Chapter 76
Orlando’s frown deepened as he demanded, “Cassandra, can’t you be generous? Do you have to keep scores over trivial matters like this?”
I keep score? Orlando, why didn’t you accuse Ms. Spencer of making things difficult for me when she distorted the truth?” Cassandra interrogated in a low voice.
Although Cassandra knew that he would take Rebecca’s side unconditionally, she still couldn’t accept it and felt upset.
She pursed her lips tightly and kept telling herself that she should stop hoping
a pipe dream.
The guests also whispered about Orlando because of his long–term relationship and love with Rebecca.
The scene fell silent.
Peter stood up with his crutch and said coldly, “Orlando, continue protecting this woman, and you’ll regret it.”
Then, he left the room angrily with Cassandra in tow.
Peter comforted Cassandra in a low voice, “Cassie, it’s that brat that has let you down. I know you feel wronged.”
“I’m fine, Grandpa Peter. I should be the one to apologize for making you unhappy on your birthday,” she replied.
“Nonsense. I’m the happiest today, and it’s all because of you.” Peter smiled and took an antique jewelry box from the drawer. He said, “Take this, Cassie.”
“What is it, Grandpa Peter?” Cassandra asked curiously.
“Don’t ask what it is, and just take it,” Peter insisted, and Cassandra couldn’t refuse.
However, the jewelry box had a lock, and Peter didn’t give her the key, so she couldn’t open it. Yet, she did whatever Peter asked of her.
Cassandra chatted with Peter for a while. Then, he said, “You don’t have to accompany an old man like me. Go out and have fun with the young folks out there.”
Cassandra nodded. Actually, she was not interested in the party but didn’t want Peter to worry about her.
After leaving the room, Cassandra didn’t return to the banquet hall. Instead, she dropped by her car to stash the box and walked to the small garden by the swimming pool, sitting down and gazing at the stars while enjoying the breeze.
The scene at the banquet hall earlier came to her mind.
The way Orlando had defended Rebecca without hesitation despite the many guests.
She wondered, ‘I’m sure he’s by Rebecca’s side now. As for me, he has probably forgotten completely about me!‘
She laughed at herself self–depreciatingly, then planned to head back to Dustmeadow Mansion after informing Frederick and Gabriela about her departure.
Before she could take a step, she saw Rebecca stomping toward her.
Why is she everywhere?‘ she mused.
Rebecca walked up to her and asked angrily, “What are you trying to do, Cassandra? Do you feel satisfied seeing so many people laugh at me? Do you think you’ve won? You’re dreaming! I’m telling you! I’m the only person Landy truly cares
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Chapter 76
about, and you’re nothing. So what if members of the Quinn family like you? He still won’t like you and will never fall in love with you for the rest of his life. You better divorce him as soon as possible, or I’ll definitely make things hard for you.”
Cassandra asked coldly, “You only have yourself to blame, Rebecca, yet you’re blaming me? Who are you to order me and Orlando to divorce? This is between me and him. What’s it got to do with you?”
Rebecca was good at acting and putting on an innocent act in front of Orlando but revealed her true haughty self in front of Cassandra.
However, Cassandra wouldn’t let Rebecca walk over her.
Furious, Rebecca yelled, “So, you’re saying that you won’t listen? Oh, Cassandra, I have plenty of ways to make you
“Who do you think you are? Why should I listen to you?” Cassandra retorted.
After that, Cassandra got up and proceeded to leave. She didn’t want to waste her breath on Rebecca.
agree”
After walking past Rebecca, she was marching along the pool and about to enter the house when suddenly, a force pushed her from behind, propelling her into the pool by surprise.
It was late fall in October, so the water in the pool was freezing.
Cassandra’s body shook like a leaf from the iciness.
She struggled to get out of the pool, but it was too deep for her, and she didn’t know how to swim, so she kept sinking.
She wanted to cry for help, but cold water instantly flowed into her mouth and down her throat.
Her mind went blank, and her vision became hazy. Vaguely, she seemed to see a tall figure running toward her.
When Cassandra opened her eyes again, half an hour had passed.
She stared at the white ceiling dazedly and heard a gentle whisper in her ear. “It’s Gabriela, Cassie. Do you still feel sick anywhere?”
Only then did she realize that Gabriela was next to her. She shook her head gently and frowned when she suddenly remembered something. “Gabriela, what happened to me?” she asked agitatedly.
Immediately after, she sprang up from the bed into a sitting position.
Gabriela hurriedly pressed her to lie back down and explained, “You fell into the swimming pool. Fortunately, Orlando was in time to save you, and Dr. Garrett had checked on you. You’re fine, so don’t worry too much.”
Cassandra breathed out a sigh of relief. Although Gabriela didn’t know the reason behind her ailment, Cassandra considered it to be good news since she hadn’t mentioned any bad news.
Cassandra looked at the time and noticed that it was already past nine. She turned to Gabriela and asked, “You can go and do your stuff, Gabriela. I can take care of myself.”
“I’m not busy. Don’t you want me to accompany you?” Gabriela questioned.
“Of course not.” Cassandra smiled and asked, “Gabriela, you said Orlando rescued me from the pool?”
“Yeah, he was worried sick and only went to greet the guests with his father after Dr. Garrett declared that you were fine after
his examination.”
Naturally, Cassandra knew that Gabriela was exaggerating when she said Orlando was worried sick.
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Chapter 76
However, she didn’t expose her and merely nodded.
At that time, the bedroom door opened, and Orlando walked in with a long stride.
Upon seeing that Cassandra had woken up, he asked gently, “How do you feel? Do you still feel sick anywhere?”
“I’m good,” Cassandra answered.
-67%D
Orlando said, “That’s good to hear, but don’t be so stubborn anymore in the future. Despite the misunderstanding between you and Rebecca, you shouldn’t have refused her help when she tried to pull you away from the pool for fear of you falling in. How could you disregard your safety over winning an argument?”
There was not much criticism or anger in his tone. Instead, he was talking to Cassandra earnestly.
However, Cassandra looked at him with a pale face and tears in her eyes. The atmosphere in the room became pin–drop
silent.
Gabriela hurriedly said, “Orlando, talk to Cassie nicely. After all, it was just an accident, and no one wanted it to happen.”
She turned to Cassandra and said, “Cassie, don’t take his words seriously. He’s just talking nonsense.”
“Mom.” A resigned look crossed Orlando’s face.
Cassandra hurriedly lowered her head when tears were about to flow from her eyes. Smiling coldly, she asked, “Did Rebecca tell you this?”
She lifted her head to look at Orlando in front of her again after schooling her expression and suppressing her emotions. “Didn’t she tell you how I fell into the pool?” he answered.
Orlando frowned and said, “Didn’t you lose your balance and fall into the pool when you argued with Rebecca? She wanted to pull you up, but you flung her hand away.”
“So, you trust Rebecca’s explanation?” Cassandra questioned.
Orlando fell silent.
She thought, ‘Why isn’t he saying anything?”
Cassandra screamed silently, ‘Please answer me, Orlando!‘
