Chapter 1380: There was an incident in the past

Pak!

Wild paused at the sound of a flash drive landing on his desk. His eyes lingered on the hand pressing it against the surface before slowly moving upward to meet Penny’s gaze.

"I need information about them," Penny ordered quietly but firmly. "Where they are, what they’re doing—everything. I want to know, and I need them in my office as soon as possible."

Wild blinked. Before he could say anything, Penny had already left his office.

"Hah." He leaned back, tilting his head as he gazed at the closed door. "That’s new. It’s been a while since she looked so fierce in my eyes."

Slowly, Wild’s gaze fell on the flash drive Penny had left on his desk. He reached for it, studying it for a moment before lifting his eyes to the door again. After a beat, he smacked his lips and inserted the flash drive into his computer. He skimmed through the few files stored on it before making a phone call.

"It’s me," Wild said as soon as the call connected. "I sent you something. Find out everything about them—their whereabouts, where they are in life, their background—even their damn favorite dramas. It’s important. I need the information by the end of the day."

The response was brief—barely an "okay" before the line went dead. Tossing his phone back into his drawer, Wild glanced at the door and let out an airy laugh.

"Whatever it is she’s onto..." He trailed off, staring at the file of some random child on his screen. "She’s going to lose her mind if she doesn’t get answers immediately."

Knowing Penny, she wouldn’t have asked him this way if it wasn’t serious. It had been a long time since he’d seen that look on her face.

---

Meanwhile, at the Davis Residence...

In the garden, Cassandra and Mrs. Davis shared a few laughs over tea. But after a moment, the laughter faded, replaced by a quiet heaviness.

Mrs. Davis gazed at Cassandra affectionately. The young woman was perfect for her son. Beyond her prestigious family ties, she was smart, filial, and an absolute delight to be around.

"Cassandra, honey," Mrs. Davis began, reaching out to cradle Cassandra’s hand between her own, "I actually called you here today to ask for a favor. Can you talk to Finn for me?"

Deep lines appeared between Cassandra’s brows. "Auntie, is there a misunderstanding between you and Finn?"

"How I wish it were only a misunderstanding." Mrs. Davis sighed heavily. "But it’s not."

Bitterness flickered in her eyes as she recalled how her son had left them so coldly—despite her warning that leaving would mean severing ties. She had been angry, yes, but she was still a mother. And no matter how much he hurt her, Finn was her only child. Even so, disappointment gnawed at her. He had chosen Nina over his own parents.

Cassandra studied Mrs. Davis quietly before finally asking, "Auntie, what happened?"

"It’s that woman," Mrs. Davis muttered, her voice laced with disappointment. "She and her family have poisoned Finn’s mind. Now, he wants nothing to do with us."

Cassandra’s brows lifted slightly, genuine surprise flickering in her expression. "Auntie, didn’t you have a family dinner with Nina’s family?"

"We did, but as you can tell, it didn’t go well." Mrs. Davis shook her head, sighing as she recalled how they had been practically chased out. "That family is selfish. I kept wondering why Zoren Pierson married into them, but then I realized—the Piersons have always been chaotic. He had no parents to guide him in making better choices, and the Old Madam Pierson was too old to stop him from making a mistake."

Mrs. Davis looked deeply into Cassandra’s eyes. "Cassy, I don’t want Finn to make the same mistake. Can you talk to him? He doesn’t listen to us anymore, but you two have always been close. Maybe you can persuade him."

Cassandra pursed her lips into a thin line before her expression softened with quiet bitterness. "I’m afraid... I’ll have to disappoint you, Auntie."

"Why?" Mrs. Davis frowned. "Cassandra, just try, please? Are you really going to refuse?"

"Auntie, it’s not that." Cassandra let out a heavy sigh. "Of course, I want to help—even if I know it’s futile. But... it’s impossible."

"What are you saying?"

"Finn met with me yesterday, and he..." Cassandra’s voice wavered as tears welled in her eyes. "Out of nowhere, he told me to stay out of his life."

"What?!" Mrs. Davis sat up straight, outrage flashing across her face. "Why would he say that?"

"I don’t know, Auntie." Cassandra shook her head. "Until now, Finn and I had maintained a good relationship. But suddenly... I don’t understand what changed. I even tried to befriend Nina."

She paused, forcing a smile, but it didn’t reach her eyes. "I even offered Nina a project under my grandfather’s company. I did it because I didn’t want people to look down on her, especially since she’s marrying into the Davis family. At first, everything seemed fine. Nina accepted the project... but then, all of a sudden, Finn turned on me."

"It must be her!" Mrs. Davis fumed, her anger escalating. "It’s obvious—she’s insecure. She knows that you were supposed to marry Finn and that you’ve already accomplished so much. Meanwhile, she..."

Her dislike for Nina deepened.

Cassandra bit the inside of her bottom lip, carefully studying the anger brewing in Mrs. Davis’ eyes. A fleeting smirk played on her lips. It wasn’t enough—not yet—but it was a start.

"Auntie, please, let’s not jump to conclusions," Cassandra said gently, giving Mrs. Davis’ hand a reassuring squeeze. She waited for the older woman to look back at her before continuing. "I mean, Nina has a tragic past. Besides, I know she’s changed—she turned away from her old ways after that incident."

Mrs. Davis furrowed her brows. "What incident?"

"Auntie, didn’t Finn tell you?" Cassandra covered her lips as if realizing she’d said too much. "If not, I don’t think I should be the one to disclose it."

Mrs. Davis tightened her grip on Cassandra’s hand. "Cassandra, do you really think Finn would tell us anything that could tarnish that woman’s image? She’s already brainwashed him to the point of cutting off his own parents—the people who brought him into this world. So if there’s something I need to know, I want to know."

"But—"

"Please." Mrs. Davis begged calmly. "Cassandra, if you truly care about my son, tell me what kind of person he’s really marrying."

Hesitation flickered in Cassandra’s eyes, but in the end, she relented.

"There was an incident in the past," she admitted slowly. "I don’t know all the details, but from what I heard... Nina once tried to kill another student by dropping a flower pot from the rooftop."

Mrs. Davis paled instantly, her face turning ashen.

Meanwhile, a glint of satisfaction flickered in Cassandra’s eyes as a smirk briefly appeared across her lips.