Chapter 17
Cassandra descended the stairs like a princess, supported by Harry. All eyes in the room were on her. Someone in the crowd asked, “Mr. Ladner, Is this your fiancée?
Harry smiled faintly. “I don’t have a flancée. This is my cousin, Cassandra Barnes, She is also the current president of Hurricane Group.”
Gasps of surprise filled the room. “The Hurricane Group’s president is a woman?”
“Wait a minute, doesn’t she look familiar? Haven’t we seen her somewhere before?”
“Now that you mention it… she really does look like that little girl the Nolans adopted. Wasn’t her name Cassandra Nolan?”
“Yes! She looks exactly like Cassandra Nolan!”
Standing at the front, Cassandra heard the murmurs but didn’t try to hide. Instead, she openly admitted it. “You’re all correct. I am indeed the adopted daughter of the Nolans, Cassandra. Three months ago, my biological parents found me, and just half a month ago, I officially reunited with them.”
The crowd was filled with envy. An adopted daughter turned out to be the birth child of a wealthy family, what a stroke of luck!
Eric and Ariel were overjoyed that Cassandra had publicly acknowledged her connection to their family. “Cassie, we’re so happy you found your birth parents. You’ve always been a sensible child and we knew you wouldn’t forget the years we raised you.”
Cassandra nodded calmly. “You’re right, Mrs. Nolan. I lived with the Nolans for twelve years and I should repay that.”
At that moment, Matthew Jennings, the city’s top lawyer, entered the room. They exchanged a glance and Cassandra gave a slight nod. “Bro.”
“Little sister, our teacher was heartbroken when you left the legal profession to get married. I’m glad you’ve come to your senses now.”
Cassandra gave a wry smile. “I regret not listening to her then. She was right. A woman. needs her own career.”
The audience was even more confused now. “Wait, so Cassandra is actually the junior of the famous lawyer Matthew Jennings? I heard that the Nolans’s adopted daughter was mediocre, never even got a job after college, and just sponged off them. I never expected she’d be a top lawyer’s apprentice?”
“Rumors really do mislead people.”
“Did you hear what Matthew just said? He mentioned Cassandra got married. When did that happen?”
Cassandra didn’t answer the questions swirling below. Instead, Matthew walked straight to Eric and Ariel, holding a prepared contract. “Mr. and Mrs. Nolan, Cassandra lived with your family for twelve years. The total cost of her upbringing comes to $100000. She has decided to double that amount and round it up, giving you a total of $200000. Here’s a
the famous lawyer Matthew Junningar I heard that the Nolans’s adopted daue mediocre, never even got a job after college, and just sponged off them. I never she’d be a top lawyer’s apprentice??
“Rumors really do mislead people.”
“Did you hear what Matthew just said? He mentioned Cassandra got married. When did that happen?”
Cassandra didn’t answer the questions swirling below. Instead, Matthew walked straight to Eric and Ariel, holding a prepared contract. “Mr. and Mrs. Nolan, Cassandra lived with your family for twelve years. The total cost of her upbringing comes to $100000. She has decided to double that amount and round it up, giving you a total of $200000. Here’s a
check. From this moment on, Cassandra has no further ties with the Nolans.”
In a shadowed corner, Samuel stood frozen, eyes locked onto Cassandra. He had known it. That woman wouldn’t have invited them here for anything good. She wasn’t just cutting ties with him; she was severing all connections with the family that raised her. Ariel, who had been all smiles moments ago, turned pale at the sight of the check. “Cassie, what are you doing? We are still your parents, even if you’ve found your biological family! We raised you out of love, not for money. Take this money back.”
If Cassandra wanted to buy her freedom, the price should be at least 20 million dollars, not a measly $200000. Was she treating them like beggars?
Cassandra saw right through Ariel’s thoughts and smiled brightly. “Since you don’t want it, then let’s forget about it.”
She turned to Matthew. “Matthew, please present the termination of adoption papers for them to sign.”
Ariel was caught off guard. She hadn’t expected Cassandra to be this ruthless. She felt as though a golden opportunity had just slipped through her fingers. “Cassandra, what do you mean by this? Just because you’ve found your biological parents, you’re abandoning us? Have you no conscience?”
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.