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?"

"Exactly! Who would've thought she'd dare

at him. "Even if you thought I'd betrayed her with Jessica, why didn't you look into it? Or insist

"Dad, you've built your entire career on being careful. How could you be so

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

it and

Jessica horribly.

stand by her unconditionally, even though he knew full well that Julia and Gary were

Gary hesitated. "I'm sorry."

does 'sorry' even mean at this point? Jessica hates you. So does Cody. You called her a gold-digger, but she's

a better life.

was unshakable. Cody's guarded demeanor

simple as Cody coming back just because we want him to. You

"Then what? We just let