A Graduation Gift

Rufus's face remained emotionless even after the maid had told him all the details.

Was Jill merely behaving this way because she thought of Horace as a grumpy, old, arrogant man? It couldn't be denied, though, that Horace's health had deteriorated day after day—he was getting old and therefore, grumpy and arrogant as many men had come to be.

Rufus had no other thought in his mind but to make sure he executed his plan right away. Horace was, after all, old enough now—he might die before experiencing what it was like to be betrayed by his own son and at the same time, lose his own company. Horace deserved no less after all he'd done to Rufus and his mother. He did not deserve to die a peaceful death.

Meanwhile, in the ward, Jill still hadn't stopped sobbing and Lionel was starting to become impatient. He kept bugging the nurse, asking what time his father was going to wake up. In fact, he did it so much that the nurse had started to avoid him.

Rufus waited outside the ward the whole night. Before dawn, Horace finally woke up.

"Horace, Horace, how are you feeling now?"

Jill rushed towards Horace the moment he opened his eyes.

Rufus was also wide awake and alert outside the ward—he was calm and so sure of what he was going to do.

The doctor came in to check all of Horace's vitals and was seemingly satisfied. He spoke in a cool tone, "Everything looks good here. He doesn't need as many people to stay with him—one is enough. The rest of you can go home and rest. Mr. Tang needs quiet too."

The ward was so crowded that the doctor advised them to leave in order to give Horace some peace and quiet.

Rufus scanned the room with his eyes before he offered to stay, "I will stay here and look after him. You can all go home first and come relieve me later."

Rufus's tone was calm and somewhat matter-of-fact. Jill glanced at him from the side and murmured, "Such a hypocrite," before yawning and leaving the room with Ivy.

"Father, I have to go and attend to a few appointments. I'll be right back after I'm done,"

Lionel said as a goodbye to his father. When he left, only Rufus and Horace were in the room.

Although he had already woken up from his coma, Horace still looked pallid and weak.

He tilted his head as he looked at Rufus with a confused look on his face, as if his mind was buzzing about something.

Rufus didn't make a sound, instead he just gazed blankly back at his father.

"Rufus, I had a dream. I dreamt of your mother,"

Horace said in a weak but yearning tone.

"She stopped talking to me. I'd lost all contact with her for years. I had no other way to find out you were my son," he continued.

lids together as if he was deep

but inside, he was

deep sleep. Rufus took this chance to call Victor so he

what happened

previous night, Cassandra and Dylon went to Dylon's apartment. Victor would've

after awhile so only Miss Qin spent the night

reported in a calm tone.

already expected this, Rufus still

to the company now and get me the

he hung up the call, Rufus immediately pulled up a photo

young then, sporting a huge smile.

sick. Hellen was practically a vegetable—couldn't talk or move. She had been merely

ten

and they had Lionel. Horace had this whole new and happy life while his mother worked herself to

and day out. She never complained even when she was getting sicker and sicker everyday.

willingly took all the burden of supporting Rufus, which was unbeknownst to Horace.

and power Tang Group and

his eyes. Once again, never had he been more sure of anything in

to abandon you. Soon, you'll know what it feels like to lose your loved

night, Cassandra slept like a baby. She only woke up when the sun creeped inside the apartment. When she woke up, she was surprised to find that it was already nine in

hastily started preparing for the day. When she got to work, she sensed that something was wrong.

and from a considerably near area, she could

"What happened?"

the crying—it was

handle it because she bursted into

is in A City. She can't contact

employee piped in, his tone sympathetic.

realized something. Now she wasn't so surprised at how quiet everything

to my office," Cassandra said to the

going to talk to this young lady somewhere a bit more private.

led the employee to her office and shut the door closed. When she started speaking, Cassandra used a comforting tone, "Don't cry, we don't know anything yet.

piece of tissue and handed it to the employee.

and uncle took me in and treated me like their own. I've

to stream down her

rest and spend some time with