A Graduation Gift

"You want my position? Okay, let's call all board members together and initiate voting. The candidate with the most votes wins, I'll happily resign if I don't win," Rufus said assertively.

Rufus's insolent smile and confidence humiliated Lionel. He didn't take Lionel seriously and didn't even see him as a threat.

Rufus had good reasons to be confident. He was far more qualified than Lionel in progressive thinking and far more learned overall. Lionel himself was uncertain about the vote. Those senior executives on the board were smart and foxy. When he was the CEO, Lionel needed to respect and listen to them as he used their discretion to make decisions or pass a plan. He needed their consent as well. Rufus, however, didn't need to do that. He was so talented and experienced that they would listen to him and follow his instructions strictly instead. Rufus had no problem running the Tang Group.

What if the senior executives made things difficult and the company became unmanageable for Lionel when he went back?

Every time he thought that there was no one to trust or rely on in the company, Lionel felt frustrated and jealous of Rufus.

Rufus had already taken away Lionel's authority. He had no say on the board. He was part of the executive members but the members didn't take him seriously. So his restrictive power was pretty much of no use.

"Lionel, go back to your bedroom! You stay out of it!" Horace commanded

He lifted his head up and glared at Lionel.

Lionel knew that he wasn't able to replace Rufus. He knew he shouldn't get involved in the conversation in the first place.

Horace, who had the final say in the company, wanted to restrict Rufus's authority and power. He would then be able to force him to break up with Cassandra. But Rufus stood assertively and showed no form of surrender.

Horace's plot failed dismally.

"You go back too. Let's talk about it another day," Horace said arrogantly.

Feeling infuriated, he pretentiously waved at Rufus and asked Jill to help him upstairs. Disappointment showed on his face. He was at a loss for words, and this didn't happen often. He was humiliated by his own son.

Jill glared at Rufus, annoyed.

Rufus grew up as an illegitimate child. Since his return there had been no peace and serenity in the Tang family. Their lives were filled with quarrels and sadness. Jill felt irritated, blaming all drama on Rufus. She didn't like this man at all.

Rufus just smiled rebelliously. He didn't seem to care about his father's feelings as the Tang family had never truly accepted him. He had always been an outsider and could think of it never changing.

Why then should he show compassion and care about them?

Rufus's eye showed conceit and hatred. He swore one day he would turn this luxurious mansion into a despicable hell hole.

Cassandra's cell phone had been vibrating in her bag. She knew it was Rufus calling again but still ignored him.

Cassandra and Rufus had never communicated frequently before. Since she moved out, Rufus called her continuously. She had put her phone on vibrate mode as the annoying ringtone rang countless times in a day.

they got back together or broke

He became enraged easily at times. His assistant was fearful of

"Pardon me, Mr. Luo?"

work. His attention was in the wrong location and not in the office. His assistant battled to get his attention by

the files on my

the assistant

stressful. His face looked cold and perplexed with dark gloomy rings around his eyes, and his tendentious mood

left the office quickly. She breathed a

hand, Rufus started to think about Cassandra again. She didn't answer his

serious this

about Cassandra sobbing yesterday made Rufus feel upset.

return the key to Rufus after work

every corner—the kitchen where she sat on the counter spooning with Rufus or trying to cook special meals together; the fireplace where they

mansion as her own home. She cleaned every part of the furniture and swept every corner and now she was leaving. It was sad and reluctant for her to be leaving. 'Better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved

She just wanted a steady relationship. Her wish seemed to be too much of a luxury that Rufus couldn't

walked out of the mansion, making

courtyard. But she would never be able to hear the trees rustle or watch

the memories, but

thought to herself as the tears started again.

again. Rufus kept calling her. Cassandra stared at the screen, sighed and finally answered the call.

don't you

call. No one dared to do that to him,

Villa," she answered

determined to

change

help smiling. He thought Cassandra was moving back to the mansion.

in the mailbox. I'm leaving. I'm on my way out," she said quickly, implying that she was leaving him. She battled

what do you

she was being dead serious. He

you're driving. Be

Rufus hit the breaks. She was concerned about his safety,

dare hang up again!"

his fist in the steering wheel, then stepped on the gas, racing

up on Rufus, again! How dare

seemed that she had made up her mind. Thinking that she would never visit him or the Garden Villa, he

this. He loved her and wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. It was the first time he would go to these lengths to please a woman. The result was unexpected. He had even contemplated marrying her before. This was something