A Graduation Gift

Lionel thought he knew what kind of person Ivy was.

They had been together for seven years now. And for all that time, everything she did was for him.

Even though Lionel would hook up with other women once in a while, Ivy never got mad at him. When Lionel was upset or had issues at work, Ivy would stay with him, and encourage him, giving meaningful suggestions on possible solutions.

He had come to depend on Ivy so much that he thought she could be his best woman ever.

But that was the problem. The reason why Horace didn't like Ivy was that Lionel had a soft spot for her at the expense of his marriage. This woman was the person behind Lionel's mistreatment of Cassandra. It angered Horace that Lionel would neglect the woman that his parents had chosen for him, opting instead to waste all his time, energy and money on Ivy. In Horace's eyes, Lionel was challenging his power.

What the ungrateful bastard didn't realize was that Cassandra was given to him in marriage to entrench the Tang family's economic supremacy. The Tang family had found their son a resourceful wife with better social networks. Cassandra was gifted, professional and beautiful to boot. Why would Lionel leave such a gem for any other woman? It pained Horace to see Lionel, the designated successor to the Tang empire head in the direction he was taking with Ivy. That girl would only waste the family wealth.

Besides, Lionel himself was also not much of a talented person who would greatly benefit from Cassandra's vast skills in managing the company. If he ditched Cassandra for this clueless girl, Horace was sure enough that the whole business would go down. That left Horace with no other option but to entrust Rufus at the helm of the Tang Group. There was no doubt, Rufus was competent, charismatic and hungry for success. Just the right man for the job.

Suddenly, Jill turned around to dry her tears. She choked up, "To some extent, I know why you have a problem with allowing Ivy into the family. She's a rather uninspiring, ordinary woman with neither education nor family background that the Tang family can approve of. But you don't have to worry about her in the long run, because she'll only be here for a few months. Also, you don't have to be angry at Lionel. It's just that he fell in love with the wrong woman and now he has a whole mess on his hands to deal with and a child out of wedlock, just like you!"

"Just like you!" these three words hit Horace. Painful memories flooded into his head, leaving an empty gaze on his face.

Images of the woman he loved and treasured most in his life started to play in his mind like a slow slide show. Every slide played to the accompaniment of the sweet promises they made to each other.

"Horace, I'll wait for you, no matter how long it will take. Even if you have nothing, I'll still be with you."

They were so deep in love at that time. Eventually, she got pregnant for him and gave birth to Rufus, a handsome, intelligent boy. But he couldn't bring the boy and his mother home because of Jill. The woman had to bring Rufus up as a single mother. But thank God, she did just fine and even gave the boy the best education she could. Now, Horace had brought Rufus back to the Tang family, in an attempt to make up for his mistakes. Hopefully, she would find the grace to forgive him.

After a long silence, when he looked at Lionel who was still kneeling, his anger faded. Looking back at his own mistakes, he began to understand Lionel. The more he thought about his shortcomings, the more he realized he was no angel to slam Lionel as irresponsible. The only thing that unsettled him was Ivy's ridiculous demands. Whatever she was asking for was just too much.

Letting a pregnant mistress live in the Tang mansion was impossible. That aside, would Ivy be proud of meeting Cassandra, the legally married wife of the man she was chasing after? How would Cassandra feel about that?

From downstairs, he heard servants greet someone. 'It must be Cassandra, ' he guessed.

Then excusing himself, he said to Jill coldly, "You and Lionel go and pass this, in your own way to Cassandra. I can't do this. It's way too embarrassing!"

Then he stood up and left. He was disappointed at Lionel's letdown and worried about Cassandra.

As she watched him leave, Jill heaved a sigh of relief. At least, Horace, the head of the family, agreed. The only problem was how Cassandra would receive the news.

As soon as she got home, Cassandra changed from the torn dress. Exhausted, but unable to sleep, she sat down on the couch, closed her eyes and drifted deep into thoughts. But only a few minutes on, she was startled by the opening and closing of her bedroom door. Without knocking, Jill had walked in and was coming straight to her. That was strange.

her bedroom. Moreover, the two of them never talked much. What would bring Jill to her room, at this late

Jill sat on the extra chair and went straight to the point of her

as your baby if you like. Or you can

dumbstruck. What was Jill

What do

After that, she'll be gone for good. Out

trying to remember who the woman was. Suddenly, she recalled the beautiful face

occasions only to disappear before anyone

Cassandra? That would be OK with Cassandra. After all, what would make her want to fight for an unfaithful man who ignored her all the time? There was nothing fulfilling in her marriage to Lionel at all. If Ivy really wanted to replace her,

source of concern was that she could put her family in debts if

if Lionel didn't exist in her life. That was the way she had learned to

too many things happened today and Cassandra was in no moods to talk with

her. So to cut the long story short, Cassandra simply acquiesced

have a problem with that. Just let her move in then. Maybe, I'd only request to

thought of sitting at family dinner together with Cloris and

improbable wish, but she still asked anyway.

chance that family members get to sit down together and bond over a meal. It's a family habit that Horace religiously follows, and he won't trade it for

door and

every experience of the day, Cassandra slumped into her bed, kicking her legs in the air, out of helplessness. Coming home, she had badly needed

softly, she lifted the quilt over her head, tears freely rolling down her

next day, Cassandra woke up pretending not to know what Cloris had done. As if nothing had happened between them, she treated Cloris pretty much like on any other

she avoided Rufus as much as she

wanted to check the construction site. Then she sneaked out of the office,

last night's humiliation at the party. The next, she was agonizing over Rufus

did she have that option?

own world, she didn't even notice the traffic

a taxi stopped in front of her, the driver applying breaks with a squeal. Angry and concerned

look written on his face. "Go somewhere else if you wanna die. I don't want to be involved! I hate those 'crash for cash'

he drove away, leaving the dumbfounded

she turned around, she saw a man with mustache, thick eyebrows and big eyes

daughter. It is downtown here and usually, the traffic is heavy," he

fraction of a second before the car screeched to a stop in front of her. Were it not for him; she would have been hit by the car which