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.

she like a recurring nightmare that kept

they already divorced. But she took his heart away as she

corner of the quilt,

time when you got in my way. I can

to

Festival Eve, Cassandra and Rufus snuggled together on the couch, watching the Spring Festival gala on television. Cassandra laughed

it really that

so cute when she laughed. He observed

know what? This is my first time to watch the whole gala,"

serious tone when there was a break in the

"Oh? How come?"

gala, but this was a new opportunity to get to know Cassandra some more so he wouldn't miss this

the night fell, Grandma and I would sleep in a small room

distance, as if visualizing it from long ago. What happened during those times made her

couldn't you

knew that Vernon didn't like Cassandra very much. But keeping his own daughter away from watching the television,

approaching her. Mother and Father did not want to see her all fussy and angry so they

It always made her sad whenever recalling Cloris's

parents preferred the obedient and cute Cloris over her. Their faces would freeze whenever they saw Cloris trying to hide from her so they would find any excuses to send her away. Cassandra

you ever asked why she

of a

as a middle high school student, she didn't fear me anymore like before. And that was it. But we were never really close. I lived on campus most of the time and would only

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

all. She snored loudly. It was too noisy. So I secretly

was so scared to be found still awake and listening to the television. So

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

thing left for her was to listen to their voices by the door and simply imagine

you watch the

as he reached out and held her in his arms. What a silly girl! Stupid but extremely

would still be

beautiful woman's voice fell as her eyes

from my family. So I was quite a loner when I was a little girl. Things eventually