A Graduation Gift

"Sure, you rarely have a day off! Do you need to ask for official leave?"

Edith hadn't been out shopping with Cassandra in a very long time and she missed it. Now that Cassandra brought it up, she was excitedly looking forward to it.

"That's all right. I just have to tell Lyndsy. Now that Stella is there, everything will be alright. You don't need to worry."

She just hoped that Edith could soon leave this place. Lately, she had been having a very bad feeling even though everything seemed calm. She intuitively felt that something was lurking beyond the horizon and it made her anxious.

"Did I hear that Cassandra has a day off tomorrow? Would you like my company?"

Clark interrupted them as he walked inside the room and overheard their conversation.

"Yeah, that's a good idea, Clark. I am going to visit my daughter and I need to buy some things tomorrow!"

As soon as Edith saw Clark, her face broke into a smile.

Clark was startled at her words but he immediately composed himself and feigned ignorance. The corners of his lips lifted.

"Really? Then you need to be well prepared, Auntie Edith. You haven't seen your little daughter in a very long time, right?"

Cassandra noticed a flash in his eyes as she watched him speaking but she wasn't sure if she was reading too much into it.

Clark's eyes turned cold and calculative, abruptly and easily.

"Yeah, I haven't seen her in a long time. In fact, she looks quite like Cassandra!"

Edith's face wore a soft and gentle look when she spoke of her daughters. The older she got, the more she cherished them.

"Really? Then I'm worried that I might mistake her for Cassandra when I get to meet her,"

Clark joked, knowing fully well how to get on Edith's good side. The smile on his face grew bigger.

But Cassandra didn't find it amusing. She was wary of Clark and even though she felt that her own mind was playing tricks on her. She just knew that there must be something hiding behind Clark's smile.

Ever since she learnt about him, she had started to scrutinize his every move. She found his behaviour very strange and couldn't help but wonder why he behaved so generously in the presence of her and Edith.

He seemed to care about her a lot, and was also very patient and gentle with Edith. Clark never acted powerful nor dominating before them. He listened to them and seemed to have their best interests at heart. In fact, he treated Edith and Cassandra like his own family.

If Cassandra hadn't noticed any inconsistencies, she would still have looked at him with grateful eyes. She would have continued believing that he really was a kind man who loved her very much. But now, all she did was anticipate his next move.

His entry into her life was too coincidental. He was too infallibly good to her. It wasn't normal. 'What the hell is he trying to do?'

Cassandra got up, she was surprised to find that Edith still wasn't up. Normally, Edith woke up before her

She immediately ran to her mother's room. She opened the door to find Edith, her face pale, lying on the bed in a very

"Mom! Mom! What happened?"

an understatement. She ran to

voice, Edith struggled to open her eyes and looked at Cassandra for a second before her eyes closed again. She looked so tired. She weakly gestured at her head.

"My head hurts..."

were white.

having heard Cassandra's voice. He rushed into Edith's room right after Edith closed her eyes again. Seeing her pale face, Clark

called an ambulance. Let's get her to the

into a tight frown when he saw Edith's condition,

right now. Her worry made her so feverish that she rushed to do exactly as Clark said.

The medical staff came in and carefully moved Edith into the ambulance. They immediately took her to the hospital while Clark and Cassandra followed the ambulance in his car.

open the curtains to see what the commotion in the next villa was about.

the ambulance. Cassandra followed them closely and wanted to enter the ambulance

to Cassandra to her change her mind. But finally, Cassandra followed Clark to his car, and they drove

grew cold as ice and his hands

way to persuade her to leave that house. 'Why did

told him that this was

the issue with Cassandra's throat. It

everyone around him. He wanted to make them suffer. What was more,

and darker as he made the connections in his head. If Clark really did something to make Edith fall sick so she couldn't go abroad, then it was mortally dangerous for Cassandra and her to remain there

seeing her mother lying in the hospital bed, Cassandra's eyes were filled with tears. She tried to contain herself

found Edith when she was taken ill. Or

the ward after chatting with

calm. Auntie, I don't think it's advisable for you to go abroad in this condition right now. You can wait till Cloris is on holiday.

said to Edith.

the implication. She followed him out

excited to see your sister that it triggered her episode. She needs complete bedrest. And most importantly, she should keep herself calm

spoke, a frown superimposed

when she saw Edith earlier. If there wasn't anyone around to take care of her, a simple episode could

after Auntie? You are usually busy at work and are rarely at home. If we hire a nanny, she can take care of your mother and also help with other things. It will be very beneficial for her! And she will have someone to give her company

at Cassandra with eyes full of care and affection. It seemed

mess right now. She had no idea of what to

I will

wasn't willing to exploit Clark's kindness anymore. He had done enough for her and her mother. So she quickly made

Clark's eyes and the smile on his face