A Graduation Gift

Clark remained soundless throughout the whole ordeal between the daughter and her father. It was only then when Amanda
burst out that he went up to Charlie and asked calmly, "Mr. Ke, why do I get the feeling that you don't like me very much? Rufus
doesn't want to be with Amanda, while I am the person who really wants to marry her. Why can't you sympathize with Amanda?"
Clark was visibly unsatisfied with how Charlie had treated him. He walked to Amanda and held her close by her waist.
Amanda was shocked at the maneuver. Her body shivered yet again.
Charlie was oblivious to the subtle change. He thought that the small change was due to Clark's sudden alignment with her.
He didn't have the slightest clue that Amanda had already been in bed with Clark before. He could never have imagined that
Clark held compromising photos of her and used them to blackmail her. All he could do now was glare at the couple, mentally
searching for the right words to say.
Up until now, Charlie had never fully understood Clark's intentions nor his dark secrets. Out of nowhere came Amanda having
apparently decided to marry Clark. How could he not feel agitated?
"Clark, you go ahead. I have to talk to Amanda. Privately!"
Charlie planned to send Clark away and try to persuade Amanda in private, but how could Clark agree to such a thing?
With cold, calculated determination, he defiantly declared, "Mr. Ke, I won't go unless you give us your blessing!"
Anyone else who witnessed this display would probably believe that Clark was madly in love with Amanda. His eyes were even
welling up.
Meanwhile, Amanda felt a sharp pain on her waist. Clark had pinched her. This was a non-verbal threat, and the message was
received.
As Charlie was about to reply, his face fuming, Amanda suddenly kneeled down.
"Dad! Just give us your blessing! I can only be with Clark! I... I'm with child!"
All she could think about were the possible punishments that awaited her if Clark didn't get his way. Her intense fear compelled
her to utter such falsehood.
For a split-second, a satisfied smile appeared on Clark's face. It was gone as soon as it appeared.

'Amanda, good that you know what to do!' he thought.
He then squatted down to help Amanda up.
"Amanda! You need to be more careful with the baby! Get up, quick!"
Clark's voice was filled with concern and his face was etched with sorry. Eyes widened, mouth agape, Charlie was surprised at
the scene and started to believe her story.
"You... You two... You two have a child?" He pointed at the couple in front of him, his index finger trembling.
Barely could he hide his astonishment and excitement.
For an old man like him, it was a such a blessing to witness the making of the next generation.
Amanda was his only child. After years of searching for Rufus, her marriage was finally at hand.
His only problem with the whole thing now, was his son-in-law to be. What exactly was Clark planning in the shadows?
His jaw tightened, Charlie shot Clark a suspecting glare.
"Is this true, Clark?"
Charlie asked, still in disbelief. He wanted with all of his heart to confirm what he had just heard from his daughter's mouth.
Amanda was shaken, so he turned to ask Clark instead.
"It's the truth, Mr. Ke. We are going to be parents. We wouldn't be this eager to get married if it weren't true. This is Amanda's
first child, as well as mine. We both are very excited to see the safe birth of the baby!"
Clark was a natural when it came to deception. Charlie couldn't find anything wrong with what he said. Clark's stubborn attitude,
however, made him hesitate.
Amanda was his one and only daughter. He would never force her into abortion. But, giving her away to marry Clark, was a
decision he did not want to make.
The dilemma was clearly written on the lines of his face. Clark noticed, so he tried to reassure him, "Mr. Ke, please, don't worry. If
the baby is born, it will always bear the surname of Ke, even if it is a boy. I'm really no particular with the details. All I want is to
be one with Amanda in matrimony. I sincerely hope you support us with all of your heart!"

