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.

can do right now, but I swear I'll do everything in my power to find a solution later.

to console Ivy, his eyebrows curved in his visible irritation.

something changed in her expression. Clark

You, on the other hand, need time alone

his last syllable, Clark swiftly got up and left without so much as a farewell. His threat lingered in Ivy's ears.

in shambles right now. What did

and a perfect marriage, but in the end, jail was

thinly veiled threat was like getting submersed in a tub full

that she had been duped and fallen into a trap she had little hope of

Group, the two most prominent real estate firms in

dealings, which led to

glow of the afternoon sunlight, Cassandra, who was making the final preparations for her studio, sat across

the plan.

pushed it towards Rufus with a smile, which

the plan

good. I'll give

in front of him. She bathed in the afternoon sunlight, which kind of formed a faint

fail. I've prepared all the materials. This time, he's going away for a really long time. You can rest

warm smile.

"Thank you, Rufus."

could say. Rufus's

more harsh methods, such as direct confrontations, but Rufus promptly stopped

family's protection. If you confront him head-on, it will only intensify things and

and then accused Arthur. He

direct qualms about Arthur. He only did this for Cassandra's sake.

for me. I

to Rufus. He

this debt of gratitude, when

offered marriage again, which put Cassandra

hasn't even opened yet, so I'm really not

unprepared for such a

No matter how long

to force Cassandra. He was willing to patiently wait before she

were bathed in the warm afternoon shine. It all felt

"Amanda and

that she almost forgot about the wedding.

raised his eyebrows and said in an indifferent tone, "A

packet was necessary.

hardly appropriate for us to be

written all over her face. She just wanted

out our red packet. We don't need to