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? Is he

question after

smiled and replied patiently.

the president of Dawn Star Group, Arthur

mind. The girl seemed

what she knew, Arthur broke up with Cloris before. She even came back just to see him but they ended up

"Arthur? I know him!"

of the

very happy for her. Arthur is a

Realizing that his daughter was dating a

brought Cassandra joy, too.

you should also hurry up with your love life then, Cassandra. By the way, who were you talking about? Who is

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

he would not investigate as this was a topic she would have preferred

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

might object. As best as she could, she explained the situation and put in as many good

a few seconds and then sighed in resignation.

brother. 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

to think about the future, Father. Please let me just worry about what's in front of

replied gently with a

even have the time and energy to think about her relationship with Rufus at this moment. Currently, keeping the Tang

heart ache. Would Horace agree if she married his

promise me you'll take care of yourself.

begged as he held her hands and looked

Father, I promise. Thank you," she replied.

love overwhelmed Cassandra so much that

share a moment like this with her father. Sitting across him and holding his hands, she had never felt this loved

been distant to her and showed obvious favor towards her sister. She could not recall a moment in her childhood where she felt

even in her wildest imagination did she imagine

as if she were the luckiest girl in the world. If she had left her family and allowed her hatred to get the best of her during her bitter days,

now. She wanted to tell him how she felt, how beautiful these kinds of moments were, and how things would always

him to understand the warmth of having a family and

more satisfying than revenge.

and nothing she did or said about this particular matter

into their problems. No matter what Lionel did, nothing seemed to work. They needed

responsibility to lend a hand. But unfortunately,