Chapter 1206

She sat there quietly, waiting for Josefina to speak-sweet and patient, like the girl next door.

"Your sketches are great, and the proposal's solid. So, I'm handing this event over to you. Alex told me today he's not feeling well, so he can't handle it.”

Deanna's worry was obvious. "Why didn't he tell me? I thought he was getting better. He's been avoiding me these past few days, wouldn't even let me visit."

Josefina just smiled gently. "He didn't want you to worry about him."

Deanna lowered her eyes, sadness written all over her face.

Josefina tried to reassure her. "This event's yours now. Do you think you can handle it?"

"I can!" Deanna's head shot up, her eyes full of determination.

She didn't just believe it-she was absolutely sure.

"Good. I have faith in you. Go for it, Deanna."

Deanna left the office practically buzzing with excitement.

Outside, her coworkers all reacted differently when they heard she'd be running the event. After all the work they'd put in, a newcomer had swooped in and taken the lead.

But Deanna didn't care what anyone else thought. All she wanted was to prove herself she was ready for her big moment.

As for Josefina, she just loved watching how everything would play out.

The whole Cassandra situation was a disaster. The school asked her to leave and "suggested" she find somewhere else.

The University of Melbourne just couldn't keep a student like her around.

After they looked into it, it turned out to be a misunderstanding, and Cassandra was let go.

She ran into Tammie as soon as she was out.

Tammie was a wreck, grabbing Cassandra's hand tightly. She never imagined a trip to Westwood would turn her world upside down like this.

She'd just wanted to go to school-how did things go so wrong? On paper, it was a "suggested withdrawal," but everyone knew what that really meant.

"Cassandra, don't worry," Tammie said quickly. "If the University of Melbourne lost you, that's their bad luck! We don't have to stay here. We'll go abroad! Get a fancy degree, come back, and everything will be fine."

Bad grades? No problem-just study overseas.

Cassandra stayed silent. Tammie helped her into the car.

Once inside, Cassandra still looked awful, like she'd swallowed something disgusting.

Tammie, barely holding it together, tried to comfort her. "Cassandra, sweetheart, will you talk to me Did someone hurt you? Did they threaten you? You can tell me, I'll make sure they pay!"

For a second, something sparked in Cassandra's dull eyes. She stared at Tammie,

then suddenly let out a piercing scream.

"Aaah!"

Tammie froze, stunned and half-deafened.

Cassandra broke down, covering her face and sobbing-frustrated, scared, angry. She couldn't hold it in anymore.

She'd lost again. Lost to Josefina, again.

Suddenly, Cassandra yelled at the driver, "Turn around! Hurry, turn the car around!"

The driver just thought, Go on, shout

all you want. No one's louder than you. My shifts almost over and now.

they want me to do more work Fine, let's see how you get home later.

He kept his poker face and said nothing.

...

He drove fast, and they got there in thirty-five minutes.

Cassandra's eyes were sharp as she ordered, "Mom, wait here. Do NOT come inside."

Tammie was so scared she didn't dare argue-she just nodded from the back seat, frozen in place.

She was terrified. Absolutely terrified.

With her mind racing, Tammie stayed put, nodding.

Cassandra got out by herself, heading toward the house with heavy steps, like she was marching to her fate.

Tammie panicked. "No, I have to

check on her Cassandra's going to kon do something stupid!" she muttered, pushing open the door and hurrying after her.

The driver watched them go, thinking, Whatever. I'm off the clock.