A Graduation Gift

The woman had bushy eyebrows and pink, plump lips. Her raven black hair cascaded down her shoulders. With her hands, she was stroking a Persian cat.

The cat had white luscious fur and a pair of large, clear odd eyes—one yellow; the other, blue. It purred as it curled on the woman's knees.

The woman looked at Cassandra with indifferent eyes, then stood up and walked to the stairs. Meanwhile, a middle-aged woman wearing a pair of glasses was coming down the winding staircase.

She was the wife of Mr. Gary Zheng, Whitney Qiu.

Whitney Qiu was somewhere in her forties. She had a very fair complexion. She was living proof that a comfortable life tended to make one age well.

Knowing that this must be the woman she was looking for, Cassandra immediately approached to introduce herself.

"Mrs. Zheng, nice to meet you. I'm Cassandra Qin, the eldest daughter of Vernon Qin,"

she said, beaming. She was doing a great job hiding her nerves. For some reason, she felt odd being in the castle.

"I know who you are. Mr. Li has told me that you were coming. It was clever to have him put a good word for you. Otherwise, I would not even consider seeing you,"

Whitney Qiu replied. Cassandra was confused. 'Who's Mr. Li?' she thought. It took her a second to realize that Mr. Li must be the mediator Rufus hired.

'This mediator must be very reputable to have this kind of influence, ' she thought.

Whitney looked down at Cassandra from the second step of the stairway. She had a way of making people feel so severely inadequate.

Coming to her senses, Cassandra recollected herself and managed a smile.

"Mrs. Zheng, has Mr. Li told you about the current situation of Qin Group? Right now, I am..."

She gestured Cassandra to stop before she could finish talking.

"Hold on. I do not want to hear about the shares my husband left. I assigned someone else to handle it. I am a woman who is not interested in business,"

she imposed. This made Cassandra feel very disappointed. Deep inside, she knew that Whitney Qiu only refused to cooperate because she was aware of the current situation of the company.

Still, a part of her did not want to believe that she came all the way to Norway for nothing.

you seem to have misunderstood. I came to tell you news about my family, not really the company. It has been a while since we last met, I

change her approach to address

enough, Whitney's expression softened.

Smarter than her

co-founders of Qin Group. Unfortunately, he

course, this was intentional from her end. She did not want to get involved in any relationship at her hometown. She also hired TY Group to manage her assets. Business dealings were not something she wanted to dabble

to be playmates with her daughter, Courtney. They were the

young, her daughter was happy and her husband was still alive...

her eyes moisten with memories of the past suddenly coming to her.

just too beautiful, it made her sad to remember and realize that it was now all gone.

"Auntie", brought back lots

her mood, Whitney Qiu stepped down from the stairs and sat on the couch. She poured some

seat, Cassandra," she offered.

her grace and sophistication. 'This is a true

the tea as she stroked the golden teacup.

heard that you are a

not seem indifferent to her anymore.

auntie. I'm the designer for the Tang Group now," she replied, hiding the astonishment that it was Whitney Qiu who

to save the Qin Group? With your

in her insightful eyes.

young. He had his share of successes and failures. This company is the product of everything that he has worked for. Right now, he is no longer capable of taking care of it the way he did before, but I am.

shared, her eyes glowing with sincerity.

Qiu was deeply

recalled the days when her husband was young and full of life. He and Vernon were good partners, and he had invested in

much value. The only thing that kept her from selling it was the fact that it was something that her husband left for their

important not to put all her eggs in one basket. This mentality made

devotion for your father is admirable. He

show of affection was not something Cassandra was accustomed to.

to

Courtney, especially when she

so aloof for her age,