"Since I divorced and returned to thepany, I realized Jessica had been telling


    the truth. Ourpany did not go bankrupt.


    "That was a lie you told me. You were hoping that I''d never contact you again after


    you made me go through with the divorce," Casper said.


    He couldn''t understand why he had no control over his life or why his parents felt


    the need to interfere.


    He added darkly, "You were always talking about how thepany was thriving


    without me, so why bother asking me to return? If I didn''t know better, I''d think the


    resolve.


    "So, you devised a n to lure me back to thepany to handle the crisis for


    you. But as soon as the problem is solved, you''d find a way to have me thrown


    out of thepany again."


    In hindsight, Zane had treated Casper better than Gary and Julia did. He had


    enough confidence in Casper to leave him in charge of an entire project, and he


    wasn''t stingy when it came to profit-sharing, either.


    Gary and Julia, on the other hand, wouldn''t even write Casper a paycheck despite


    all the work he''d done for thepany.


    Toward the end, Casper''s voice grew quiet. "I won''t be guaranteed a permanent


    position in the family business."


    Gary believed Casper was only airing his grievances. He was certain the young


    man was desperate to return to the family business. "If you do as we say..."


    "I don''t want to hear what you have to say, nor do I n on returning." Casper bit


    out icily, "Don''te to me about anything that has to do with the business from


    now on. Handle the crises on your own."


    With that, he hung up.


    Gary and Julia were rendered speechless.


    Casper was right when he guessed that thepany was in trouble and that only


    he could handle it. However, they hadn''t expected him to be so stubborn.


    Julia asked, "Have we taken things too far?"


    Gary snorted, oblivious to his w, as he snapped, "In what way? What would


    have happened had Casper taken charge of the family business and married


    Jessica afterward?"


    He began gesturing at the air. "Jessica would have squandered our money, that''s


    what!"


    Gary had a valid point; that much Julia would admit.


    "But the problem now is that Casper refuses to return to thepany." Things


    would be easier if he did. Julia asked, "Should wepromise with him?"


    "No way!" Gary scoffed arrogantly.


    "Compromising is not an option.


    You''ve seen the way Jessica spends


    her money. How many men can put


    up with that before they grow tired


    of her antics?


    "I reckoned she would call us in a couple of days, weeping on the phone and


    begging us to forgive her. When that happens, we can bend her to our will!"


    Julia considered this and nodded in agreement, not that it eased the anxious knot


    in her stomach. "Let''s hope so."


    Gary argued, "Hope? No. When ites to Jessica, you know I''m right."


    Upon hearing this, Julia could only


    years she had been married to Gary.


    Not once had he made the wrong


    decision, and she could only hope


    that today''s incident was no


    exception.


    Casper was already waiting in the café when Jessica arrived.


    It had been months since theyst


    saw each other. She unconsciously


    caressed her baby bump as


    memories of her first pregnancy


    flickered through her mind. She and


    Casper were still married, and he


    cherished her. He protected and


    cared for her to the point of


    overindulgence.


    Jessica remembered grinning at Casper''s pure smile. At the time, she felt like she


    had married the right person.