Bones Learn To Listen When Silence Speaks by Ryn Miles 380

Chapter 380 

Jasper realized it a bit slow, finally catching on. 

It must’ve been about ten years ago, way back. 

That was Cassian’s second year after he returned, and Jasper was always dropping by to hang out. 

Back then, Cassian was just starting his business, and things were pretty rough. 

He rented the top floor of an old office building, freezing in winter, boiling in summer. 

For a while, Cassian kept asking him to order tons of seafood and have it delivered. 

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But after it arrived, Cassian wouldn’t eat any of it. He just peeled shrimp and crabs without touching a bite himself. 

He’d hand all the peeled seafood to Jasper and Liam, and for ages after that, just seeing seafood made Jasper feel queasy. 

That’s why he remembered it so clearly. Even after more than ten years, it was still fresh in his mind. 

Jasper and Liam had asked about it, too. 

Cassian explained that the stress from starting his business was getting to him, and peeling shrimp and crabs was his way to blow off steam. 

They totally bought it at the time. 

Only now did it dawn on them. Cassian never learned to handle seafood just to relieve stress. 

He knew Aurelia couldn’t stand dealing with seafood, so he went out of his way to secretly learn how to handle it, just for her. 

‘Cassian, don’t tell me you had a thing for Aurelia way back then?” Jasper finally voiced the question he’d been wondering about for years. 

Cassian drained his glass before replying. 

“Even earlier,” he said. 

Jasper was stunned. 

‘Even earlier? Jasper thought, feeling a bit thrown. 

‘So when did it really begin?‘ he wondered. 

Cassian was still way too good at keeping his feelings under wraps. 

Aurelia didn’t notice, and even those of us who’d grown up with him never caught on 

“After everything you’ve done, why didn’t you ever tell Aurelia?” Jasper asked, genuinely curious. 

“Tell her what? It was just trivial stuff, nothing that really mattered,” Cassian said quietly, 

He poured himself another drink, his gaze lowered, eyes deep and intense. “Besides, why would I ever want to burden her with my mess?” 

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“Then why did you get involved with her at all?” Jasper asked, unable to hide his confusion. 

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Cassian tightened his grip on the glass, his voice low and edged with a restless undertone. “I’m just human. Even I have moments when I can’t hold myself back.” 

The drug that night was the catalyst, bringing all those feelings Cassian had kept buried straight to the surface. 

Once it began, he couldn’t hold back anymore. 

When he finally sobered up, Cassian couldn’t help but regret ever letting himself get tangled up with her. 

But Aurelia told him not to worry about it. She said there was someone she really liked, but they couldn’t be together, so he didn’t need to take any responsibility. 

He felt a deep disappointment, but at the same time, he secretly let out a sigh of relief. 

Cassian kept convincing himself that maybe it was better if she didn’t love him. 

If she didn’t, then when they finally parted ways, it wouldn’t hurt as much. 

At the same time, he kept telling himself this was a mistake he could only afford to make once, never again. 

But he was kidding himself after all. 

Once that fragile balance was broken, Cassian tried every trick in the book to pull himself together. 

He buried himself in work, took endless business trips, and kept his distance from her whenever he could. 

But emotions, when suppressed to the extreme, will eventually backfire with vengeance. 

Once one gave in that first time, it just kept happening, second, third, and one couldn’t stop… 

Once one got a taste, one just wanted more. 

Aurelia would never know that after every encounter, Cassian was wracked with regret, and each time, he’d distance himself from her, growing more aloof. 

He even delayed his revenge for two years, all because he was hooked on their relationship and couldn’t bring himself to let it go. 

It was Sean who finally snapped him out of it, warning that if he kept dragging his feet, the guy would just retire with all the glory and slip off to enjoy his life overseas, no one the wiser. 

He’d get both the honor and the money. 

Joseph stood up and started making the rounds, toasting each table with Juliana by his side. 

When they reached Aurelia and Darren, Juliana’s smile was so fake it was almost painful to watch, her jaw clenched tight. 

Joseph, on the other hand, was all smiles, greeting Darren warmly and even chatting with Aurelia for a moment. 

As they raised their glasses, Juliana made her hand shake on purpose, sending half her red wine right onto Aurelia’s dress. 

Joseph’s face darkened in a flash. 

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Juliana feigned innocence, saying, “Oops, I didn’t mean to. Sorry, Ms. Corin.” 

“It’s fine,” Aurelia replied, clearly unimpressed by such cheap tricks. 

