“Mommy?” 

Startled, Cassidy was pulled back to reality. 

She snapped out of her thoughts and placed the picture frame back on the coffee table. Then, she looked down to find her daughter, Adelynn, staring up at her. She wondered just how long she had been staring at their family picture. 

“I can’t put the ribbon on, Mommy. It keeps slipping. Can you put it on for me?”

“Of course, honey.” 

With delight, she took the ribbon from her hand. She then began to tie it around her ponytail, making sure to leave a nice, beautiful bow. 

Once Cassidy was done, Adelynn turned back around and beamed at her happily before walking over to the sofa to grab her teddy bear.

“Seems like you’re all ready to go…” she said as she patted her head, giving her a smile of her own. 

“That dress looks really cute on you. I’m sure Daddy will love it.”

“Really…?!” she blurted out ecstatically while she held her teddy bear closer to her chest. 

“Is Daddy really going to love it?!”

Cassidy nodded, making Adelynn squeal in joy.

She lets out a sigh before she looks down at her own outfit – a simple red dress. They both had to pretty themselves up today since they were about to go to a special event. 

“Do you like my teddy bear, Mommy? Daddy bought it for me…!” Adelynn chirped blithely.

“He said that it would take care of me whenever he wasn’t around! Oh, and also, he said that he was going to take me to the aquarium park next week! I can’t wait! I want to take a picture of all the fishes there, and I want to hang them over the wall behind my bed!”

Cassidy smiled at her again. It didn’t surprise her in the least since Adrian had a habit of spoiling Adelynn like this.

She was already turning five this year, but to him, she would always be his little girl. 

“Alright. I hope we’ll all be able to go,” she told her in reply, and she nodded before kissing her cheek.

With that, Adelynn dashed back to the living room, giggling all the while. Cassidy went to follow after her until she heard the doorbell ring out of nowhere.

Usually, the maids would come running to answer it, but since she was already right there, she decided to open the door herself. 

Once she did so, she found herself coming face-to-face with Asher, much to her pleasant surprise. Cassidy greeted him with a small hug before stepping aside to welcome him in. 

“I thought you said that you wouldn’t be able to make it, Asher,” she started, grinning.

“Well, I’m afraid I still wouldn’t be, Cassie. I’m not only dropping Irish off at the airport. I’m leaving with her,” he told her with a small smile, and she swore she saw him blushing even though he was trying to keep it cool. 

“Right. It’s finally that day, huh?”

“Yeah. This is a big opportunity for her, and I just can’t leave her alone. She’s finally going to debut as a movie director. I want to be there to support her. Bryan and Aira are going with you guys, though. They have to stay behind to manage the restaurant, after all.”

“I hope everything goes well for the both of you. It’s alright. Can’t be helped, anyway. I know that Adrian understands. Just please have a safe trip.”

“I thought I would tell you this in person. I’m really sorry that I won’t be able to make it.” 

Cassidy simply shook her head in understanding. Smiling, Asher stepped closer and pulled her in for an embrace.

“Take care of yourself and your family. D, congratulate Shade for me. I probably won’t be back in a while. I’ll call sometimes, okay? Me and Irish.”

Cassidy nodded, and Asher finally let go. 

He patted her head then – just like the way he used to when they were younger. After bidding each other goodbye for the last time, she watched him take his leave.

Asher came all that way just to tell her that he’s departing. Cassidy greatly appreciated that. 

She would have loved him and his girlfriend to accompany them on Adrian’s special day. However, Irish had gotten an important offer that she just couldn’t afford to turn down. Of course, she immediately accepted it, and Cassidy wasn’t surprised that her boyfriend decided to follow her. 

‘I’m glad that they’d hooked up in the end. They’d fight from time to time, but they’re practically soulmates by this point. I bet it won’t be long before they get engaged.’ 

Ruffling down her dress, she went back inside and began to climb up the stairs. She takes a look at her wristwatch, relieved that there’s still some time left before they have to go. Now, there’s just one more person she needs to check on.

Cassidy made her way to her son’s bedroom. She’s almost sure that Carsein would make trouble again.

“Are you almost ready, darling?” she called out from behind the door.

“I don’t want to go, and I’m not going!” he exclaimed, confirming her speculation.

That’s when he stepped out of his bedroom. She stared down at him with a frown, sighing when she saw that he’s indeed nowhere near ready. He was still wearing his pajamas, hair amess. 

“There’s no way I’m wearing that suit or whatever. The tie chokes me! Besides, it’s going to be boring. I’m going to my friend’s house. He’s got this really cool video game that I want to see-“

“How can you say that?” 

Cassidy places her hands on her hips with her brows furrowed together. There’s no doubt about it. Carsein had gotten her stubbornness. His temper came from Adrian, though. 

“Your father had been preparing for this for months! Are you telling me that you don’t care about him? Don’t you want to see him play the piano again? It’s his first performance in front of many people, and he wants his whole family to be there. So, forget about going to your buddy’s house. You’re going to change into that suit right now. Do you understand?”

She sees him falter then. It’s unusual of her to get this angry – he knows that. But perhaps, there’s a bigger reason why he wavered. It must be because he really didn’t mean what he said.

“Fine,” Carsein then finally stated, much to Cassidy’s delight.