A Graduation Gift

Remorse and guilt filled Cassandra. Seeing Edith worry made her even more concerned.

"Mom, it has nothing to do with Cloris. As for what she said, I will find a way to investigate it!" she promised.

By this time, what she initially came for was no longer significant. Besides, there was nothing they could do about it anymore. What happened had happened. She was the one who gave the flash drive to Lionel but she was certain that she was not the one who caused the mess.

The real culprit was Arthur. He was the one she needed to confront, not Cloris.

"Cassandra, what's wrong?"

Edith asked, wondering why her daughter looked so puzzled. She studied her expression in hopes of making something out of it.

"Mom, believe me. This has nothing to do with Cloris. I'm sure of it. I'll do what I can to fix it. As for Arthur..."

she reassured her mother. Then, she glanced at Cloris, worried.

"Please be careful around him. He is not a man that can be trusted,"

she said with conviction. The fact that he made Cloris do something so harmful to someone else spoke volumes of what kind of person he really was.

Moreover, she also remembered a time when she was still working with the Tang Group and Arthur stole a project that had already been awarded to them. Since then, she had known that he was not a man of ethics.

Cloris glared at Cassandra, irritated.

"What do you think you are saying, Cassandra? Arthur has always treated me with respect. Don't you dare stir things up between us!" she remarked.

Cloris loved Arthur and she trusted him with her whole heart. Hearing Cassandra talk about him the way she did, offended her.

Unwilling to argue, Cassandra merely stood up and looked at her sister.

"Mom, I'll go now. Please keep an eye on Cloris. I don't know what will happen to her otherwise,"

she said softly as she made her exit. Arthur had always played dirty tricks. She could not imagine what worse things he could come up with. Cloris was so naive. At least Edith had a suspicion that something was wrong. As for Cassandra, her primary concern was to make sure that her family was safe.

"Ok, I know what to do,"

Edith replied. Knowing what happened to Cloris was enough to shock her. Realizing what her daughter had been through made her more vigilant in safeguarding her family. Despite Arthur's gentleman facade, she learned to anticipate something else that he could be hiding.

Cassandra walked out in haste. Rufus, who had been waiting at the courtyard, grew concerned when he saw Cassandra's urgent demeanor.

"Cassandra, what happened?" he inquired.

since he

suspicion that there really was

need to talk to Arthur,"

was conviction in

by the arm, and looked at her straight in the eye.

you planning to do with

strong feeling that something was

there is something I

a deep breath and looked at

"What is it?"

asked. A part of him already knew what she was about

help you in the studio and the reason why I wasn't able to

relieved her. It felt as if a huge weight were

Rufus was calm. He merely looked at her with a knowing gaze and

a silly woman you are, Cassandra, ' he thought to himself. 'How could you have thought

right when it was already time to present it in the bidding. The Tang Group failed

around and twisting his cold and slender body. Venom shot from his mouth as he came up behind

you think confronting him now

challenging Cassandra's plan of

to harm us. I can't just let him get

heart clenched thinking about how manipulative and diabolical Arthur was, and the harm that he

let you go alone. Arthur is

was clear: he did not

is my business and I have to solve it myself. You don't understand, Rufus. This is personal. My family is in danger,"

for her. Right now, she wanted to fight Arthur. The last thing

are my girlfriend. Your

determined to defend his position

saw a glimmer of strength that somehow made her feel safer. It brought

still see me as an outsider, then I believe that there is one thing I need to do

Suddenly, he took her hand and led her back to the villa.

when Rufus pushed the door open.

I am hoping that you could give us

announced, stunning everyone.

out of Rufus's grip but he held her hand so tightly that no matter how hard she

Rufus... What are

what he