Chapter 57

"Yeah, I get it." Cassandra nodded, voice soft and obedient. "Sorry for making you worry, Grandma." Evelyn gave her a cold sideways glance and scoffed before getting up and heading upstairs without another word. Vera glanced back at Cassandra, a tight feeling curling in her chest. This wasn’t like the Cassandra she used to know—the one who used to snap back at their grandma's scolding and never backed down. But now? Now she was all quiet and agreeable. That shift made Vera uneasy. Was she trying to win Grandma over slowly? No... that couldn’t happen. Grandma was her strongest support in keeping Cassandra out of the family. She needed to figure something out, fast. She couldn’t let Grandma's impression of Cassandra change. It was the morning of the opening ceremony. The family driver, Philip, dropped Cassandra and Vera off at Lexford University. Cassandra felt a wave of nervousness wash over her at the thought of what had happened the past few days. Her palms were starting to sweat. "Mi