A Graduation Gift

Ivy was frantic and scared out of her mind on the police car going to the local station. Once they arrived, they went straight towards a bare-bones room with a huge one-way mirror. She sat on the nearby chair right across a police detective. Her mind went blank whenever a question was thrown at her. The cops were about to give up since they couldn't get any decent information out of her because she always answered by asking to contact Clark.

"I am his girlfriend. Clark Ji, I want to see him! Please, I need to see him."

Ivy's face was ghastly pale with fear. She kept repeating Clark's name.

"Cut the bullshit. Just answer the questions, and maybe we'll let you get in touch with your boyfriend!"

One detective impatiently tapped the table with his pen.

At that moment, the door swung wide open. A man in uniform promptly came in and whispered something to the detective.

Ivy was observing the situation and saw the detective's eyes widen as he looked at Ivy and then the uniformed officer. With a snort of contempt, he stood up and immediately went out the door. In a few moments, a familiar man came in the room.

"Thank God, Clark! You're finally here!"

Ivy practically jumped from her seat and threw herself into Clark's arms.

"Clark, I don't know what to do. Someone sued me. What do I do?"

Ivy felt hot tears stream down her face. She looked up expectantly at Clark, eyes wide open despite the tears.

"Don't worry. Just sit down."

Clark was surprisingly calm, given the current situation. Ivy detached herself from the embrace and slowly sat down.

"Clark, I don't know what to do. Adrian leaked the information and fingered me. He claimed that I hated Lionel for driving me out of his mansion, so I deliberately stole his group's business secrets for revenge."

Ivy didn't see all of this coming. She didn't expect that her carefully laid out conspiracy would be brought to light so quickly. To her great disappointment, Adrian had apparently betrayed her after he got the money.

"Ivy, the city...the city has taken a hardline stance against highly illegal criminal activities recently. I'm sure you know that Arthur's case is also under investigation. Things are pretty tense right now."

Clark's eyebrows furrowed with stress. Dejection was clearly written in his eyes.

He sighed deeply and continued, "The police have people who will testify against you in court, and even as far as physical evidence. I've already talked to my connections, but the authorities have already made their stance clear in cracking down on unfair competition, and insiders' influence in public bids. I really...I really can't do anything right now. Take one for the team. I promise I'll save you after I find a way out of this mess."

Clark fixed his eyes on Ivy with steely determination, anxiously waiting for her response.

What Clark had said left Ivy utterly speechless. Her mouth was agape in her incredible shock.

It was as clear as day. Clark saw her as a scapegoat, a patsy. He didn't come here to get her out.

"Clark, I've already given the hard drive to you. You can't just throw me under the bus like this."

Ivy unconsciously clenched her fists, her long nails biting into the soft skin of her palms, drawing a bit of blood.

now, but I swear I'll do everything in my power to find a solution later. Lionel got your brother out of prison.

console Ivy, his eyebrows curved in his visible irritation.

still speechless, but something changed in her expression.

sort everything out. You, on the other

without so much as a

right now. What did

a

was like getting submersed in a tub full

she had been duped and fallen into a

within a few weeks, breaking headlines came one after another in G City. The Tang Group and the Dawn Star Group, the two most prominent real estate firms in the city, were both in trouble. The events unfolded so quickly, leaving people confused

suffered a bankruptcy crisis, and then the Dawn Star Group was reported for illegal dealings, which led to the thorough investigation of its CEO. For a time, the

the warm glow of the afternoon sunlight, Cassandra, who was making the final preparations for

plan. Check it

her iPad and pushed it towards Rufus with a smile,

up the iPad and examined the plan meticulously. He then smiled and nodded in

good. I'll give you more

afternoon sunlight, which kind of formed a faint halo around her.

fail. I've prepared all the materials. This time, he's going away

smile. His fingers

"Thank you, Rufus."

know what else she could say. Rufus's concern and

to more harsh methods, such as direct

protection. If you confront him head-on, it will only intensify

always managed to stay calm even in the most critical moments. He collected hard evidence and then accused Arthur. He showed him his smoking gun. Arthur had no

about Arthur. He only did

all of this for me. I shouldn't have been so impulsive.

indebted to Rufus. He then frowned in response.

return this debt of gratitude, when will you

casually offered marriage again, which put

after my studio runs smoothly. It hasn't even opened yet, so I'm really not sure about

was unprepared for such a question.

Cassandra. No

reminded himself not to force Cassandra. He was willing to patiently wait before she said

bathed in the warm afternoon shine. It all felt so natural and

something, "Amanda and Clark's wedding is tomorrow. Have you prepared

that she almost forgot about

and said in an indifferent tone, "A

than a red packet was necessary. Amanda's

us to be invited like

written all over her face. She just wanted to

send out our red