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

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

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

looked into Ruby's claims sooner, they might have been

it and ended up

Jessica horribly.

failed her, too, refusing to stand by her unconditionally, even

Gary hesitated. "I'm sorry."

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

she's in is about ensuring he has a better life. She's not perfect, but she's a perfect

bond was

because we want him to. You need to understand that," Casper said with

let him