Bones Learn To Listen When Silence Speaks by Ryn Miles 7

🙂)) 

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At the mention of the baby, the pain Aurelia had been suppressing came rushing back, spreading through her body like a slow, suffocating wave. 

The blinding white lights above her, the sharp sting of disinfectant in the air, and the bone–deep chill that followed the abortion–she would never forget any of it. 

The memory of her own baby being taken from her was something she would carry for the rest of her life. 

Looking back now, she sometimes thought the baby must have sensed something. 

Maybe that was why it came and left so quietly–as if it had only come to help her see Cassian for who he really was. 

When the meeting finally ended, Tessa turned to Miranda. “Send me a copy of the meeting notes,” she said. 

Still fuming, Miranda shot back, “They’re not organized yet.” 

“Then organize them and send them to me,” Tessa replied, her tone cool and steady. 

“I’m swamped. I don’t have time to organize them,” Miranda said flatly. 

Tessa frowned, clearly displeased. 

Miranda ignored her completely and started helping Aurelia clean up the conference room. 

After Tessa left, Aurelia quietly advised Miranda, “You have to remember–never bring emotions into work. That’s not tolerated at Honoria Capital. If you want to go far here, don’t make enemies, especially with people 

above you.” 

“I just feel it’s unfair to you,” Miranda muttered, still angry. 

“There’s no such thing as fair or unfair,” Aurelia said, her voice distant again. 

To her, love had never been about equality. 

Being good to Cassian was her choice; how he responded was his. Drawing lines between them would only make the hurt worse. 

She had loved Cassian, so she had been willing to bet her future on him–to give up her chance to study abroad and help him build his company from the ground up, 

It hadn’t ended well, but she had no regrets. 

She would accept her loss and move on. Sometimes, the biggest enemy wasn’t another person–it was the version of oneself still trapped in the past. 

It was just the end of a relationship. Exhausting, yes. Heartbreaking, yes. But nothing time couldn’t heal. 

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She just needed a little time, and she could get through it. 

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Before the end of the workday, Aurelia sent Tessa a message saying that all the project files for Strategic Division Three had been organized, and she could deliver them whenever Tessa needed. 

Tessa replied almost instantly: [Ms. Corin, could you please bring the files to Cassian’s office? I just got back to the country, and I’m still not familiar with the business environment here. I need Cassian to help me analyze them.] 

She always called him by his first name, and Cassian never corrected her–he just let it slide. 

But Aurelia remembered clearly how Cassian used to hate that. He insisted on formality at work. 

For seven years, Aurelia had always called him Mr. Locke–in the office, in meetings, at business dinners- never once letting it slip. 

Now, all that restraint and professionalism felt like a joke. 

So Cassian’s rules only applied to outsiders. And she was one of them. 

For the people he liked, there were no limits. 

Aurelia typed a short reply: [Okay.] 

Then she stacked the organized files neatly with another set of documents that needed Cassian’s signature and got ready to take them to his office. 

Before leaving, she took her signed resignation letter from her drawer and quietly placed it on top of the pile for Cassian. 

She didn’t know whether Cassian would sign it, but she had to go through the formal process. 

With the documents in her arms, she walked straight to Cassian’s office. 

Just like always, she knocked once and pushed the door open. 

It was the one privilege Cassian had given her. Because she was his secretary and they handled so much work together, to save time and keep work running smoothly, he’d told her she didn’t have to wait for permission to 

enter. 

Over the years, it had become muscle memory–she would knock, then go 

1. in. 

But the moment she stepped inside, what she saw hit her like a punch to the gut. 

Tessa was sitting on Cassian’s desk, leaning toward him. Her upper body was tilted close enough that his face was just inches from her chest. The two of them looked painfully intimate. 

“Oh my-” Tessa gasped when Aurelia walked in and fell right into Cassian’s arms. 

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Cassian’s brows drew together. His expression turned ice–cold, “Don’t you know how to knock?” he barked, 

Aurelia froze. She wanted to tell him she had knocked, but she knew it was pointless, 

“No manners at all. Is this how you do your job?” Cassian snapped, completely forgetting this was the rule be himself had given her. 

“I’m sorry. It won’t happen again,” Aurelia said quietly. There wouldn’t be a next time. 

Tessa lifted her head from Cassian’s chest, her cheeks flushed pink. “Cassian, don’t be so harsh. Ms. Corin didn’t mean it,” she said sweetly, her tone soft and coaxing, 

Then she turned to Aurelia with a pleasant smile. “Ms. Corin, you’re here to deliver the project files, right? Please just put them on the desk–it’s not really convenient for me to take them right now” 

Aurelia kept her eyes forward, set the files neatly on the desk, and said evenly, “There are also documents inside that need Mr. Locke’s signature.” 

“Alright. You can go now,” Tessa said as if she owned the place. 

Cassian added, “Don’t come in and interrupt us unless it’s something important. That goes for everyone else.” 

Aurelia’s heart trembled. Her fingers curled into tight fists. “I won’t,” she said softly. 

She didn’t remember how she walked out of that suffocating office. The only image burned into her mind was Tessa, still comfortably perched in Cassian’s lap, and Cassian, making no move to push her away. 

Aurelia knew exactly what that meant. He was angry because she had interrupted his good time. 

During the seven years she had known Cassian, this was the first time she had seen him lose control. 

She thought maybe that calm, disciplined side of him had always been a facade. Maybe a man only lost control in front of a woman he truly desired. 

Otherwise, she couldn’t understand how Cassian could act that way at work, in broad daylight. 

***** 

When the clock finally hit quitting time, Aurelia shut down her computer and stood up to leave. The secretaries in her department stared at her in shock. 

Aurelia was famous for her work ethic. She had always been the last one to leave, holding the company record for the most overtime hours every year. 

After she took over the affairs of Strategic Division Three, she practically lived at the office–it had become her second home. 

And now, she was walking out on time. It was unbelievable. 

Just as she stepped outside the building, her phone buzzed. It was Michael calling again. 

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In the past, Aurelia would’ve hung up or made an excuse. Michael was a headhunter who had tried to recruit her several times but had never succeeded. 

But this time, Aurelia didn’t hesitate. She answered. 

Michael sounded so surprised that he almost forgot why he’d called. 

Aurelia spoke first. “Mr. Reed, do you have time for dinner?” 

Michael was thrilled. “Yes, yes, of course! For you, I’ll make time anytime. What kind of food do you like? I’ll book a place right away.” 

“If possible, something light,” Aurelia said. “My stomach’s been a little upset.” 

“Got it,” Michael replied immediately. “I’ll find a good spot and text you the location. See you soon.” 

“See you soon,” Aurelia said, then hung up. 

Before heading out, she went home to change. Her apartment was close to the office–small, expensive, but convenient for her long hours. 

Cassian had never understood her choice. He complained that it was too cramped and messy. He’d only been there once and never came back. 

Whenever he wanted to see her, he always had her go to his place instead. 

AD