Chapter 176: I Think You Did the Rightest Thing!
Next to a sea of roses, there was a small bamboo pavilion, just big enough for two people to sit and enjoy.
A little lantern hung there, casting a soft glow, just enough to push back the darkness.
Gemma’s mind slowly started to settle.
“I’m not scared, and I’m not having nightmares. I’m just… worried about the outcome.”
Deep down, she was blaming herself for not being strong enough.
If she had power in her hands, things would go the way she wanted.
But right now, she was just a pawn on a chessboard.
If she hadn’t stayed alert, she might have been the first to fall.
The butler brought over some black tea.
Cassius stirred his cup, the steam swirling in the dim light, making his features look a little blurry.
“You’ve done well just to keep yourself safe. Don’t beat yourself up over it.”
Gemma lowered her gaze.
She was only able to protect herself because of her connection to Cassius.
Without him…
But…
She thought, being his friend wasn’t too bad. It was the result of her own efforts.
She shouldn’t be overthinking.
Then, Cassius spoke again, his voice low and steady.
“Susie’s family showed up. She’s going for an abortion. The Beasley family lost half their empire, Keagan’s been erased from the family tree, and Kinston took over their chip studio.”
He rarely spoke in such long sentences.
But each pause hinted at heated negotiations, maybe even bloody battles for power.
Yet he summed it all up with simple words.
“So, are you gonna be affected by this?”
Cassius nodded. “Yeah, a bit.”
Gemma’s heart skipped.
“I…”
“But not much.”
He took a sip of tea, calm as ever.
“I’ve already cut ties with the Raven family. I might get a few scoldings from the older generation.”
Gemma’s eyes widened.
She wasn’t stupid.
In that split second, she pieced together the whole situation.
“You knew this was coming, didn’t you?”
“You made arrangements ahead of time?”
“You’re planning to sever ties with the Raven family completely–and make sure they can’t backpedal!”
It was true that Derick had signed over the shares and given Cassius the money.
But if anything went wrong with the Raven family later, the older members might pull rank or even try to guilt Cassius into helping them.
Genima could understand his decision.
She would cut ties with her own family in a heartbeat if she could.
After all, her parents weren’t just trying to sell her off–her uncles had also been eyeing her to make a profit.
People like that? Better off without them.
Cassius, seeing her shock, nodded.
“You think I’m heartless?”
Gemina slammed her hand on the table. “I think you did the rightest thing!”
Senting
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Chapter 176: I Think You Did the Rightest Thing!
“You’re handling it all for Elizabeth. The Raven family’s profits are being split between Kinston and Susie’s family. They’ll hate
“In their rage, they might come after you.”
“But you’ve already planned for that.”
“When they finally realize what’s happened, it’ll be too late!”
“By then, we’ll have the evidence of their wrongdoings. They’ll either accept their defeat or end up behind bars.”
She gave him a thumbs up, her face glowing with admiration.
“I really wish I could borrow your brain for a day and stay far away from all the trash.”
Cassius’s lips twitched up in a slight smile.
When she had slammed the table, she’d looked fierce, like a Maine Coon cat.
But now, with her sparkling eyes and soft tone, she reminded him of a cute orange tabby.
The moonlight was hazy, the lantern light soft.
Her voice wove through the shadows, gentle yet persistent, like a memory slowly taking root in the heart.
“Sure.”
He nodded, and the timing seemed perfect-
Derick had also been making moves recently.
Maybe it would help Gemma leave her past behind for good.
Gemma picked up her tea, grinning.
“Well, here’s to that, then.”
Cassius’s long fingers tapped the table lightly.
“Try to avoid too much tea before bed.”
Gemma,
Just as Cassius stood to leave, she asked again.
“What if I hadn’t gone to the hospital to see Elizabeth today?”
Cassius turned back, his gaze dark as the night.
“Then you wouldn’t have had to stay up waiting for me to get back with the results.”
In other words.
Whether she went or not, it wouldn’t have changed anything.
“But…”
He paused.
His voice softened.
“Susie asked me to tell you thank you… and, sorry.”
Gemma had done her duty as a doctor.
She’d kept her patients‘ secrets.
So Susie was thanking her.
And though Claudia and Susie had their prejudices, thinking she’d side with the Beasley family, it was time for an apology. Gemma scratched her head, feeling a little awkward.
you
for it.”
She dealt with difficult patients every day, and if she held grudges over every rude one, she’d probably be depressed by now. “My job is to make sure the patients are okay,” she said with a shrug.
Everything else, as long as it didn’t cause her trouble, wasn’t worth dwelling on.
Cassius stayed silent for a moment before nodding.
People who weren’t involved wouldn’t care whether someone was apologizing or just offering empty words.
“You’ve got a good perspective.”
Gemma blinked. “Huh?”
What perspective?
This wasn’t some kind of self–cultivation philosophy.
“Tomorrow afternoon, go to the shop Aunt mentioned about the lucky leather cord. She said there’s a church nearby. You promised to go with me.” Gemma shrugged. “Are you testing me on how I feel about Elizabeth?”
Cassius leaned closer.
Schting
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Chapter 176: I Think You Did the Rightest Thing!
The sweet scent of roses mixed with the earthy smell of herbs, surrounding her.
“My point is, don’t worry about anyone else’s emotions.”
Gemma froze.
Before…
She had spent so long putting up with others for Marcus.
Margaret, who looked down on her, Cedric, who always teased her, and some of the others who had no filter with their words.
She was always the one stepping back.
But Cassius—someone with far more power–could’ve made her follow his every command.
Instead…
He’d kept the promise he’d made when they met abroad.
He treated her with respect, as an equal.
“I’m not mad at Elizabeth,” she said, a little softer. “Beasley was the one trying to use me. Elizabeth’s sick, and she can’t make all the decisions right
now.”
“By the way, is the church really high up? Do we need to bring climbing gear?”
She didn’t want to keep talking about the heavy stuff, so she changed the subject.
Cassius nodded, then added, “I’ll have the butler prepare everything.”
r take?”
“How long will the prayer t
“Two days.”
“Okay… so is Noah coming along?”
“No.”
“Just the two of us?”
“Yeah.”
Gemma’s heart skipped.
The rose–scented air, mixed with the herbs, made her feel like her face was burning.
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