Chapter 616 An Illness That Requires The Company Of Family
As Cassie returned to the company building and arrived at the chairman’s office, she closed the door and entered a long discussion with her father. It was not known what she had told Charlie, but he ended up agreeing to see Olivia personally.
The woman was so delighted that she wrapped her arms around her father’s neck and kissed him twice on the cheek like a little girl.
A gentle smile finally showed on Charlie’s face.
“I’ve seen how hard you’ve been working, Cassie. I hope you’ll keep up the good work,” the man advised. “You’re our only daughter, so this business that your mother and I worked so hard to build will eventually be yours. We initially wanted to hand it over to June after you marry him, but since he’s returned to his own country and it seems like you both just aren’t meant to be, I’ll only be at ease letting you take over the company if you work even harder.”
“Don’t worry, Dad,” Cassie replied pretentiously. “I’ll do my best not to let you down.”
“That’s more like it.”
“Well, Dad, you should hurry up and make an appointment with Mrs. Clinton. You wouldn’t want your years of friendship with her to end just like that, would you?”
Charlie fell into thought as he heard that.
“Why don’t you call her now? I’ll help you with that.”
Charlie grew suspicious at how desperate she seemed. “Have you not moved on from Oscar?”
“Do you doubt me that much, Dad? He’s just a guy! Why would I still be into a guy who treats me like dirt? You know I have my pride, so what makes you think I’d keep letting him humiliate me?” Cassie huffed disdainfully.
“Really?”
“Stop worrying, Dad. I’m serious about taking over the company. I love performing, but I can’t keep doing that. I know I can’t keep idling away either. That’s why I’m doing my best to learn, so I can one day be ready to take charge.”
Charlie finally felt relieved.
“I’m happy to hear that, and your mother would be too. When you’re ready, I’ll step back and support you from behind. And when everything settles, I’ll take your mother around the world. She’s always worried so much about us all these years.”
Cassie pondered for a moment before speaking hesitantly. “Dad, there’s something I’ve been curious about for a while now. Can I talk about it?”
“Go ahead.”
“Are you in love with Mrs. Clinton?”
Charlie’s expression immediately soured.
“What is this nonsense? Both you and your mother just love making wild guesses! If I loved Olivia, I wouldn’t have married your mother! Your mother will never know how much I love her,” the man remarked sternly. For some reason, his last sentence sounded rather touching, and Cassie couldn’t help but feel emotional.
She then looked up and hurriedly concealed the empathy that flashed briefly in her eyes.
“I hope you and Mom stay strong. I’ll do my best too. I’ll work hard to become someone who can run a company, so you can take it easy one day,” she said in a rare moment of consideration.
Charlie was beyond elated.
“I’m so glad to hear you say that, Cassie,” he replied, stroking her head. “That means you’ve grown up. I hope you’re not pretending and that you truly want to help me make Yard Group bigger and stronger.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll do whatever it takes.”
“Okay. You should head to work. I’ll give Olivia a call so I can meet her and Owen.”
“I’m counting on you, Dad.”
Cassie left the chairman’s office confidently.
After returning to her own office, she sent a text message to Jennifer, who received it after being asked by Laura to return home and keep her company.
Cassie: Jennifer, I’ve managed to talk my dad into mending fences with the Clintons. Don’t worry. Things are going exactly the way we planned.
Jennifer’s lips curved into a smirk as she read that.
“What is it?” Laura gazed at her daughter. “You look so happy. Who texted you?”
“Cassie.”
“Cassie? The Yard family heiress?”
Jennifer nodded.
“Don’t worry, Mom. It won’t be long before I help you teach Oscar Clinton a lesson,” she said solemnly.
“With the help of Cassie Yard? What is she capable of?”
“Never underestimate a woman’s thirst for vengeance, Mom. The deeper one’s love, the deeper the hate when they get hurt – and he hurt her real bad. I have her in the palm of my hand. She won’t be able to get away for now.”
Laura took a slice of apple but didn’t eat it.
“Jennifer, am I giving you too much pressure?” she asked after a moment of silence.
Jennifer froze briefly. “What do you mean?”
“How about we just let this go, Jennifer?” a pale-looking Laura suggested while biting into the apple slice. “You’re still young, and I’m okay now. I don’t want you to lose yourself from being so consumed by revenge.”
Jennifer gave her an odd look before throwing her hands up in frustration.
“Did I do something wrong for you to say that, Mom? Have you forgotten what Oscar did to you?” she asked worriedly.
The older woman sighed. “Jennifer, you know I can’t differentiate between what’s real and what isn’t now. I’ve given you and your father a lot of pressure, but seeing you start to plot against others makes me wonder if the burden is too much for you to bear. You don’t have to take revenge if you don’t want to.”
Hearing that, Jennifer burst into laughter all of a sudden and held her mother’s hand.
“Mom, I’m doing this of my own free will. You’ve gone through so much that I want to avenge you. I could never forgive myself if I didn’t.”
“But – “
“Relax, Mom. I know what I’m doing. Sometimes, it’s hard to turn back once you start, but I’ll make sure you don’t worry too much,” Jennifer assured.
With that, Laura nodded.
The two continued chatting away until suddenly, Laura fell into a daze. Then, she scratched her head and turned to Jennifer. “When did you get back, Jennifer?”
“I just did,” the younger woman answered as though nothing was out of the ordinary.
Despite seeming like Laura had returned to normal ever since she left the psychiatric hospital, she now suffered from intermittent memory loss. Like what had just occurred, she could talk to someone as usual and suddenly forget everything the next second.
Vincent and Jennifer had brought her to see the doctor because of this, but the doctor said that her condition was due to a major shock she had experienced in the past. She could only depend on her family to keep her company for now, and she would slowly get better when the things that used to traumatize her no longer did.
Put it simply, she was responsible for her own healing. Otherwise, not even the best medication in the world would be able to cure her.
Jennifer gazed at her mother, who had ended up this way because of her. How could I ever not feel guilty or vengeful?
“Aren’t you going to work, Jennifer?” asked Laura.
“I’ll be heading out soon.”
“Go on. I’ll be upstairs resting.”
“Okay.”
Laura headed for the stairs, but just as she set foot on the first step, she turned around. “Don’t forget to avenge me, Jennifer. I’ve been having the same dream about all the things Oscar did to me. The happier he is, the more pain I feel.”
Jennifer’s eyes gleamed, and she eventually nodded.
“Okay, Mom.”
Laura finally went upstairs, looking pleased.
Jennifer rubbed her temples in exhaustion. Having to deal with so many things at once – her mother’s dual personality, the battle of wits and guts between Cassie and June, and her plan to get back at Oscar – it was no surprise that she felt weary.
