A Graduation Gift novel Chapter 452

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!