After their wild night, Cassidy was too wiped out to talk, her mind racing with ways to ditch the Cooper family.
Easton had no clue what she was thinking, still daydreaming about their future together. He wanted to cuddle and chill for a bit, but Cassidy wasn't having it.
She knew Easton was a capable guy, but all she wanted was to leave the Cooper family, so she had to figure out an escape plan. She got dressed and headed out for some fresh air to clear her head. But as soon as she stepped outside, she bumped into Declan.
Declan asked softly, "Cassidy, got a minute to chat?"
Cassidy remembered Declan knocking on her door last night, wanting to talk. She nodded. "Sure, what's up?"
"Not much," Declan said with a smile, his voice full of concern. "Just wanted to see how you're doing. A lot's been going on, and you need to take care of yourself for the baby's sake." His eyes drifted to her belly.
Cassidy quickly placed a hand on her stomach, hiding her unease, and smiled. "The baby will be fine. With all of you around, he'll definitely be born healthy."
She tried to stay calm, unsure if Declan was doubting her pregnancy. She had to keep it together to convince him she was really pregnant.
Declan didn't seem to doubt her, nor did he notice her brief panic. He just nodded happily. "That's good. The Cooper family will soon have a new member. My father would be thrilled to know you're carrying his child."
At the mention of Ashton, Cassidy was a bit taken aback and then got nervous, wondering if Declan suspected something. But no matter how hard she looked, she couldn't read anything from his expression.
Cassidy could only lower her head and sigh, looking sad.
"Sorry," Declan said, looking regretful. "I didn't mean to bring up father."
Cassidy gently shook her head to show it was okay.
Declan looked at her for a moment and then said, "If Father knew you were getting along well with Easton now, he'd be happy too."
Cassidy's body tensed up, but she hid her panic and responded as calmly as she could. "Except for Ryder, I get along with everyone."
"That's true," Declan said gently. His tone and expression were so kind that Cassidy couldn't suspect him. Maybe he was just genuinely happy for her. After all, he was a very considerate guy.
Cassidy started to relax as a thought popped into her head. "Declan, do you know any families with marriageable girls?"
'Easton might not want to let me go because I'm his first. If I could set him up with someone else, maybe he'd stop focusing on me,' she thought.
Declan thought for a moment and said, "Cassidy, have you heard of the Parker family? They're an old noble family. They have a daughter named Zoe Parker, who's really sweet. Her family has been looking for a good match for her, and she's always admired Easton."
'A sweet girl would bring out a man's protective side, and since she likes Easton, she'd probably be willing to marry him,' Cassidy thought. "Then please help me arrange a meeting. I'd like to meet Ms. Parker."
"Sure thing," Declan agreed.
'If Easton falls for Zoe, leaving in six months will be a breeze,' Cassidy thought, feeling a wave of relief. Looking at the ever-gentle Declan, she couldn't help but ask, "Declan, have you ever thought about finding someone new?"
Declan once had a stunning wife, and they were deeply in love, but she was tragically shot a few years ago. Since then, Cassidy hadn't seen another woman by his side.
'Someone as kind as Declan deserves a beautiful love story, not a life stuck in a wheelchair, watching others find happiness. That would be too cruel,' Cassidy thought. 'If Declan wants to remarry, I'll seriously help him find the right woman.'
But Declan just smiled and shook his head. "I have no plans to remarry."
Cassidy nodded, feeling a bit sad but didn't push further. She understood that Declan had loved his wife deeply, and maybe he just couldn't move on. It made sense why he didn't want to remarry.
A few days later, thanks to Declan's arrangements, Cassidy met Zoe Parker. She had been thrilled when Declan agreed to help set up the meeting and had looked forward to it, hoping Zoe would be a good match for Easton.
At first sight, Cassidy had a good impression of Zoe. Despite her high social status, Zoe didn't exhibit the usual snobbish attitude. Instead, she greeted Cassidy with a sweet, warm smile.
"Zoe, I hope my sudden invitation didn't bother you," Cassidy said.
"Not at all!" Zoe's eyes widened slightly, surprised by Cassidy's words. "Actually, I've always wanted to chat with you, Mrs. Cooper, but I didn't dare ask. Knowing you wanted to see me, I've been looking forward to today."
Zoe was stunning, and her eyes got even bigger when she was surprised, making her look adorable.
Cassidy smiled and began chatting with Zoe, quickly finding her to be a delightful conversationalist. Zoe was surprised by how young Cassidy was, but she remained very polite, unlike Scarlett. If Scarlett had been this polite, they wouldn't have argued at the banquet.
Cassidy was very pleased with Zoe. She thought that if Easton met Zoe, he'd definitely fall for her.
After chatting for a while, Cassidy finally got to the point. "Zoe, I heard you've always admired Easton."
Zoe blushed immediately and looked down shyly.
Seeing her reaction, Cassidy felt even more confident she had found the right person. "Ms. Parker, you're very charming, and I fully support you two being together. In a few days, the Cooper family is planning a vacation. Would you like to join us?"
Zoe was a bit surprised and blushed as she asked, "But this is your family vacation. Wouldn't it be inappropriate for me to go?"
Cassidy smiled and reassured her, "Don't worry. They'll invite their friends too. You can join us as my friend, and no one will mind."
Zoe hesitated and asked, "Will Easton be there too?"
"Of course. I think with you there, we'll have a great time," Cassidy said with a smile.
Zoe's face stayed flushed, and after a moment of hesitation, she finally nodded. "Okay, I'll join you. Thank you for the invitation."