A Graduation Gift

Cassandra was starting to get more and more anxious and uneasy as the minutes passed. She had a strong feeling that something very bad was about to happen.

Clearly, the women in front of her were here to cause trouble. 'Stupid! How stupid I was to believe that they could actually be serious about buying the place, ' Cassandra thought with regret.

"Give me the phone and get out, now!"

Cassandra demanded. She looked at the two with firm authority. The two shameless women did not scare her.

"Wow, take it easy, will you? We only came here to see the place. Is that the proper way to treat your customers, Miss Qin? By driving them away?"

Amanda scoffed. What's done is done. All she wanted to do was to intimidate Cassandra and show her what she was capable of. So what if she looked like some uncivilized tramp? Her image was the least of her concerns. Right now, she was happy for as long as Cassandra was irritated.

"You know very well why I must treat you this way. I don't have to remind you of what you just did and the real reason why you're here. I will not say this again: Get out, now!"

Cassandra raised her voice sternly with a frown. Then, she waited for Amanda and Ivy to do as they were told. However, the two only exchanged knowing looks but still did not back off.

"Or else, what? I'm curious what you'll do about it," Amanda said mockingly. "I know what you're planning. You're going to Rufus, right? You'll cry your heart out and tell him that his fiancee scratched you. But here's the thing: Do you think he'll believe you without proof?" she continued.

A sinister smile was on Amanda's face. Arrogance filled her as she was sure that there were no witnesses. It would be Cassandra's word against hers otherwise.

Just then, the door was suddenly opened. Against the light, they saw a tall, well-built man walk into the room.

"Of course I will believe her," said a cold, calm voice.

It was Rufus. With a furrowed brow, he threw a cold, judging look at Amanda and Ivy. But when he turned to Cassandra, suddenly, it turned to concern and reassurance.

"Sorry, I'm late, Cassandra,"

he said to her gently. He was informed by his men that Cassandra was going to entertain interested customers in Lyndsy's studio that afternoon. But then, he also received news that Amanda was going there with Ivy.

Unconvinced that they were really interested buyers, he hurried over without a second thought. His anger shot up overhearing what Amanda told Cassandra when he arrived; he would never have expected the Amanda he knew, with her pure and innocent front, would say those were words.

The moment he came in and saw the two women standing in front of Cassandra and the latter with scratches on her neck, everything immediately made sense.

His heart sank, partly because he worried about Cassandra, and partly because he hated himself for ever believing in Amanda.

"Seems that I have been too nice to you, Amanda,"

said Rufus as he approached her. Amanda was now very pale. She trembled as she had never heard Rufus talk to her this way.

"She started it, I swear!"

Amanda blurted, pointing at Cassandra. Naturally, the real culprit would be the first one to point fingers at others. Amanda was no exception. Clearly, she wanted to pin it all down on Cassandra.

really? Do you

with a grain of salt. As it turned out, she had been hiding her true self

true! Tell him, Ivy. Tell him how we were treated by this

really well, looking like a pure and innocent lamb, which

were here only to check out this place, and

Still, Rufus's grim face terrified her. In her panic, she shrank nearer

what was happening?' This was not part of her plan. She had wanted to get the two women to fight so that she could profit from their conflict. Never did she expect

didn't know what to do! Oh, how

Ivy when he heard her words. This, of

been causing troubles ever since she was still in the Tang family, ' he thought. Back then, Rufus paid her no attention. Never did he imagine that she would have the audacity to coax Amanda into doing this to Cassandra.

that your brother was let out. Is that correct? Did he

eye to

flicker

something and he

approach Cassandra's father before

closer towards Ivy while

but no words came out. His words and his eyes sent shivers down her spine. Her whole body clenched and she was unable to

buttons. You did such a good job giving the woman I love a hard

his dark eyes. Ivy was still

other hand, felt her heart break at Rufus words when

love of his life. But now that he actually took her side and she was seeing him protect her right before her eyes...It all just felt too real and it hurt. It tore apart

out of my face. I never want

If looks could kill, Ivy would have been

from head to foot, Ivy shuffled and

He was a very intimidating man. Moreover, he knew so

determined to avoid this dangerous man. His anger was so strong that it could

Ivy gone, Amanda was all alone and helpless.

"I can explain, Rufus..."

say something but her words were met

pretending to be innocent.

not going to believe any word that came out

coldness and indifference in his eyes filled Amanda with despair which quickly turned into defiant

smile before asking, "Why, Rufus? Why couldn't you just

the answer would hurt, but she was still unwilling to give up until she

so many times. But this time, I saw

replied. His eyes were still cold. There was no

chosen her,