A Graduation Gift

Despite Cassandra's frightened expressions, Lionel chose to ignore her fear completely.

His hand stroked Cassandra's cheek, making her frown. She tried to slide away under his fingers, her eyes deeper than before.

"I don't mind doing anything in the car..." Lionel said while his finger lingering over her face down to her neck.

Cassandra evaded his touch, disgusted. She was growing impatient and simply wished to escape his company.

She remained silent but her body language was enough to indicate how much she hated Lionel's touch.

"Do you really hate me that much? Just a while ago when Rufus was here and you were standing so close to him, you didn't seem to mind it at all. What's the matter now?" Lionel said, grumpily.

He fumed with jealousy and her disgusted face made him even more angry.

"We were just talking about business. Rufus has been working overtime for the company's sake for weeks now. Today, he just happened to come over and ask about the progress of the project. It's just work, don't make a fuss about it," Cassandra snapped, annoyed.

Suddenly, Lionel grabbed her jaw and made her look at him.

"Talked about business, is it?" I dare you to look me in the eye and say that. Say it! What's so great about that Rufus that you keep defending him? He's nothing but a lowly bastard trying to get his hands on our family money. That's why he came back. He's no more than a worthless bug in my eye," he spoke through clenched teeth, letting go of her face with a jerk.

Cassandra kept looking at him, fearless.

Lionel stared back at the staunch frankness in her eyes and wondered what she had to say for herself.

"Lionel, I'm telling you once and for all today, you have no right to speculate on my relationship with Rufus with your prying eyes. Not everyone's like you. If you have the balls, show me some evidence. If you don't have any, stop slandering me!"

Cassandra's tone heightened as she scolded him, her face maintaining a constant look of disdain.

Lionel squinted, thinking, 'Rufus, Rufus! How affectionate.'

Undisturbed by Lionel's aggression, Cassandra stood calmly like a fearless martyr.

'What magical charm does Rufus possess that makes Cassandra defend him like that?' Lionel wondered.

Unwittingly, his eyes moved to her dark eyebrows, closed and lush red lips, and that stubborn expression on her adorable face, all of which tempted him to act upon his lust for her.

Lionel leaned in closer and closer to almost press his lips to hers. He wanted it so badly to crush the resistance she showed towards him, the defence she gave for Rufus and her courage to talk back to him, with his kiss.

enough, Cassandra let out a grunt

me with your lips!" she shouted,

words enraged Lionel so much he hollered, "Defile you? Let me defile you right here in

as the atmosphere in the car intensified because of the attacking and the

at the ringing phone, and then looked at Cassandra in an obstinate manner. 'Who is this prick getting in the way?'

pick up the phone. Sure enough, as he had guessed, the call

and the baby misses you too. We are waiting for you to

to cut the call. But Ivy's voice through the phone sounded so sweet and soft,

way. Just finished work.

his distraction, Cassandra flung open the door and ran out of the car as if her life was in

her back, fleeing away like a chicken escaping

he cursed in a mumble.

he reached home to a brightly lit mansion.

up the front yard. She patted her own face gently and prepared to

was getting out of the car, Cassandra

she saw them walking

knots, looking

"Lionel, you are back."

walking toward him, ignoring Cassandra, to wrap her arms around him. And as she did that, she rolled her eyes at Cassandra

hon, quick! Come in. It's so cold outside. You must be very

He was

the scene, Cassandra strode straight upstairs,

tired and did not want to waste time with people she didn't care

watched Cassandra leave. Her smiling eyes suddenly turned sinister, a sense of crisis rising inside her like a

a way to get Cassandra

done with having to see the faces of these unpleasant people around her, the next morning she decided to leave before everyone else got up. She reached the office very early

out that Michelle Ling had invited her to participate in

but in the

Michelle had even helped her repair and return it for which Cassandra

rarely participated in these events, she knew Michelle Ling's fame guaranteed a presence of top-shot, rich socialites and celebrities. It almost felt like an

door open and came in, panicking. His voice trembled as he spoke, "Manager... Manager Qin, something happened. Mr. Luo has asked you to go to the meeting room on the top

be a trivial matter. Quickly, she

was there too, seated with his hands together against his chin, his