A Graduation Gift

From what he had seen, it seemed that Cloris did not really think too highly of her sister. With a mere smile, her fuse blew. He thought of the worried look in her eyes as she told him not to get close to her sister. It was an interesting development.

'If you knew that the family you try so hard to protect and provide think of you as nothing more than an eyesore, how would that be, Cassandra?' Arthur thought to himself as he continued organizing Cloris's things.

'And you silly Cloris. You think Cassandra, whom you have always been jealous of, is trying to take away the happiness you think you have when all she has done is put you before herself.' A cruel smile played on Arthur's lips as he contemplated the situation. 'This should be interesting.'

The Qin family villa was a grand and beautiful sight to behold. No one would have ever guessed that inside the high, polished walls was a storm brewing, with no less than the two sisters at its center.

Meanwhile, in a high-class restaurant, Clark and Ivy were sitting at a table across from each other. They snuck quick glances at each other, trying to guess what was on the other person's mind.

Between them, a candle was giving off a warm and intimate light. Light and shadow danced across their faces. Somewhere in the restaurant, a man was playing soft music on the piano, its melody caressing the ears of its listeners and lulling them.

Anyone would have taken Clark and Ivy for lovers, like the other ones inside the restaurant. But that could not have been more far from the truth. There was no romance in the space that surrounded them, only schemes and plots that sought to take advantage of what the other person had to offer. It was not courtship; it was a game, and a very dangerous one.

"I heard that you were with Lionel from the Tang Group before?" Clark started his attack. "I don't mean to pry, but I'm just curious,"

he said slowly, an unreadable smile on his face.

His question had the desired effect. Ivy was caught off guard and visibly tensed. The first thought that came to her was Amanda.

It must have been her who told Clark!

That woman was nothing but a hypocrite. Despite claiming that the one she loved was Rufus to everyone, she was still fishing for other men! There was no other explanation behind why she would have told this to Clark.

Gathering herself, Ivy quickly controlled her expression and relaxed her shoulders consciously. She had to somehow deflect his question.

Lionel was unfaithful. He cheated on

would have known about it sooner

that you don't need to be in contact

glass of wine and swayed it around. The red liquid shook in the glass like

was all

meant with his words. Her chest tightened and she felt a cold tingle in her

with him a long time ago," she said simply.

just imagining things or thinking too

"That's good to hear."

into a smile, but

many years. Surely there were plenty of things she knew about the Tang Group even though she had broken up with Lionel now. She would be useful, at least for

Ivy and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. Locking

eyes glinted in the candlelight and there was an irresistible smile on his lips. It was

seeing his actions. She looked back

he saying that she would become

whose properties multiplied as fast as he blinked. To say that he was rich was an understatement. If he wanted, he could build a city all on his own. He was a good opportunity. Suddenly, Ivy lost herself to the thought of the things she could buy with his

said, money made the

rich man, she didn't care who she had to sleep with.

head slightly, taking in the sight of the handsome man

now. He

suddenly grew cold as the thought

everything he could, and he played the part so well that even her mother was on his side. But Cassandra, she was