A Graduation Gift

Horace, lying in the hospital bed, had spent the entire day in a lethargic state. His mental state was that of utter despondency.
Every time Jill looked at him, tears would ooze in her eyes.
As soon as he fell asleep, she took a chance to talk to Lionel, her face full of concern and worry.
"Lionel, do you think I should go talk to Alice? Maybe she can change Arthur's mind and prevent Dawn Star Group from fighting
against us? The two companies can coexist in peace, for god's sake!"
Jill knew Tang Group was in a dangerous position right now. She felt powerless, because she didn't know much about how the
business worked. The only thing in her power was to go and talk to Alice, given the relationship they had shared before.
"No, Mom. You shouldn't. Arthur is determined to make us suffer, so there's no use talking to his mother. It will only give them
more reasons to laugh at us."
Lionel had decided not to admit defeat to Arthur. His pride wouldn't let him. Ever since they were both little, he'd been better than
Arthur in every way imaginable. However, things had changed now. Truth was, the Tang Group wasn't capable of competing with
the Dawn Star Group. But it was very hard for Lionel to accept it.
"But, Lionel, don't you see your father's condition? It just makes me so sad to see him lying there like this...so lifeless..."
Jill couldn't even finish her sentence. She was at the verge of crying again. Horace's health worried her every second. His
condition had worsened. Rufus's hatred towards him was like a sharp knife piercing through his heart. She was afraid Horace
wouldn't make it if things went badly for Tang Group.
"Mom, please don't worry. Trust me. I will think of another way,"
Lionel tried to comfort Jill, as his face was frowned.
"Or...maybe we can go talk to Rufus again?"
Jill suggested hesitantly. After all these days of suffering, she had completely lost her fighting spirit. It felt like she would lose her
mind if she continued seeing Horace lying on the bed every day.
Jill couldn't even imagine what she would do if something happened to him. She had to find a way to save the company so she
could save her husband, her son, and herself.
"Why do you want to talk to Rufus?"

Lionel asked tilting his head, taken aback. He never thought Jill would suggest this. She hated Rufus so much! It was
unbelievable that she would change her mind.
Jill sighed deeply and answered, "Lionel...You know I hate that bastard, Rufus. He can never compare to you. But look at the
situation objectively. The group is in such a critical position right now. You cannot save it on your own. I cannot think of any other
way. I'd go ask him even though I really don't want to."
She was ashamed to have stooped down to such an extent.
Never in a million years would she succumb to this choice if the company wasn't in this state. She had absolutely no one else to
turn to. Rufus was, after all, Horace's son. Apart from that, he was the only one who had the capability to change the situation
and save the company.
"Don't rush to such decisions, Mom. Please give me some time to find another way. Rufus isn't like other people. If we go to him
and he refuses to see us, and ends up insulting us like before, we will lose our only chance!"
Lionel said, pacing up and down the room, trying to think of an alternative solution. Rufus had never been on good terms with
him. Every time they saw each other, the air around them became thick. He worried if they went straight to Rufus now, both of
them would lose their facades.
"Then what are you planning to do?"
Jill asked, thinking of the relationship they had shared with Rufus all these years. She knew how much Rufus hated them. What
could they do to take his help regardless of that hatred? This was the most important question at hand.
"I will think of a way,"
Lionel said vaguely. All of a sudden, Cassandra's face flashed through his head.
Jill stared at Lionel with doubtful eyes, as if she suspected something.
"Lionel, are you considering asking Cassandra for help? Have you been in contact with her?"
A trace of anger appeared on Jill's face. The very thought of Cassandra, who was her former daughter-in-law, made her feel
uncomfortable. She really despised that woman.

"Mom...Cassandra is the only one who can persuade Rufus. I mean...Amanda is engaged to him but he doesn't care about her
at all. In my opinion, there's actually no love between the two. Even if there is, it's one-sided,"
Lionel explained. He had been keeping his eye on them constantly. His people had told him that Cassandra indeed lived right
next door to Rufus. Surprisingly, Amanda didn't live there with him! In fact, they hadn't even seen each other for days.
He could bet Amanda had no power over Rufus's heart at all. But Cassandra was different. