A Graduation Gift

In wine, there is truth. Through an intoxicated haze, Lionel recalled the first time he laid eyes on Cassandra.

The Qin family was the one who reached out to the Tang family for the proposed marriage. Still, Cassandra behaved like an arrogant and proud princess. She didn't even look him in the eye.

Lionel grew annoyed at that time. 'Who do you think you are giving me that look! I don't want to marry you either!' he thought. Both of them looked down upon each other.

The Tang family entertained Cassandra and her parents to dinner. When a waitress served the meal, she accidentally knocked over a plate. Horace became very unhappy and was about to lose his temper to yell at the waitress with his face darkened. But Cassandra did something surprising.

She walked straight to the waitress and asked her if she was hurt or burnt. Then she accompanied her out of the room to get some medicine for her wound. The waitress escaped from a disaster.

It seemed like her attitude towards this waitress was completely different from the one towards him. Lionel felt extremely curious so he found an excuse to follow her outside.

Cassandra was whispering something in the waitress's ears. She told her to be careful later. Tears could be seen rolling down the waitress's cheeks. It was clear that she was touched and appreciated Cassandra's concern.

"Just don't be so careless next time. Go and get some medicine now," Cassandra said softly to her.

The waitress was grateful. She then walked away, leaving Cassandra standing in the corridor with her back leaning against the wall.

The corridor was dim and her tiny figure looked so lonely standing there.

It was just a small incident. Cassandra was very young at that time. The waitress looked to be the same age as her so maybe Cassandra felt pity for her because of that.

However, Lionel continued to remember the image of that lonely figure in the corridor. How he wished he could have asked Cassandra, who was defensive against him at that time, whether they could just get along!

But, the truth was cruel. They had no feelings for each other and there was nothing but pain throughout their marriage. Ivy almost lost her life in a car accident and Lionel assumed Cassandra was at fault.

Why was she so arrogant? Why did she look down at him? Anger suddenly replaced the curiosity to discover more about her in his heart.

Lionel felt guilty towards Ivy. So he did whatever she asked of him later. Ivy became totally a different woman. She was no longer the obsequious girl but rather a tough and strong woman.

Lionel, on the other hand, was not as faithful as when he was younger. He started to go around and went out with different women. Even with that, he kept his love for his first girlfriend, Ivy.

After all these years, however, his love for Ivy seemed to fade as he became more and more interested in Cassandra but he couldn't seem to win her heart.

The very drunk Lionel had no idea that the woman lying beside him was not Cassandra, but Ivy.

Ivy stared at Lionel with vicious eyes which could freeze people.

like a recurring nightmare that kept coming back to my

God they already divorced.

at Lionel. She clenched the corner of the

time when you got in my way.

were nowhere to be seen. A piece of thick cloud covered all the

together on the couch, watching the Spring Festival gala on television. Cassandra laughed easily at the sketch comedies. She giggled from time to time, which was something Rufus could

really

were funny. But he did think that Cassandra looked so cute when she laughed. He observed

is my first time to watch the

told Rufus in a serious tone when there was a break in

"Oh? How come?"

for the gala, but this was a new opportunity to get to know Cassandra some more

Eve dinner. When the night fell, Grandma and I would sleep in a small room in the villa of our house. I could hear Cloris's and mother's

she stared into the distance, as if visualizing it from long ago. What

couldn't you

didn't like Cassandra very much. But keeping his own daughter away from watching the television, wasn't that taking it a bit too

little girl. She would hide whenever she saw me approaching her. Mother and Father did not want to see her all fussy and

depressed now. It always made her sad whenever

they would find any excuses to send her away. Cassandra had no choice but to walk away and watch as her father played with Cloris

asked why she

of a

me anymore like before. And that was it. But we were never really close. I lived on campus most of the time

arms around her bent legs, with her chin resting on her knees.

loudly. It was too noisy. So I secretly got up and pushed open the door so slightly, just

and listening to the television. So she wouldn't wear her slippers and crept to

How she wished she could join them downstairs and be a part of the family while watching those shows! But

voices by the door and simply imagine

you watch the replays of

out and held her in his arms. What a silly

I would still

woman's voice fell as her eyes

from my family. So I was quite a loner