The Reclaimed Rose (Annalise and Steven)

"Since I divorced and returned to the company, I realized Jessica had been telling

the truth. Our company did not go bankrupt.

"That was a lie you told me. You were hoping that I'd never contact you again after

you made me go through with the divorce," Casper said.

He couldn't understand why he had no control over his life or why his parents felt

the need to interfere.

He added darkly, "You were always talking about how the company was thriving

without me, so why bother asking me to return? If I didn't know better, I'd think the

company has had another crisis-one that neither you nor your think-tank could

resolve.

"So, you devised a plan to lure me back to the company to handle the crisis for

you. But as soon as the problem is solved, you'd find a way to have me thrown

out of the company again."

In hindsight, Zane had treated Casper better than Gary and Julia did. He had

enough confidence in Casper to leave him in charge of an entire project, and he

wasn't stingy when it came to profit-sharing, either.

Gary and Julia, on the other hand, wouldn't even write Casper a paycheck despite

all the work he'd done for the company.

Toward the end, Casper's voice grew quiet. "I won't be guaranteed a permanent

position in the family business."

Gary believed Casper was only airing his grievances. He was certain the young

man was desperate to return to the family business. "If you do as we say..."

"I don't want to hear what you have to say, nor do I plan on returning." Casper bit

out icily, "Don't come to me about anything that has to do with the business from

now on. Handle the crises on your own."

With that, he hung up.

Gary and Julia were rendered speechless.

Casper was right when he guessed that the company was in trouble and that only

he could handle it. However, they hadn't expected him to be so stubborn.

Julia asked, "Have we taken things too far?"

Gary snorted, oblivious to his flaw, as he snapped, "In what way? What would

have happened had Casper taken charge of the family business and married

Jessica afterward?"

He began gesturing at the air. "Jessica would have squandered our money, that's

what!"

Gary had a valid point; that much Julia would admit.

"But the problem now is that Casper refuses to return to the company." Things

would be easier if he did. Julia asked, "Should we compromise with him?"

"No way!" Gary scoffed arrogantly.

"Compromising is not an option.

You've seen the way Jessica spends

her money. How many men can put

up with that before they grow tired

of her antics?

"I reckoned she would call us in a couple of days, weeping on the phone and

begging us to forgive her. When that happens, we can bend her to our will!"

Julia considered this and nodded in agreement, not that it eased the anxious knot

in her stomach. "Let's hope so."

Gary argued, "Hope? No. When it comes to Jessica, you know I'm right."

Upon hearing this, Julia could only

comfort herself by recounting the

years she had been married to Gary.

Not once had he made the wrong

decision, and she could only hope

that today's incident was no

exception.

Casper was already waiting in the café when Jessica arrived.

It had been months since they last

saw each other. She unconsciously

caressed her baby bump as

memories of her first pregnancy

flickered through her mind. She andnoveldrama

Casper were still married, and he

cherished her. He protected and

cared for her to the point of

overindulgence.

Jessica remembered grinning at Casper's pure smile. At the time, she felt like she

had married the right person.