A Graduation Gift

When she was just a little girl, she had a lot of dreams.

Once she had dreamed that she was a prized princess who was about to be wed to a handsome prince. The wedding was grand, no expense was spared. They were locked in embrace in the middle of the huge hall full of friends and family witnessing their union. She looked joyful and was smiling from ear to ear.

When she woke up from the dream, her face had been blushing and scarlet from the romantic event. It had been years that she could still vividly remember that wedding dream.

It was in a frost-touched kingdom, full of snow and ice. Her tiara was sculpted by the finest crafstman in all of the land, made from crystal clear ice. It was inlaid with diamonds which reminded her of the clear and sparkling eyes of the prince.

She was also wearing a long skirt weaved from gold and silver threads, which dazzled in the icy environment.

But now... Holding and looking at the large box containing the precious dress in her arms, a radiant smile graced her lips.

Early morning the next day, Cassandra opened her eyes to the light of dawn trickling from the window blinds. She sat up, rubbed her eyes and stretched her lazy arms before she stood up and groggily went to the bathroom to run a bath. After she was clean, refreshed and fully awake, she went out of her room, intent on going downstairs to have some breakfast.

Her phone buzzed when she was in the middle of the stairs. She tapped the accept button on the touchscreen and pressed the phone against her ear. Stella's high pitched voice hurt her ear a bit.

"Cassandra, I searched every nook and cranny of the archives center and found something! Get here stat!"

Feeling the intense anxiety in Stella's voice, Cassandra went back to the room to change into her work clothes.

As Cassandra hurried downstairs and proceeded to the door, Horace and Jill were having breakfast at the nearby table. Jill started to mutter in her usual sour tone, glancing at Cassandra from the corner of her eyes, "Someone's manners are degrading everyday, it seems. She even ignores the in-laws now!"

Horace's eyebrows furrowed in irritation as he turned to look at Cassandra with a scowl.

The main reason why he appointed her as the Tang Group's design manager was because she had won many awards abroad, as well as her impeccable school record. And she was his daughter-in-law, a member of Tang family.

But things had apparently changed now.

Lionel had no love for Cassandra and was having a baby with Ivy now, while Cassandra was in the middle of a shameful plagiarism rumour. At the very least, there was still no evidence that could vindicate her. It was hard to predict how the situation would develop.

It would be good if her innocence could be proven much later, but if not… An icy gleam radiated from his eyes.

He would never feel an ounce of sympathy for anyone who might smear the good reputation of the Tang Group. The corporation was the property of his great family. Everything and everybody must sacrifice for the greater good of the Tang Group at all cost!

Cassandra drove her beetle fast towards the Tang Group. She parked her car in the complex and headed straight towards the entrance. When she entered, she noticed the people's looks and the sudden change of atmosphere when she passed by the reception.

Unlike before, she wasn't even greeted by the welcoming staff or called 'Manager Qin' any more. Everybody seemed to avoid eye contact with her, some even outright going out of their way to avoid her. It was as if she was a plague carrier. People were whispering around her as she walked briskly past them.

herself, 'It's okay! Calm down, Cassandra. As long as you can obtain the evidence to prove your innocence, this

center, Stella came running and held her hand to lead her across the rows

design department. You asked me to dig deeper, and I did. I came here to review the personnel archives. And I flipped through some files on

silence, she just took out a piece of paper from the file she was holding, and

to read it, then a

this her original design draft for the

no, this wasn't hers, since this

as hers, yet it was someone else's hand that had

to tremble. She lookd through the draft one more time, her jaw dropped and her throat felt parched.

rubbed her back as

do. I am lucky today. I just happen to find this document. I

in chaos, then suddenly, all became clear. A

pair of hands was scribbling on a piece of paper beside her very

who did those hands belong to? Who on earth

I'll think of an excuse that'll be able to gather everyone's handwriting in the design department.

was carefree on a normal day, but when it was really needed, she had the best ideas under pressure.

on the other hand, was now completely lost. Her mind was clouded

must have been

that someone outside her department must have done

was possible that one of

sight of the strange draft

working with her subordinates. Not a word

known that the same intimate subordinate was the one who stabbed

had come flooding back. She

talk to anyone about this. I'll take care of

this. Did that person hold a grudge against her? She wanted to truly know what had pushed the

like a crucifixion

dishonesty. It immediately spelled the death throes of

Cassandra, it would be so much worse. If her innocence could not be proved, she would lose everything.

married her into the Tang family. For the Qin family, one of her greatest achievements was being the daughter-in-law

subsisting on her husband's money.

could be more useful if she was proficient in a