A Graduation Gift

Lionel took his phone out of his trousers' pocket. Ivy's name flashed on the screen, somewhat dampening his spirits.

His eyes darkened and the expression on his face grew hesitant as he debated whether or not to answer the call.

Ordinarily, Lionel would have answered it without hesitation. But right now, Ivy's call had obtruded on his plan. It made him impatient.

The phone kept ringing. Lionel glanced at Cassandra, who was looking at him uneasily and shivering. He thought he could give Ivy a short greeting and then get back to business, so he quickly pressed the answer key.

He heard Ivy's panicked whimper as soon as he put the phone to his ear. She spoke to him in between tears, "Lionel, can you come right now? I... I'm scared."

Lionel's heart jolted. Ivy was an elegant and demure woman. The only time she had pushed the panic button was when Cassandra had become his legal wife. That news cut her to the quick at that time.

Since then, however, Ivy had stood strong like a rose with thorns. Lovely, but dangerous. She had never given him a sign of vulnerability and he had never seen her cry again. What happened today? What had upset her?

"What happened, Ivy?"

Lionel asked patiently despite his agitation. Her next words immediately doused him in cold water.

"I… I'm pregnant!" she cried out.

Lionel froze, panic shooting through his veins. He could hardly believe his ears. Pregnant? They used condoms every single time. How could she get pregnant?

"That's impossible. You must have made a mistake!"

Lionel's eyes widened a fraction as he tried to convince himself that she was joking. He had been pressured into marrying Cassandra under his father's arrangement. He had been forced to make a considerable sacrifice in the form of his marriage, for the sake of Tang Group and in the hopes that he would take over the company one day.

So he reluctantly accepted Cassandra as his legal wife just to win his father's favor.

However, after Rufus appeared, he lost his position in the group. And at the last celebration party, Rufus publicly disgraced him.

Now Ivy was pregnant. Misfortune seemed to follow him everywhere. If Ivy was right, the baby had undeniably come at the worst possible time.

They used protections and he had been very cautious the whole time. There was just no way that Ivy could get pregnant!

Lionel was pulled out of his musings as her cries filled his ear and her breathing got uneven.

"What should I do, Lionel? I... I'm really pregnant. It's confirmed. Would you come to me? I'm so scared and lonely."

about the matter before. She agreed to his decision not to have babies for the time being after analyzing all the pros and cons. Now

coming over? I really need

phone across the room, but her weak and helpless pleas drew him back

was most crucial to tackle

He must not

he tried to go outside now, they would inevitably catch him. It would get even more troublesome

sex video that was played at the celebration party. If he got to know that Ivy was pregnant, he would fly into a rage and Rufus would have more reasons to

teeth on edge to think about Rufus, but Ivy was still sobbing on the phone asking for him.

he got married to Cassandra, Ivy had been heartbroken. He had sacrificed Ivy's happiness to get

She had suffered from the accident because of him. The guilt had always weighed on him. This time, if she got hurt because of the

her lips were colorless. Her slim body

idea presented itself to Lionel.

wait for me. I'll be

had cornered. Cassandra had been quiet while he was on the phone, but now she seemed to want to

the matter

Cassandra didn't look well either. He reached up and touched Cassandra's forehead with the back of his hand.

burning up.

the wheels churning in his head.

sick. Come on. I'm taking you to

snatched her hand and dragged her downstairs before

and Jill were talking to

She didn't expect Cassandra and Lionel to come downstairs again. To give them some space, she had lied that she was sleepy,

you

puzzled, "Lionel, what's wrong? What's

etched on Lionel's face. The

fever. I am taking her to the hospital

knitted his brows. He remembered that Cassandra looked off color and didn't speak much

her pale face. The poor girl was clearly

Jason to come over. Cassandra just came back from visiting her parents. It must have been a hectic travel back to G City. She must be looked after well before she

to go out so late in the night, but now the servant was about to call the family doctor. He gritted

shadows, standing on the second-floor staircase. He glanced at Cassandra

abroad. He won't return until the end of the month," he