A Graduation Gift

Now it was clear as day why Clark was raging with hostility when it came to Rufus. They were rivals in business, but most of all, Cassandra was caught dead in the middle of it all. She even had plans to stay close with Clark as an undercover agent for Rufus. If everything Lyndsy said was true, it could mean that he was just using her to bring down Clark in their business competition.

An innumerable number of weird ideas began to float in Cassandra's head, which was giving her a headache.

"Stella, let me bring Cassandra home first. I think we'll both agree that she's not in a condition to be enjoying hotspot right now."

Lyndsy was under so much distress, feeling sorry for Cassandra. When she noticed that Cassandra was completely out of it, she came to the realization that she never should have told her anything about it for her own good.

But Lyndsy's remarks somehow helped Cassandra pull herself together. Resting one hand on the table, she faked out a smile.

"I… I'll be just fine. We shouldn't keep the hotpot waiting. Come on, let's eat."

Cassandra wasn't aware how strong she really was, at least not before being hit so hard.

The truth was that she wasn't in the mood to eat, but she knew she had to snap out of it.

Lyndsy and Stella had some fun light-hearted conversations as they ate the hotpot. They got along quite well after finding out that they shared the same interests. Lyndsy was more than happy to invite Stella over to work in her studio.

Everything appeared to be going along quite well, however, it was actually far from the truth. Cassandra's thoughts had actually drifted into a distant space. She put a spoonful of chopped green onion into her mouth, but it wasn't enough to faze her at all. In fact, a long period of time had actually passed and she still didn't realize what she had done.

back to the Garden Villa. She chanced upon Clark who had

wouldn't pale in comparison to Lyndsy's

on her way back. I

them and gently wrapped his arm around Cassandra's

in the dumps, so

but sigh as they

have any feelings for him whatsoever. She

Clark slowly headed toward the courtyard,

work these past few days. Do you usually come back at

conversation, with a worried

really. It's just that I went out for dinner with my friends

thoughts were scattered all over the place. From the moment she found

the villa, she updated me on how things were

had been shutting herself in her bedroom more often upon returning home from work. Edith was afraid that if there was something eating away at Cassandra; it would be bad for

heard. However, no one had any idea that Rufus had been climbing to her window so that he could meet her in secret. That was actually

wrong. My mother is

and feeling so down, Cassandra didn't