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?'

up, she was surprised to find that Edith still wasn't up. Normally, Edith woke up before her and always had breakfast ready

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

"Mom! Mom! What happened?"

say that Cassandra was frightened, was an understatement. She ran to her mother and immediately checked her pulse.

eyes and looked at Cassandra for a second before her eyes closed again. She looked so tired. She weakly gestured at

"My head hurts..."

voice was weak, and her lips were white. She

Edith's room right after Edith closed her eyes again. Seeing her pale face, Clark immediately took out his phone and called an ambulance.

her! I have called an ambulance. Let's get her to

frown when he saw

now. Her worry made her so feverish that she rushed

ambulance. They immediately took her to the hospital while Clark and Cassandra followed the ambulance in his

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

and wanted to enter the

her change her mind. But finally,

ice and his hands tightened on the curtains.

already asked his people to find a way to persuade her to leave that house. 'Why did this have to happen at such a critical

told him that this was definitely not

the issue with Cassandra's throat. It definitely had something to do

suffer. What was more, he even wanted

then it was mortally dangerous for Cassandra and her to remain there with him

mother lying in the hospital bed, Cassandra's eyes were filled with tears. She

was lucky that she found Edith when she was taken ill. Or her mother could be seriously in danger

chatting with Edith's doctor for

abroad in this condition

said to

meaningful look, and she understood the implication. She followed him out into the

triggered her episode. She needs complete bedrest. And most importantly, she should keep herself calm

superimposed

earlier. If there wasn't anyone around to take care of her, a simple episode could probably prove to

I find someone to look 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.

care and affection. It seemed that he did genuinely care

right now. She had no idea of what to do. Clark's idea was welcome and she

okay, I will

her and her mother. So she quickly made it clear that she would be the

eyes and the smile on his face faltered. He stared at Cassandra with a serious look