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Joseph’s face fell, and he snapped at Juliana, “Ms. Corin is my honored guest! Go help her clean up, right now!” 

Juliana was just about to protest. 

Darren spoke up, “No need. I’ll take her to clean up. You guys carry on.” 

With that, he led Aurelia away from the table. 

Juliana was so pissed, she stomped her foot in anger. 

If she’d known that dumping wine on Aurelia would just hand Darren and Aurelia a private moment together, she’d never have done it, not in a million years. 

‘I’m going-” Juliana tried to follow after them, but Joseph yanked her back. 

‘Stick with me and toast the guests!” he ordered. 

‘Dad!” Juliana protested. 

‘You’d better keep it together,” Joseph muttered under his breath. 

With all the guests watching, Joseph couldn’t blow up at her, so he could only warn her quietly. 

Juliana finally settled down and reluctantly tagged along with Joseph, making the rounds and raising a glass at every table. 

Aurelia was dressed in a pale gown, and once the red wine splashed onto it, the stain was impossible to get out. 

Darren quickly arranged for a new dress in Aurelia’s size to be delivered. 

While they waited, Darren worried that being alone together might make Aurelia uncomfortable, so he made up a reason to step out, telling her to just call him if she needed anything. 

After about twenty minutes, someone brought over the new dress. 

Once she changed, Aurelia was ready to head back to the banquet hall. 

To get back to the banquet hall from the dressing room, Aurelia had to make her way through a small garden. 

There was a large fishpond in the garden. 

Darren called, “Are you ready? If you are, I’ll come pick you up. 

Aurelia replied, “No need, I can just walk over myself.” 

She’d barely stepped into the garden when Juliana showed up, flustered and red–faced. 

Juliana called out, her voice urgent and a little shrill, “Aurelia, wait!” 

Aurelia turned, shooting her an icy stare. 

“Aurelia, I warned you to keep your distance from Darren!” Juliana snapped, her voice sharp with anger. 

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Aurelia gave her a gentle smile. “How have you been these past five years, Juliana?” 

Juliana’s face shifted suddenly. 

Aurelia had hit her right where it hurt. 

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“You–Juliana was so mad she was practically clawing at the air. “Refuse a toast, and you’ll get the hard way!” 

She reached out, trying to push Aurelia straight into the fishpond. 

Aurelia sidestepped her without breaking a sweat. 

Juliana wobbled, almost tumbling right into the fishpond herself. 

Just as Juliana finally got her balance and was about to start yelling at Aurelia again, out of nowhere, someone gave her a 

solid kick. 

The force sent her sprawling headfirst into the fishpond, water exploding everywhere. 

Aurelia reflexively lifted her hand to block the splash. 

Suddenly, someone stepped in front of her, shielding her from the water. 

Not a single drop touched her. 

Aurelia hadn’t even wrapped her head around what just happened when Juliana, now splashing around in the fishpond, started shrieking nonstop, yelling, “Help! Somebody help!” 

Suddenly, a hand seized her wrist and yanked her away. 

Aurelia gasped in surprise. 

It all happened so fast, she didn’t even catch a glimpse of who had grabbed her. 

Aurelia was just about to pull her hand free when a familiar voice stopped her. 

‘It’s me.” 

She paused, startled by the familiar voice. 

In the middle of all the chaos, people scrambled to drag Juliana out of the water. She was yelling her head off, “Someone kicked me in! Don’t just stand there. Go after them!” 

Aurelia felt a sudden jolt of anxiety. She was about to urge Cassian to leave quickly, but before she could say anything. Cassian tightened his grip on her hand and pulled her straight into a room. 

Cassian kept hold of her hand, gently but firmly, leading her directly into a room. 

The door shut swiftly behind them. 

The room was completely dark, the lights off. She couldn’t see a thing. 

Aurelia could clearly hear Cassian’s heartbeat, loud and steady in the silence. 

Thinking Cassian was worried about getting caught, Aurelia didn’t dare make a sound herself. 

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His hand was still wrapped around her waist, and they were standing so close together. 

She could smell the alcohol on him. 

She could feel the warmth coming from his body. 

She tried to move away, but realized there was a wall right behind her. 

“Let go of me,” Aurelia said, a bit tense. 

Their closeness made it hard for her to think at all. 

“I’m not letting go,” Cassian said, leaving Aurelia stunned. 

And before she could react, he moved in, pressing her firmly against the wall.