A Graduation Gift

Cassandra's mind went blank. She blinked in confusion at the sudden hug. The young woman let go of her, her eyes shining with excitement.

"Don't you remember me? I'm Stella Mu. We went to high school together, remember?"

The woman's tone rose as she explained upon seeing Cassandra's bewildered expression.

Cassandra frowned and racked her brain for the name. Soon, a girl with pigtails who wore black-rimmed glasses materialized in her mind. Whenever that little girl grinned, her braces made an appearance.

"You are Stella Mu?"

Cassandra asked with hesitation. This young lady standing in front of her was so beautiful that it was hard to connect her to the girl with braces from her memory.

Stella beamed at her words, thrilled to hear that her friend remembered her. She reached out and touched Cassandra's hand ecstatically.

"Yeah, I'm Stella! Glad you remembered me! I didn't expect to meet you here at Tang Group. Gosh, we haven't seen each other for years. I haven't seen you since we graduated from high school. Where have you been?"

Stella talked on and on as if she never planned to stop. Cassandra realized that she hadn't changed a bit. Her friend was still as lively and talkative as before.

She was still surprised at meeting a childhood friend. "I went to Rome to study. Came back not so long ago. You are so beautiful, Stella."

Cassandra smiled at Stella, sighing pleasantly at the change in her friend.

"Oh," Stella blushed. "of course, you went abroad! I should have guessed. Why didn't you keep in touch? Have I ever told you that you were my idol in high school? You were so beautiful and scored so well in exams. I admired and envied you."

Stella's excitement at meeting an acquaintance from years ago still hadn't dimmed. She wanted to catch up on everything they had been up to in the past several years.

Cassandra was a bit embarrassed. She gave Stella a smile and lowered her head. Time is cruel and strange. She had gotten engaged that year when she finished high school. Then, she went to Rome after getting married, without telling anyone.

Time in Rome had seemed to slow down. Her days were not as smooth as she had hoped for. She had endured a lot of loneliness in the foreign land. But eventually, she had made friends, and now she had left her social circle in the country behind.

Stella Mu was the first friend she had met after coming back to G City.

their conversation. They chatted for a long time. Cassandra learned that Stella was a fresh graduate and working

a matter of days. Stella was active and lively, while Cassandra was calm and distant. Their personalities were in stark contrast to each other. However,

Rufus still had not come back.

each other at a cafe. The inviting smell of coffee lingered

was troubling her friend. Cassandra seemed to be

upon hearing Stella. A worried expression surfaced on her pretty face. She had been thinking about Rufus lately. She missed him dearly.

had not he come back to G City yet? It had been so many days

you have a boyfriend? You look so lost. Do you

about her personal life. They had been hanging out a lot in the last few days, but they merely swapped stories of their childhood and reminisced on old times. The subject of their personal affairs hadn't

I was just thinking

of her head and the guilty tone in her voice were in direct contradiction

not tell Stella about her marriage. She had made an agreement with Lionel before she started working at Tang Group to keep their

you don't have a boyfriend. Neither do I. You

mug of coffee in front of her. She took a sip and gossiped away

she was referring to

When would he

She sounded incredibly desperate to

his secretary. But I'm friends with his

seemed to be laughing at her, as if

Cassandra started, and then paused. "All right, time to go back to

her watch. Immediately, she shot up

caught up with Cassandra, wearing a

up, Cassandra! You know you are beautiful. It would be a piece of cake for you to get the man. Better win him over quickly. Then

to win Rufus over was a ridiculous idea. Only Stella would consider it a possibility.

they returned to the office building, they were informed that an emergency

the meeting was about, but they still went back to their workplaces

Inside the Conference Room

seated when she walked into the meeting room. She moved to her seat, her arms loaded with various files. The moment she sat down, her eyes met Lionel's dark gaze by accident.