A Graduation Gift

"How's it going with your work?"

In prison's visiting rooms, Vernon sat across Cassandra. He had grown thinner but he seemed to be in high spirits.

"It's doing great, Father. Don't worry about me. As for my mother, she can't come today because she has been very busy, but I'm sure she will visit you next time," Cassandra said.

She made it a point not to bear bad news because she did not want her father to worry too much. It was important for her that he behaved well in prison so he could be let out soon and they could all be together. Because of this, she and her mother agreed not to tell Vernon about Edith's illness.

"Do you have a boyfriend now?"

This was the next question he asked. Of course, this also brought him concern because he didn't want his daughter to grow old alone. It only made sense that he would ask this too.

Cassandra already anticipated this and she was able to prepare an answer.

"Yes, but we haven't been dating long yet. I'd like to bring him so you can meet him when it's time. It's still too early now,"

she replied smoothly without hesitation.

Vernon smiled with relief when he heard her reply. That was good news to him because in his mind, that meant that he did not need to worry about Cassandra too much. There was a man who was taking care of her.

"I'm sorry I haven't been a good father. You and your mother must have been having a hard time recently,"

he started apologetically. He felt sorry for leaving Cassandra the burden of taking care of his family.

Right then, Cassandra suddenly remembered what Rufus told Ivy.

Joel had threatened Vernon to the point of him considering suicide. She realized that Ivy must have done this because of the things happening between them back then.

Cassandra's heart ached. Her father almost died because of her. This filled her with guilt.

"Father, please, no more apologizing. We are family. We're all waiting for you—mother, Cloris, and me,"

she said as she reached out to hold her father's hand to comfort him.

"How about Cloris? How is she?"

It had been a long time since he saw his beloved younger daughter. He missed her very much.

"She's fine. She came back a few days ago and she has a boyfriend now,"

Cassandra replied with a smile.

like?

shot one question after another.

smiled and replied

him. He is the president of Dawn Star Group, Arthur Zhuang. Cloris

as Cloris's lovestruck face appeared in her mind. The girl seemed so happy

up with Cloris before. She even

"Arthur? I know him!"

Arthur was part of

Arthur is a

be unable to wipe it off his face. Realizing that his daughter

Cassandra joy, too.

up with your love life then, Cassandra. By the way,

who the mystery guy was. A part of him felt bad that he did seem to show more concern about Cloris than Cassandra and he hoped that this lapse did

topic she would have preferred to avoid. Left with no other choice, she had

together. I mean, there are so many odds against us. We've been through a lot, clearly. Mother doesn't like him very much either, but I'll introduce him to you, Father, and you'll see that he's really

she explained the

stayed silent for a few seconds and then

What will the Tang family say when they find out

about Rufus's identity had not reached him yet. It was a good thing that all the rumors had

the future, Father. Please let me

with a bitter

was that the Tang family did not even have the time and energy to think about her relationship with Rufus at this moment. Currently, keeping the Tang Group

ache. Would Horace agree

take care of yourself. Don't

begged as he held her hands and looked straight

promise. Thank

overwhelmed Cassandra so much that she

she ever imagine that she would share a moment like this with her father. Sitting across him and holding his hands, she had never felt this loved by him in

her sister. She could not recall a moment in her childhood where she

imagination did she

allowed her hatred to get the

wanted to tell him how she felt, how beautiful these kinds of moments were,

him to understand the warmth of having a

much more satisfying

not be easy to convince him. He was very stubborn and nothing she did or said about this particular matter ever

Group was already so deep into their problems. No matter what Lionel did, nothing seemed to work. They needed help and they needed it

responsibility to lend a hand. But unfortunately, absorbed by his hatred, he barely