A Graduation Gift

"What? From you?"

Cassandra was stunned, in disbelief. Lionel was thrilled at the sight of her face.

He was so proud of finally being able to surprise her.

"Of course they're from me! What, you think Rufus would ever give you something like that?"

Lionel smiled widely at her, knowing what she was thinking. He just wanted to tease her.

Cassandra couldn't hide her disappointment. Her eyebrows were scrunched together.

She had always thought that these flowers would only ever come from Rufus.

Even if she tried to refuse them, they would still be sent in anyway. He was incredibly persistent that he wouldn't even let her leave.

"Of course they're from me, Cassandra. I know Rufus has been busy recently because he was helping Miss Ke with her concert abroad. But you shouldn't trust him so easily, Cassandra. They could be enjoying a romantic time in Paris for all you know."

Lionel laughed to himself, deliberately trying to provoke Cassandra. He really wanted to see her devastated.

However Cassandra cleared her throat and held her chin up, refusing to give him what he wanted. She suppressed her devastation, trying to not look intimidated.

"We've already broken up, Lionel. There's no need for you to use him against me."

Cassandra kept her tone as calmly as she could, her face devoid of any emotion.

and I could get back together. Ivy means nothing to me; it's easy for me to break up with her. I

rose, caressing the delicate petals between

stem of the rose. It had been stripped clean of its thorns; the entire stem seemed to have shed

you're being

never expected that Lionel would say such a thing.

but time has taken a lot of things away from me. Her face, for instance. She's starting to show wrinkles, it's disgusting! Isn't she

feel how Lionel truly felt about Ivy. To him, Ivy was disposable

insisting that she would never let Lionel go. Now, Lionel was not only saying that he was sick of

were such heartless

afraid that I'm after your money,

to Rufus when she first rejected him. She tried to shake the thought of Rufus's beautiful face off her

than use

Cassandra noted that, for the first

his money, Qin Group

moment. She knew that Lionel was only telling the truth. Cassandra too, really knew the

knew that she didn't want to live on anyone's charity. She tried to fight the tears seeping out of her eyes by roughly shaking her head and clearing her throat, her

But I'm sorry, I'll have to

gesture Lionel towards the door. Lionel looked

few moments later, when Cassandra refused to move, Lionel gave

stood up from where he was seated, before cooly walking past Cassandra without saying another

all of a sudden. She walked over to

it. It looked so delicate and beautiful. She suddenly remembered

she tried to snap out of her thoughts.