Chapter 977: Are you like them too?

Meanwhile...

"That guy... Jonathan, I don’t trust him."

"You’re smart. Go figure."

"Cassy, be careful and I’m... sorry."

Cassandra sat quietly by the bar counter, twirling the glass of wine in her hand. Her mind was filled with Finn’s voice, telling her all kinds of things that didn’t seem to make sense. However, she knew Finn.

They grew up together. Even without the degree she held, she would know when Finn was lying. Perhaps because of that, even when Cassandra was once engaged to him, he would always hold a special place in her heart.

"Hey." Suddenly, Jonathan’s voice came from the side. He casually took the stool beside her, folding his arm over the counter, his head turned toward her. "I’m sorry I’m late. I had to resolve some issues."

Cassandra smiled subtly, sliding her eyes to him. "It’s okay. I didn’t wait that long."

"Still." His charming smile plastered on his face before he motioned to the bartender for a drink. When he looked back at her, he smiled and tilted his head slightly. "So? What’s today’s celebration?"

"Do we need a reason to celebrate whenever we drink together?"

"Of course not, but I wanted to know if there’s something to celebrate."

A shallow chuckle escaped her lips. "How was the reunion yesterday?"

"Well, I was upset." He shrugged. "But it turned out to be a lot more fun than I expected."

"I heard you played basketball against Max." She wiggled her brows knowingly. "Some friends from high school told me."

"Ahh..." Jonathan laughed and shrugged. "I did."

"I didn’t know you could play."

"Me neither, but it turns out I’m a natural."

"Haha." Both of them laughed before she raised her glass of wine. "Now that I think about it, we have something to toast to. Congrats on winning yesterday’s game."

His brows rose a little before he grinned, lifting his glass and clinking it with hers. After they chugged down their drink, Cassandra licked her lips and placed her glass inches from her arm.

She drew a deep breath, making her exposed shoulder blades rise. Her head turned to him, watching him hiss in satisfaction.

"The bet yesterday was crazy, wasn’t it?" she mumbled, earning a quick glance from him. "See? That’s why I’m scared of Penny—even now. It shows she hasn’t changed a bit. If anything, she’s... fiercer, isn’t she?"

"Well, I think betting her whole company on an amateur basketball game is... crazy. But it made things a lot more interesting," he shared, twisting his seat so he was facing her. "She’s scary, indeed. She even tossed me to the ground for no reason."

"She tossed you to the ground?"

"Mhm. Well, I can’t say it’s for no reason because she’s apparently my half-sister-in-law." He brushed it off. "I guess it’s her way of telling me we wouldn’t get along."

"That..." Cassandra trailed off, her eyes scanning him from head to toe. "Are you okay?"

Jonathan chuckled. "Of course. If not, I wouldn’t be here."

"Goodness."

"It’s a rough play. I’m used to it, so it’s fine."

A shallow breath slipped past Cassandra’s nostrils, nodding in understanding.

"If you say it’s fine, then... I believe it."

Jonathan smiled in satisfaction, leaning his arm on the bar counter. Meanwhile, Cassandra kept her head posed the same, with only her side profile for him to observe.

"Why did you stand me up yesterday?" he asked after another moment of silence. "That’s... unlike you, unless it was completely necessary. Did something happen to your family?"

After all, Cassandra would only miss an appointment for two reasons: her family and Kiara.

"Mhm!" Cassandra hummed a tune, a forced smile plastered on her face. "My mom called, and I had to help her with something. She said it in a way that made me worry."

"I see." Jonathan rocked his head before his brows slowly rose. "Though, that’s a little strange."

"Strange...? How so?"

He smiled and tilted his head a bit. "Kiara was there at the reunion. We didn’t talk much since she was busy promoting her business with everyone. But when we did, she asked me about you."

"Oh?" Her brows rose. "What did she ask about me?"

"Just the obvious: why you weren’t there."

"And what’s strange about that?"

"Because she mentioned that your parents were on vacation, so there shouldn’t have been any emergency. Besides, you promised you’d be there."

Cassandra’s mouth fell open as she assessed the curious look on his face. After a second, she smiled and shrugged.

"That’s why it’s an emergency," she explained. "My mom called me, asking me to pick her up at the airport. She made it sound like she’s in trouble, so I didn’t think anything of it."

"She’s back?"

"Yes."

"Great! We should meet her together next time. It’s a good idea, especially since Zoren Pierson is announcing Grandma’s retirement in a few days." His smile stretched to his eyes. "It’ll be a little busy then."

"Sure, but I don’t think we should meet them soon."

His brows rose as his smile faded. "Why? Still have doubts about me?"

"No."

"Then why don’t you want to introduce me to them?"

"Well..." Cassandra rubbed the rim of her wine glass with her fingertip, staring at the red wine inside.

Jonathan waited for her answer, but after another minute of silence, he sighed. Reaching out to her hand, he gently held it and watched her look back at him.

"If you’re still not ready, then I understand," he expressed under his breath. "Cassandra, I’m sorry if I sound like I’m pressuring you. I’m just thinking that meeting them in the future might be a little difficult. I told you about Zoren Pierson and Dean Pierson, didn’t I?"

"Dean...?"

"Mhm. Dean Pierson. He’s part of the First Branch of the Pierson Family. He’s not an easy person to deal with, and yesterday, I knew he disliked me."

"But Dean Pierson isn’t like that."

"Cassy, the Pierson family is good at keeping appearances. Dean Pierson is the same. He might carry a charming smile and use flowery words when talking to the public, but from what I know, he’s not as kind as he appears."

"..." Cassandra pursed her lips into a thin line, hesitation evident in her eyes. "Are you... like them too? You’re also a Pierson, Joe. So, are you like them as well?"