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.

frowned seeing her sad face. His heart ached

went out to chase

around and slowly sat down

quivering voice, Ivy also slowly looked at everyone in the room and

I would ask is that you let me stay here for a few more

down her cheeks.

I long for a 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

They sparkled like the

with Ivy. It broke her heart

on taking care of yourself and the baby. It's not your fault. As for what Cassandra said,

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

room sullenly and went to their respective rooms. When Rufus got to his, he immediately changed his clothes and hopped out of the

he was hardly recognizable. He ran to the wall and climbed up so smoothly. It was clear that he had done this several times before.

right looking for Cassandra. True enough, he found the woman walking lost in thought.

wrapped herself. The wind

pace. He wanted to know where

loss after she ran out. Where could

snow for a long

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

her heart were covered with a

her independence. Yet, she often found herself unable to maneuver her own life at the most critical moments.

thought that God had opened a window for her, she realized that it was still covered with glass. She

risky and drastic her decision was. Still, she felt that it was something she had to do. She sacrificed her youth and her life for the benefit of the

family hoping for a better future at the expense of her dignity. What was more, she had to endure everything people said about her behind her back.

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

'How naive!'

and stopped beside Cassandra. The window rolled down and

he greeted her. "What a coincidence! Why are you

asked her loudly, interrupting

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

stuffy at home. I'm just going for a walk. Why are

Dylon did