A Graduation Gift

Lionel couldn't believe himself. His feelings for Cassandra seemed to change with each passing day. The more he knew Cassandra and her innate kindness, the more he got attracted to her.

As a sought after bachelor, he used to hang out with all kinds of pretty women. Everywhere he went there were always be batches of women prepared to throw themselves onto him.

They loved the money he had more than himself and all the advantages he could provide. At the same time, Lionel was a quite generous man, and he'd never been thrift to them financially. However, his heart was already captured by a woman. Despite being married to Cassandra, he gave all his love to Ivy, who had been his girlfriend for many years.

Surprisingly, out of his expectation, Lionel had been gradually attracted to Cassandra ever since the moment she came back from abroad.

Cassandra, on the contrary, turned down his olive branch, and refused to work in the Group as his wife. It was obvious that she was trying to prove herself in her own way, without his help and influence.

Her stubbornness never failed to piss him off. The dread and annoyance, however, had turned into pity and concern when he heard what happened to her.

Lionel couldn't pretend to ignore her existence as he did before, and he didn't have any clue why.

"I trust you, and time will bring light to the truth anyway," he comforted her.

The aura of peaceful tenderness on his face was new to Cassandra. She had never seen such an expression on his face before.

It made her felt uneasy, she was desperate to escape his tormenting presence. With one hard push, she wanted to close the door of her bedroom right in front him.

But Lionel stopped her before she could. He pushed the door open forcibly, making Cassandra's shoulders jerk at the loud bang.

"Why are you avoiding me like that? I'm your husband!" feeling humiliated, he shouted with eyes bulging with rage.

He had been used to Cassandra keeping distance with him. But now, when he was trying to be good to her, she refused to give him a chance.

"We're both old enough to know that fairy tales are not true. Are you happy with what was happening between us all this time? We always break up on the verge of a fight. Thus, for your own good, please just leave me alone," Cassandra said plainly.

She tried hard to close the door, but Lionel was way far stronger than her. He wouldn't let her go.

"Just wait and see, Cassandra! You'll be mine someday. You'll beg me to join you in bed!" he hissed through his clenched teeth.

Lionel withdrew his hands from the door, and it banged close right at his face. Frustrated, he gave the door a good hard kick before he turned around. While holding his sore face, he was surprised to see that Ivy was standing at the other end of the corridor, her hands rested on her belly silently.

Lionel was a little discomfited as if he was caught stealing something.

On the other end, Ivy acted nothing unusual, and she walked toward him with a sweet smile on her face.

"Honey, your son kicked me several times today, and I can feel that he's such a strong baby. I believe he gets a pair of long legs just like his father's," she mused as she looked down her belly.

Lionel also spun his gaze at her belly and his eyes turned soft. It was his son, his own blood and flesh. One of his weapons to win over the Group from Rufus.

coming up here? The dinner is ready, and you need to stay relaxed,"

waist, escorting her to her room.

in my room and I need to get

conversation between him and Cassandra, and Lionel

for you and then we'll go downstairs for dinner," he said briskly.

nodded to him and headed to her

excuse, she followed them upstairs and heard everything. She was devastated when she heard how Lionel

the shadows and saw the depression on Lionel's face when Cassandra's rejection shut

endure the hurt she was feeling inside. Jealousy and rage grew like weeds wildly in her heart, pushing her to do

so strangely these past few weeks, and he was nothing like that seven years ago. Yes, he was a playboy and used to hang out with different girls. It was okay with Ivy because the fling would never last long and his heart was always

past years, and she couldn't afford to lose to any other women, especially to Cassandra whom Lionel took

Cassandra's room, Ivy tried to think of

Cassandra. The more frequent they met each other, the fewer chances she

must kick Cassandra out of the Tang House, and only by doing that, she would

but the real

continued her work at the design department, Cassandra felt deep inside that she was a completely changed woman—no longer the naive and

employees in her department showed nothing unusual after the scandalous incident, she felt awful every time she remembered that it

was a government project, so the group paid special attention to it. After a brief meeting, all the employees got their own assignments to complete. Cassandra took her framework

told her that she had a

and moved to her

only have a few words and here will be fine," she said gracefully with a

her head and saw that it was Ivy standing in front of her. Her face was as glamorous

was wearing a red oversized jumpsuit, which made her so strikingly elegant, and it was her signature style of

office without a reason. What can

her hand left the mouse as she looked up at

living in the Tang House, they deliberately ignored the existence of

complicated relationships, it was impossible for them to be close and become friends. Cassandra had kept a

a smile and her natural charm appeared most in her brows. Her

Even a woman like Cassandra had to admit it. Her pregnancy didn't affect her beauty and figure at all, and Cassandra

a torture for you, Cassandra. Don't deny it and I came here to make a

her hands to the princess with a poisoned

deal are you talking about?"

arms across her chest, wondering what Ivy was up to and what she wanted from her.

Ivy didn't hurry to explain. Instead, she looked down her belly and put her hands on it with tenderness on

weeks already. The little hands and feet have grown, and another twenty weeks later, he will come out to this world. But every time I think of it, my heart is shattered because he will be taken away from me after the delivery!" she

cloth tightly, trying not to cry out