A Graduation Gift

With anger etched on Ivy's face, she passed Lionel a look that could only be described as distaste.

Ever since she got discharged from the hospital, she started sensing a strain in their relationship. As the days passed, Lionel was getting further and further away from her. At the beginning, she assumed Cassandra's departure would make her path clear. But things weren't as easy as she had hoped. Even after Cassandra left, Cassandra's memory haunted him.

Lionel would often come home in a drunken state. And while he was wasted, he would chant Cassandra's name. This made Ivy's blood boil in rage. By now, she had lost all her confidence and hope in this man. Yet she hadn't given up on her aspiration to become a part of the Tang family. In fact her greedy mind was trying to figure out a way to turn this dream into a reality. As she knew she wouldn't get much support from Lionel, she realized Jill was her last resort.

However, she couldn't stop fretting about it. She knew that Jill was Horace's wife and, as a consequence, had a prominent position in the house. In spite of this, her dubious mind reasoned that Jill wouldn't have much say in Lionel's marriage related matter. Moreover, things weren't so lucid. She realized she had a long way to go.

While she was lost in her thoughts, Ivy felt Lionel's tender touch on her neck. It gently moved up and stopped on her soft face. On a closer inspection, Ivy noticed a hazy look in his eyes.

"Why did you have to choose him? How could you do this to me?"

Lionel murmured to himself. His face depicted the rawest form of sadness.

as these words were uttered, Ivy understood it wasn't intended for her. 'Here comes his Cassandra melodrama, ' her mind screamed and she let

anymore, Ivy retorted back, "She chose him because he is better than you in every aspect. He is smart, intelligent and capable. And do you know

this conversation tomorrow. During such days, Ivy never

she didn't dare say such things. Now that he had no feelings for her, anything that she said could be used against her.

love her. But now she knew that shield of love had vanished. She had no power over him. Her worth has dwindled and whether she

one to rely on. All these years she had depended on Lionel but now everything was on the brink of disappearance.

I am a

lot of alcohol and had lost his ability to reason. But the vicious

here only for year, everyone can tell who is more capable. Now you know why your wife Cassandra left you and went after him. You were the CEO of Tang Group all these years. But as soon as Rufus entered the picture, you were discarded like a piece of waste. So tell me, what have you achieved so far? Maybe you look down on him thinking he is an illegitimate son. But the truth remains that you can never be half as good as him!"

that Lionel wouldn't remember a thing once he came back to his senses. All these days she had bottled up a lot of emotions hence she

uttered by Cassandra rather than Ivy. 'Is Cassandra trying to test my patience? She needs to stop nagging me.' His oppressive side began

lost, but he knew his physicality was