A Graduation Gift

"Lionel, where's that pretty wife of yours?"

asked Ivy. Holding onto Lionel's arm, she searched for her competitor in the busy crowd. She was smiling proudly at him, with her lips slightly parted and her face as enchanting as always.

She hoped that she could finally meet Cassandra for the first time - the last time in Lionel's office didn't count. All she knew about Cassandra was from the photograph, plus what Lionel had told her. She wasn't worried, however. No one can be a threat to a woman like Ivy.

"Is everything ready?" Lionel asked, shaking off her smile with a serious look.

The name Cassandra ignited his anger as always. He couldn't forget how that woman had insulted him by slapping him and stepping on his pride. Tonight was his revenge. He was bringing Ivy to the celebration banquet, knowing that it would humiliate Cassandra.

"Lionel, have I ever let you down?" the woman assured him. "I am very close with the owner of the hotel. Trust me, everything will go to plan."

Ivy's alluring tone and eyes hypnotized Lionel, subduing his anger. He was delighted to hear her assurance, and in a sudden rush of jubilation, kissed her right then in front of everyone.

The other members of the Tang family stiffened in surprise and displeasure. It was such an immoral act from a married man, as if he didn't care at all about disgracing his family. Horace's face creased with anger, and he stepped toward his son.

"Horace, just leave him be. It is too elegant an occasion for us to quarrel in public. He's still young and it's natural for young man to fall for many women."

Jill stepped out in front of her husband to pacify his anger. Lionel was her precious son, and she had always wanted him to have anything his heart desired. This time was no different.

"I can't believe he brought his mistress here, to such a formal occasion! How am I supposed to explain this to the rest of the family? And what about Cassandra? She will lose face!"

Horace disdained his wife's constant coddling of their son. Because of her, Lionel was weak, incompetent, and spoiled. Horace's eyes burned with fury at the fact that his son had failed to meet expectations yet again.

Jill tried again to calm him, "So what, Horace? You can yell at him now, but do you really want to make a scene here for others to see? Will you expose our family to ridicule? In any case, nobody else knows that Cassandra is Lionel's wife. We can settle this better at home later."

Jill couldn't care less about how Cassandra would feel. She had disliked her daughter-in-law since the moment Cassandra had married to her son. As time elapsed, this dislike had only grown - Lionel had told his mother about all the not-so-secret flirtations between Cassandra and Rufus. In fact, Jill wouldn't mind seeing Cassandra get a taste of her own medicine - to see Lionel flaunting his mistress. She wanted to see where this would lead.

Despite her cruel intentions, her words did make some sense. Horace took a deep breath and sighed in frustration. They could not make a scene out here. Losing face for Horace or Lionel meant losing face for the entire Tang group.

***

"Are you Mr. Luo's secret guard? I know his assistant, Leo...You know, I even feel like I've seen you before...and now you're the person that Mr. Luo assigned to pick us up! That is very kind of you, to offer your service like that. If not for your help, Cassandra and I would certainly be late,"

Stella chattered to Victor as they approached the lift to the banquet room. She seemed in high spirits, looking around her and at Victor.

Victor, however, held a poker face throughout, hiding any emotion. With some embarrassment, Cassandra poked at the chatty Stella, hinting at her to quiet down.

Ignoring the obvious cue, Stella continued, "Why are both of you so quiet? We are so honored to have Mr. Luo's guard to lead us the way to the event. Cassandra, don't you feel excited? I think this is so exciting!"

close to such

had seen

about, the lift stopped. They reached the level where the banquet room was.

to the room, with the women following

this door stepped a vision of white, and it took them a second to recognize who it was. Cassandra appeared in a stunning white gown that clung to her curves and widened

and elegance, like a mermaid stepping onto land for the first time. She had used makeup to accentuate her eyes, and as she glanced around the room everyone could see her expression sparkle.

as she glided through the crowd, smiling and greeting everyone in turn. She seemed somehow taller and prouder, despite

a

of hair behind her ear, and then decided that she would not let the attention bother her. The melody

Cassandra, everyone is looking at us! You must be the most radiant person in this

into

winking slyly. She swept her gaze across the

take her long to spot who she was looking for

together. He was standing still on the other side of the room, with a dark red drink in his hand. She thought she saw his eyes widen for a second, and

- he didn't know what to do. No words could be used to describe her beauty; nothing he said would be worthy of

by the sight of her. He wanted more. Seeing her out of her sensible work clothes, and robed in so much grace, Rufus felt a

no idea of the effect she had on him. All Rufus could think about at the moment was taking her into his arms, pressing her body tightly to his. He wanted

annoyance at having to share her

stalemate, unable to break

what she was doing, and a blush blossomed across her face. Luckily a pair of her work colleagues came

seems that I've married a

murmured to himself. Even he, who would normally never touch Cassandra, was

towards his wife. Ivy saw the look on his face and grabbed his arm, holding him

it would be easy to humiliate Cassandra. The tiny woman was enchanting, and all eyes - including Lionel's - were on her. Ivy felt the envy bubble up within her. Not letting go of his hand, Ivy tilted her

he realized the truth in her words. It would not be

Ivy was right.

to go,

envious woman suggested, as if she

agreed. The thought of how they would punish

can I not love someone as smart and cunning

in close to her and whispered in her ear. Assuming that he was mocking her, she just scoffed and strode

experience had taught her not to expect any better from men. She knew it would be pointless to try and stop him being attracted to other women.

close to Cassandra, then

was trying to stay focused on the conversation with her colleagues, but her attention kept wandering off. She found herself glancing away from time to