Chapter Four

Dinner unfolded before them, presenting a spread of various drinks and delectable dishes. Anderson, fully immersed in the culinary experience, sat at the table, focusing intently on the meal. Cassie, though sitting a bit apart, joined in the meal. Despite the distance, both were deeply engrossed in relishing their dinner and the sound of spoons on plates was the only background noise.

Breaking the silence that enveloped the dining scene, Cassie stammered, "I wanted to express my gratitude for what happened earlier." After a moment of hesitation, she continued, "But, Anderson, I understand that financial situations can be challenging, so let's be mindful of our spending in the future, okay? I appreciate your gestures, but it's important to consider our budget.”

Anderson, setting down his utensils with a clatter onto his plate, took a moment to wipe his mouth, creating a noticeable pause in the air. "What gives you the impression that I'm not well-off?" he replied, his face reflecting a blend of surprise and curiosity.

Cassie, grappling with her words, began, "Well, um, I just..." She had a hard time expressing herself, avoiding eye contact with Anderson while trying to share her feelings.

Interrupting her attempt to speak. Anderson sharply cut in, "Is it because of those rumors you've heard?" His words hung in the air, carrying the weight of unspoken accusations.

"Rumors that I can't keep a job, that I associate with troublesome individuals, or worse, that I'm the black sheep of the Klein family, the so-called 'bastard child'?" he continued, his frustration and hurt evident in his cutting words. The room's atmosphere became charged with the emotions conveyed by his heartfelt outburst.

Cassie quickly responded, "No, no, it's not about those rumors. I don't care about that. I just think we should be mindful of our finances. I have a couple of job interviews coming up, and once I start working, I can support us" she concluded, her concern and determination clear in her words.

"Support us?" Anderson echoed, a cute smile gracing his face. "How do you imagine supporting us?" His words held a blend of amusement and curiosity, forging a vulnerable moment between them.

Captivated by his sweet and calm smile, Cassie found herself gazing affectionately at him, basking in the warmth of witnessing his genuine happiness. After a moment, she mustered the words to reply, "Well, this is your house, and I feel like I should contribute in some way.”

Anderson whispered to himself, "Wow, she's such an interesting girl." His voice carried a quiet admiration as he contemplated the intriguing qualities he saw in Cassie.

Suddenly, her phone on the table beeped, vibrating sharply and interrupting the affectionate moment with an unexpected shift in emotions.

Her phone displayed a message from St. Mary Hospital: "Payment update: your payment for June is due, please use the same online portal to pay for your convenience. Thank you."

Lost in her own thoughts, Cassie found herself staring at the screen, completely unaware that more than five minutes had passed without her even realizing it.

Observing her with growing concern, Anderson finally broke the silence with a loud voice, "Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, I'm okay," she replied, sounding a bit distracted and trying to focus on the present.

"Do you remember when I mentioned that we should behave like a good couple when we're out? Well, that's all I did today—just played the part, nothing more than that. Don't overthink it," he explained, his words lingering in the air with a touch of detachment.

With that, he exited the dining room, leaving behind unspoken emotions and a sense of uncertainty.

Cassie, enveloped in a silence that carried a hint of moodiness, simply nodded in reaction to what he said. I realized it was all just a show, something we were pretending. I kinda knew it deep down, but when he said it, there was no denying it.

~~~~~~~

On a sunny morning,Cassie woke up feeling ready for the day, and went to her dad's house feeling upset and disappointed, with lots of thoughts in her mind.

"Why would they trick me?" she quietly said to herself. Her mom's medical bills, which hadn't been paid, made her feel really heavy-hearted.

Upon reaching her destination, the security personnel granted her entry. Stepping into the living room, a surge of anger engulfed her as she discovered her step-sister, Sarah, capturing moments with a luxurious gold bag valued at a staggering million. Unable to contain her frustration, Cassie's voice trembled as she broke the silence, demanding to know the whereabouts of her father.

"Why are you here?" Sarah said, showing her new gold purse with a limited edition label in a disgusted tone.

Ignoring the flashy bag, Cassie responded, "You all agreed to cover my mom's medical bills, so why haven't they been paid yet?"

Winnie, alerted by Cassie's loud voice, came out and said, "I promised I'd give you the money, but I didn't specify when. What's the hurry?"

Cassie shifted her focus from Sarah to Winnie, her expression reflecting a mix of frustration and sadness. "Do you realize how much I'm struggling with these high interest rates?" she said in a soft, emotional voice. Tears welled up as she continued, "My mom's treatment is getting delayed because of the unpaid bills."

Unfazed, Sarah responded mockingly, "Sounds like a personal problem, Cassie. Not our concern.

”Growing more agitated, Cassie retorted, "I got married to Anderson for the sake of our family, and you say it's not your problem?" Her voice rose, mirroring her increasing frustration.

In a firm tone, she looked directly at Mrs. Winnie and demanded, "Where's dad? I need to talk to him." The intensity in her gaze conveyed the urgency and seriousness of the situation.

"Your dad's working hard to support the family, unlike you and your mom who depend on us," Mrs. Winnie said, her face showing clear disapproval.

"My mother never asked for child support," she continued angrily, her voice echoing in the room. "I've worked hard my whole life, struggled through college, and look at Sarah getting a $20,000 handbag.”

Out of nowhere, Mrs. Winnie's hand shot up, giving Cassie a hard slap on her right cheek. The sound echoed in the room, making it feel tense. Cassie, in the midst of the chaos, felt a sharp pain and accidentally bit the lower part of her tongue. It hurt so much that she could taste the sourness of blood on her tongue. The room was filled with a mix of shock and discomfort as the dramatic moment unfolded contrasting with the pain etched on Cassie's.

"How dare you come to my house and shout like this?" Winnie exclaimed loudly. "Get out!" she yelled, her face filled with anger.

Sarah, finding the situation amusing, couldn't help but smile throughout the whole scene.

Cassie, still in shock from the incident, covered the spot where she got slapped with her hands. She walked out of the house with fury, tears streaming down her cheeks. The mix of emotions overwhelmed her as she left the tense atmosphere behind.