This was the final card Clark could play. The effect was immediate—Charlie's body turned rigid.
It was effortless for Clark to promise such a thing, since there really was no baby. It was an empty promise, as empty as his love
for Amanda. But to Charlie, it was an entirely different story. It was an extremely big compromise from Clark's side. He even gave
up the chance for his own son to bear his surname!
As a businessman who was adept at seizing opportunities, Clark had given it his all in convincing Charlie. He would even resort
to extreme deception just to fulfil his goal!
Maintaining the surprised look, Charlie glanced at Clark.
'Clark is bold enough to allow his very own flesh and blood to inherit the mother's surname! Is breaking them apart really the right
thing to do?' he thought, lost in his own doubts.
"Mr. Ke, rest assured that I will also do my best to manage the Dark Night Group. I won't leave the organization to run by itself
anymore. You have reached the age where you can fully enjoy the fruits of your labor. After Amanda gives birth to our baby, you
can retire and leave the rest to me. You can relax at home and watch your grandchild grow!"
Seeing that Charlie was one concession away from agreeing, Clark pressed on. He promised him that he would take on the
responsibilities. With that, the final stroke was made. Charlie's worry subsided.
Amanda, on the other hand, was sobbing in silence. Charlie took this as her reaction towards his objections. But Clark knew the
true reason why she was in tears.
On one hand, she was scared that her nudes would be leaked out to the public. On the other hand, she didn't want to lie to her
own father, and was even more reluctant to marry Clark. There was a massive clash happening inside her mind. Clark knew that
he had to push on and act fast!
"Mr. Ke, please just say yes. Even if you don't give us your blessing, we will still tie the knot! But we do sincerely hope you'll give
us the go signal and support our wedding!"
Clark kept goading Charlie, who then closed his eyes, clearly helpless.
"Well, well... I won't say anything about this anymore!"
Charlie was definitely feeling the pressure being put on the spot like this. Between Amanda's tears and Clark's promises, he was
pushed to the point that he couldn't say no anymore.

He opened his eyes slowly, and instructed Clark, "If this will be the case, then I want a perfect wedding! You have to showcase
the Ke family pride!"
The memory of how Rufus humiliated the Ke family by breaking his promise to marry Amanda was still fresh in Charlie's mind.
Although he agreed with Rufus that the marriage was merely a ruse to pacify Amanda, who turned out to be actually only faking
her memory loss, he still stood by his daughter's side. As a father who adored his daughter, he believed that Amanda could do
no wrong. It was all Rufus's fault for breaking his oath!
Clark pulled Amanda close. With joy clear in his voice, he exclaimed, "Amanda! Did you hear that?! Your father has given us his
blessing! I will arrange a grand and perfect wedding for you!"
In his excitement, Clark scooped Amanda into his arms. After giving his decision, Charlie felt relief wash over him.
It was decided right then and there that Clark was going to be his son-in-law. The most he could do was monitor him closely and
find out any dark secrets he might be engaging in.
After convincing himself, Charlie felt the tension previously in his nerves slowly dissipate.
However, Amanda, who was still in Clark's arms, started wailing.
"Oh, baby girl. Why are you still crying? Please stop...Keep in mind the child in your belly!"
Charlie smiled. He believed Amanda's tears to be tears of joy.
How could he ever understand the void in Amanda's heart? After going through so much, she ended up with Clark in this
dilemma. She had to lie to her father about her pregnancy, and now she was going to have a marriage that would exist only
within the bounds of a legal document. She believed she was the most tragic bride on the surface of the planet.
She felt utterly helpless, but the whisper that came from Clark forced her to keep her emotions in check.
"Stop crying and just pretend to agree. The crying is going way out of hand."
After Clark's sharp warning, Amanda's wails stopped completely. Charlie thought that his consolations calmed her down, so he
jumped with joy.
Clark retracted his arms from Amanda's body. Her face was still wet from the tears, and Clark, in a perfect display of affection,
wiped her tears off.

"Don't be sad, Amanda. Your father's right, you need to take care of the baby. Go ahead to your room and rest!"
Charlie had agreed not to interfere, which meant Clark achieved his goal and was eager to leave. There were much more
important things now that this was taken care of.
Wearing a perfect smile, Charlie reminded them gently, "Okay, Amanda, get some rest. And you, as well, Clark! Don't forget the
grand wedding you promised!"
He had completely accepted the marriage by this time. After all, his daughter was already with child. He never wanted to hurt his
daughter again!
Clark nodded in assent and was about to turn around and leave, but suddenly, Amanda pulled him close.
Her head was downcast, and her hair covered her face like drapes on a window.
"I want Rufus and Cassandra to attend the wedding."
Amanda's voice was soft, but she was determined.