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?'

Normally, Edith woke up before her and always had breakfast ready for both of them. This routine had always remained unchanged.

opened the door to find Edith, her face pale, lying on

"Mom! Mom! What happened?"

was an understatement. She ran to her mother and immediately checked

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

"My head hurts..."

were white. She

Edith closed her eyes again. Seeing her pale face, Clark immediately took out his phone

don't move her! I have called an ambulance. Let's get her

frown when he saw

She didn't know what to do right now. Her worry made her

carefully moved Edith into the ambulance. They

curtains to see what the commotion in the

into the ambulance. Cassandra followed them closely and wanted to enter the ambulance but was pulled back and

didn't know what Clark had said to Cassandra to her change her mind. But finally, Cassandra followed Clark to his car, and they drove after the ambulance.

grew cold as ice and his hands

had already asked his people to find a way to persuade her to leave that house. 'Why did this

told him that this was definitely

to the issue with Cassandra's throat. It definitely

seemingly wanted to destroy everyone around him. He wanted to make them suffer. What was more, he even wanted them to remain in his house to make Rufus suffer as well.

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 with him any longer. No, he must think of a way to get them out of that

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

when she was taken ill. Or her mother could

walked into the ward after chatting with Edith's doctor for

said that you are fine now. You just need to rest and keep yourself 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. I will ask someone to bring her back, so you won't need

said to Edith.

a meaningful look, and she understood the

to see your sister that it triggered her episode. She needs complete bedrest. And most importantly, she should keep herself calm and not excite herself again,

spoke, a frown superimposed on his handsome

there wasn't anyone around to take care of her,

we hire a nanny, she can take care of your mother and also help

full of care and

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

okay, I will pay

He had done enough for her and her mother. So she quickly made it clear that she would be the one to pay for the nanny.

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