A Graduation Gift

Cassandra anticipated that Horace would deny her request, but she at least expected him to dilly-dally. However instead, he gave her an outright rejection.

"You want to divorce Lionel? Over my dead body will you divorce!" he roared.

Every muscle on Horace's face convulsed with rage.

He went ballistic.

He thought that he treated her nicely. She was still young when she married his son. When she requested to take up higher studies in Rome, he allowed her to do so and even sent her to the best design school.

Upon finishing her study, she came home and refused to be a real couple with Lionel simply because they did not get along. Horace did not interfere with their affairs as a father, either. He believed that the young couple should solve their own problems.

He made Cassandra the manager of the Design Department, which actually made many board members unhappy. It was a very coveted position. Still, he gave it to her despite their opposition.

The way Horace saw it, Cassandra had no reason to leave the family. He had given her everything she needed. Now, she was telling him in front of everyone that she wanted a divorce? He felt so betrayed.

Jill stood up and rubbed her husband's back to calm him down. It was rare for Horace to be this agitated. He was not easily angered but right now, he was fuming. She blamed Cassandra.

"Don't be so unreasonable, Cassandra. You know his condition. He is not at his peak health, to say the least. Should news of this break out, something terrible would surely happen to him because of distress!"

Jill said. The moment she finished talking, Horace began to cough severely. He had asthma so he had to monitor his breathing often. However, what Cassandra told him today caused him to cough uncontrollably.

Cassandra had to swallow her words when she saw her father-in-law's condition. It was really not her intention to cause so much trouble.

"I'm sorry..."

Cassandra felt as if her chest was getting tighter. It suddenly became so difficult to breathe. Not knowing what to do and quite devastated with what she had done, she decided to run out of the room.

On a kneejerk reaction, Lionel stood up and was about to chase after Cassandra. He felt anxious when she left the room. Ivy, however, was hawk-eyed. She shot him a sharp glance and pulled his arm before he could go anywhere.

"Lionel!"

She called his name with an affectionate yet aggrieved voice. This immediately stopped Lionel on his tracks.

He lowered his head and looked at Ivy.

There were tears in her eyes, making her look very vulnerable.

His heart ached to see

pregnant. If he went out to chase after another Cassandra, how

slowly

quivering voice, Ivy also slowly looked at everyone in

Lionel. I just really wish I could. I will also give you my baby. All I would ask is that you let me stay here for a few more months after he is born so I can at least feel what it's like to have the love

as tears rolled down her cheeks. Everyone looked at her with sympathy.

family. And although I didn't stay with you for so long, I'm keeping all the beautiful memories in my mind. Thank you for taking care of me. Now, Cassandra wants to divorce Lionel because of me. I know this made you very unhappy and it's all my fault. I'm so sorry for ruining your family. I think now it would be the best for me to move out so that she can eventually change her mind,"

sparkled like the dew on the

with Ivy. It broke her heart

care of yourself and the baby. It's not your fault. As for what Cassandra said, she may be overwhelmed.

assured her. With a wave of her hand, she signaled a maid to fetch Horace's medication and had him take it. Dinner was prepared

respective rooms. When Rufus got to his, he immediately changed his clothes and hopped out of the window

the wall and climbed up so smoothly. It was clear that he had done this several times before. Letting go of the edge at the other side, he landed on the sidewalk.

and right looking for Cassandra. True

The wind blew over her hair. She

He wanted

she ran out. Where

remembered experiencing this once when she sat in the snow for

hung on the sky, big and round. The stars sparkled from far away. It was neither raining nor

as if her heart were covered with a blanket of

always took pride in her independence. Yet, she often found herself unable to maneuver her own life at the most critical moments. She recalled how she choked up

that it was still covered with glass. She was trapped and all she could do was watch the world she

she felt that it was something she had to do. She sacrificed her youth and her life for the benefit of the Qin family. Lionel, on the other hand, was forced to marry

felt sorry for Ivy who had moved into the Tang family hoping for a better future at the expense of her dignity. What was more, she had

to make sense of her decision. 'Cassandra, how could you jump out of the cage without having a backup plan?' she thought to herself.

'How naive!'

car approached slowly and stopped beside Cassandra. The

greeted her. "What a coincidence! Why are you wandering on the

her loudly, interrupting her

away, noticed the man. He clenched his fists and carefully observed

bit stuffy at home. I'm just going for a

Dylon did not