Chapter 48

Cassandra's eyes burned as a mist clouded her vision, and a sour lump caught in her throat. In this entire family, only Grandpa truly loved her—he never cared about gossip or others' opinions when it came to her. "Grandpa, I swear I’ll make you proud as the heiress of the Taylors. I won’t let you down." A confident smile tugged at her lips, and her eyes lit up, clear and determined. She knew from this moment on, the weight on her shoulders got heavier. She couldn’t let Grandpa’s expectations turn into regret—and she had to make people look at her differently. Later that night. Cassandra stepped out to make warm milk for Zion. On her way back, she passed the study and stopped in her tracks when she heard raised voices inside. “Dad, this is ridiculous! We might’ve been able to talk if she wanted to go to another school, but Lexford University? That's impossible!” Richard shouted, clearly furious. “If it's okay for her to go somewhere else, why can’t she go to Lexford University?” Alexand