"How could you say such a thing? All these dinner parties are held specifically for your benefit. I know you don''t like these kinds of gatherings, but you missed a lot of opportunities to meet new people since you didn''t show upst time. Your stepmom said that most people your age are already in rtionships, yet you''re still single. How do you think it makes your old man feel?


    "I''m not forcing you to go on blind dates or anything, just to get to know some people. You''re still young, and it''s good to make more friends," said Vince.


    Rita''s smile fell as soon as her stepmother was mentioned. ''What did he mean, not forcing me into blind dates? He''s clearly pushing me to meet new guys. I bet all that stepmom of mine wants me to do is to find someone from a simr background and get married quickly so I won''t fight with her daughter for the inheritance.''Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Rita''s heart churned with bitterness and resentment. Unfortunately, she could not express those thoughts out loud to her father.


    "Your stepmom is only looking out for you. With her taking care of things for you, I can also rest easy."


    Vince was not getting any younger, and hearing her father say that made Rita feel a pang of sadness. "Dad, please don''t say things like that, okay? You''re making it sound like you''re going to leave me soon." "Silly girl, is that any way to talk to your old man? Anyway, you better not skip the party tomorrow, got it? I''m going to cancel your card for a month if you don''te back tomorrow." "Ugh! That''s just cruel, Dad!"


    No matter how much she did not want to go, it seemed like she had no choice but to do so. She had no doubt that her father would follow through on his threat if she failed to show up at the dinner party.


    It was out of pure interest that she was working for New Capital Times, and it would be hard for her to make ends meet without her father''s financial support. To make matters worse, she had failed to get an interview with ire. She was not in the mood to go back to the office or meet up with friends, so she


    returned to her apartment alone and dejected.


    After hanging up the phone, Vince looked at his smartphone and shook his head with a smile.


    Rita had moved out on the day she


    came of age. He felt more guilty than loving towards her. Rita''s mother passed away early, and alt he could offer Rita was a luxurious life. After all, no matter how hard he tried, he could not give her the motherly love she so craved.


    Thus, he chose to remarry. Unfortunately, Rita did not get along with her stepmother.


    Although Karen Parr had done nothing wrong, and she did her best to bond with her stepdaughter, all her efforts came to nothing. Rita remained emotionally distant toward her no matter what.


    Vince knew that it was difficult for


    Rita topromise. After all, there was only him, Karen, and their second daughter left living at home. No matter how much he tried to repair his rtionship with Rita, they could never return to how it was before.


    Seeing Vince sighing, Karen approached him gently. She tenderly massaged his temples and asked, "Is your headache acting up again? Weren''t you just on the phone with Rita? Why the sigh?"