With your salary, that shouldn’t be a problem.” Gideon said. 

She could’ve gotten a loan if she’d wanted to, but the thought had never really crossed her mind. 

Back then, she was too busy working–and too certain she’d end up marrying Cassian. Couples lived together after marriage, 

after all. 

Then again, Cassian’s current apartment was actually the one she had helped him pick out. 

redo 

He’d hated its original look, so she’d hired a renovation company to redo everything from scratch–the floor plan, the color scheme, every small detail, and all the decorations. 

At the time, she’d treated it like her future home and poured all her heart into it. 

Work had been hectic then–Honoria Capital was about to go public, and Cassian barely had time to breathe. 

Aurelia wasn’t any less busy, but no matter how late she finished, she’d always stop by the apartment before going home, just to check on the progress. 

Seeing it take shape had made all her exhaustion fade away. 

She’d really believed she’d spend the rest of her life with Cassian. She just never imagined Tessa would be the one living there instead. 

In the end, Aurelia only told Gideon lightly, “I just haven’t found the right place yet.” 

Gideon caught the undertone in her words and smiled. “You will. Eventually.” 

As they passed a flower shop, Aurelia remembered that the bouquet on her dining table had already wilted. The empty space bothered her, so she stopped to buy a new one. 

The shopkeeper eagerly recommended the red roses, calling them the best in the store. 

“Red roses, then,” Aurelia said. Any flowers would do–she wasn’t picky. 

Fresh blooms really did lift the spirit. She felt good–so good that she was humming a tune as she opened her door. 

But her song died on her lips the moment she saw Cassian sitting inside. 

For a second, she thought she was seeing things. 

apartment 

She turned to glance at the door, just to make sure she hadn’t walked into the wrong place. Then her gaze fell on Cassian. He was really there. Yet she clearly remembered changing the passcode. 

The lights were off, and though she couldn’t clearly see his expression, she could feel the cold hostility radiating off him. 

“How did you get in?” she asked, more curious than angry. 

The heavy silence in the dark felt suffocating, so she switched on all the lights. 

The moment brightness filled the room, she saw the frost in Cassian’s eyes. 

He stared down at her, his gaze icy and sharp. “No matter how many times you change the code, I can always guess it.” 

Aurelia’s chest tightened. She made a mental note to change the digital lock to a good old–fashioned one that used a key. 

Cassian had no idea what she was thinking. His eyes dropped to the bouquet in her arms–those vivid red roses–and his expression grew even darker. 

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Chapter 30 

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“What happened to the stuff that was here?” he asked coldly, masking whatever emotion flickered behind his eyes. 

Aurelia almost laughed. The last time he came over, everything had already been cleared out, but he hadn’t noticed. Typical -he never paid attention to her life. 

“I got rid of them,” she said simply, arranging the flowers in the tall trophy on her table. 

Cassian’s gaze deepened. “You’re using that as a vase, huh?” 

“I don’t own one,” Aurelia replied lightly. 

Before he could comment, she added flatly, “You didn’t come here to talk about my 

flower arrangements, 

did you?” 

Cassian’s patience snapped. Her indifferent tone made his chest tighten with irritation. Tugging at his collar, he said sharply, “How long are you planning to keep throwing this tantrum?” 

Aurelia hissed softly when a thorn caught her finger, a small drop of blood blooming at the tip. 

She let out a soft, bitter laugh. Even now, he thought she was just throwing a fit. 

But she could understand, in a way. She’d spent seven years doing everything he said–never arguing, never questioning him. Now that she finally had her own thoughts, her own choices, he couldn’t stand it. 

“At the hospital today, I thought I made it clear,” she said evenly. “We’re over, Cassian.” 

Whether he truly didn’t get it or was just pretending not to, she wanted to make sure he heard it again. There was no going back. 

“It doesn’t matter whether you ever really saw me as your girlfriend,” she said. “It’s over.”