The Reclaimed Rose (Annalise and Steven)

Casper replied without hesitation, "Yes."

Gary hissed, "You're not coming back? Did Jessica say something to you again?"

Casper didn't understand why Gary would ask that, but he answered anyway. "No. She just asked me if I'd been with Ruby before we got together. I told her no. After we cleared up all the misunderstandings, she stopped talking to me.

"So don't worry. Jessica might love money, but she's got her pride. She's not going to cling to me like some desperate fool."

Gary still didn't believe him. "If that's the case, then why the sudden change of heart?"

Casper said, "Because I finally realized what's waiting for me if I go back." Gary fell silent.

"Back then, you told me the company was going bankrupt and that I needed to come back and help fix things," Casper said, his voice tinged with bitterness.

He'd given so much for the family, yet his parents had never acknowledged his efforts. Of course, he couldn't help but feel resentful. "I even gave up my wife and my child to help you. And what did I get in return? Do you remember what you told me?"

Gary, of course, remembered. But he wasn't about to admit it.

Casper continued coldly, "You said that even if I hadn't come back, the company would've pulled through on its own. You said my divorce was my fault, that it had nothing to do with you.

"But the truth is, before I decided to

go back, Jessica and I were doing just fine. She even encouraged me to find a job and get through those tough times when we had no

er

money. She was even willing to sell her jewelry for us."

It was only after seeing his parents' true colors that Casper realized just how

incredible Jessica was. He regretted letting her go.

Casper said, "Thave a good job now, and the future looks promising. I don't want to lose that for your sake. Do you understand? That's why I have to stay here. If you're willing to tell me what's going on with the company, I'll help you come up with a šolution. If not, I won't force you."

Gary understood the underlying threat in Casper's words. Right now, they couldn't solve these problems on their own-they needed Casper. That was why he

couldn't afford to push him away, at least not yet.

However, the fact that his once-obedient son was suddenly refusing to fall in line left a bitter taste in his mouth.noveldrama

"If I don't tell you, are you just going to sit back and watch the company go under? Do you even realize what your mother and I will have to

endure if that happens? We'll el. ng

bankrupt! We'll lose the house! We won't even have a place to live! Is

that what you want? Are you happy to see it come to that?"

Casper wasn't fazed when Gary averted his question. Instead, he replied calmly, "Do you think I should feel sorry for you? That I should make sure you live comfortably?"

Gary shot back, "Of course! We're your parents, not your enemies."

Casper couldn't help but laugh at the sheer audacity of words. "Then why didn't you worry about whether I had a place to live or money to spend when you kicked me out of the house back then?"