The Reclaimed Rose (Annalise and Steven)

"Let's go. I'll take you out to dinner," Casper said.

Gary followed behind him. "Have you thought about what's going to happen to Cody?"

Casper shrugged. "Why should I?"

"He's your only son. If you don't bring him back, are you really going to let our family line die out just like that?" Gary asked.

Casper's gaze settled on the streetlights and the thinning crowd, an unexpected sense of calm washing over him. "Isn't this exactly what you were hoping for?"

Once they stepped inside the restaurant, he passed the menu to Julia. "Take a look and decide what you'd like to order."

Julia picked a starter. "We never thought Ruby would lie to us!"

Casper leaned back, crossed his legs, and echoed, "You never thought Ruby would lie to you?"

main course. "Exactly! Who would've thought she'd dare lie about

if you thought I'd betrayed her with Jessica, why didn't you look into it? Or insist on a DNA

laugh. "Dad, you've built your entire career on being careful.

had looked into Ruby's claims sooner, they might have been able to fix

and

Jessica horribly.

at Casper. He'd failed her, too, refusing to stand by her unconditionally, even

Gary hesitated. "I'm sorry."

Jessica hates you. So does Cody. You called her a gold-digger, but she's never once abandoned

he has a better life. She's not

Jessica and Cody after work. Their bond was unshakable.

just because we want him to. You need to understand that," Casper said with a tone of

just let him call another man 'dad'?"