A Graduation Gift

Upon hearing Horace's words, Jenks Tong looked towards the woman and smiled.

Then, he said with pleasure, "You're Cassandra Qin. Am I right?"

Cassandra had tried to hide her face by lowering her head and letting her hair cover her face, from the second the old man entered the room. She didn't want him to notice her.

However, her efforts failed, as he easily picked her out of the crowd, calling her by name.

With no place to hide anymore, she raised her head and met his gaze. Everyone in the room was staring at her.

Apparently, he was not surprised to see Cassandra here at all.

She didn't realize that the man had known who she was the day they met.

Anyway, Cassandra put herself together and said, "Nice to meet you, Director Tong."

There was not much to say. The only thing on her mind now was the story she had shared earlier about the canary and the birdcage. She feared that he would let slip the story.

She shouldn't have worried at all, as Jenks gave nothing away concerning their meeting. Instead, he went straight to discussing the construction of a new branch of the hospital with Horace.

At the end of their conversation, Jenks praised, "Rufus is a great man. Two days ago, he came to me and floated an idea for the project and I must say I was impressed. That's why I chose your company."

Hearing the praises heaped on Rufus, Horace smiled with satisfaction. It gave him great joy to hear someone speak so highly of his son.

Jill, however, wasn't happy about the new development. Two years ago at a dinner party, she remembered Mrs. Tong agreeing to Lionel taking up the same project.

She wondered why Rufus was getting a deal to which his brother had already committed. Did Horace find it right to shortchange one son for the other?

If things went on like this, Jill feared Lionel would eventually lose his current position at the Tang Group.

The only consolation she found in the whole arrangement was that Horace still needed Cassandra to undertake most of the major construction projects, like this one. But then again, Cassandra too would lose, if Rufus was to be favored against everyone else.

Out of the blue, Lionel cut in, with an unrelated subject. Listening to Horace, he had noticed how willingly his old man agreed to an arrangement that would unsettle their earlier deal. So Lionel decided to disrupt their scheme. For now, all that he needed was just something downplay the discussion. If he could derail their meeting, that would allow him time to plot a come back. He wasn't going to stand on the fence and watch his brother gain unfair advantage.

"By the way, Father, Cassandra and I are planning to have a child. I wonder if Uncle Jenks could recommend one of his doctors. Maybe we'ill need some help along the line."

The diversion worked like magic. No one in the room had seen that coming.

Horace burst into laughter at once.

As a fact, he knew that Lionel's marriage to Cassandra was the result of pressure from the two families. The parents on both sides had their own interests in forcing the marriage. But now, everyone knew that Cassandra and Lionel did not get along well with each other. Why did Lionel seem to have such a sudden change of heart?

times, when she needed medical attention, he had left it to his parents to take her to the doctor. But since they came back from the hospital, Lionel seemed to have changed, although Horace doubted if that was for the better. In particular, the old man had realized the abrupt, almost make-believe manner of Lionel. 'Why is he suddenly trying to feign affection for Cassandra?' Horace only hoped that the young man would change for real.

you did there would be more laughter in this house, and especially you'd have saved your mother unnecessary

man's reprimanding voice made Jill

She'd be a happier woman if Lionel had a child. More so, a son - the first grandson of Horace. That would give Lionel a bigger chunk of inheritance. A big advantage over of

unexpected talk, Cassandra got very concerned. 'So this is what

A baby? With Lionel?'

ridiculous! Cassandra had never

let alone having

clenched his fists in

first noticed the blood on Rufus's

Is your wound bleeding again?" she asked, trembling.

sight of blood soaking through his gauze and the furious way he clenched the fist.

much bleeding. Call the driver now. We must

Horace ordered immediately.

"I'll go with him!"

Cloris volunteered.

couldn't turn her eyes away from the red gauze. Her heart raced, feeling his pain cut through her. But she fought to hide her

and Rufus, while the latter knew her

keep her emotions

left the hall, Horace and Jenks's conversation continued for a

the confusion, Lionel dragged Cassandra to their bedroom.

soon as he closed the door, Cassandra

nominal couple. You can't unilaterally decide to have a baby. That's not

arrogance, Lionel loosened his tie

Marriage Law?" he asked nonchalantly. "As your husband, I'm legally entitled to conjugal

oppressive aura filled the room, completely surrounding Cassandra.

escape route, she looked around the room. She knew that Lionel wouldn't easily

instinct, he wanted to

when he stretched his hand to stroke her face, she tightly closed her eyes and bit his fingers.

resistance. He had terribly underestimated

hand started to bleed, he stared at the wound

insane? How could you bite me?" he shouted.

her. Unafraid of him, she just stood there and watched, anticipating his next

you're such a jerk!

promises?" she sneered. 'Did she just call me a jerk?'

teased, "Don't you forget that we are legally married! As long as we are married, I deserve my conjugal rights! And by the way, if you have anything against our marriage, you should blame it on

said with

serve the interests of our families. There's absolutely nothing like love between you and me. Why would you want us to have a kid, whom we all know we'd end up hating? What satisfaction would it give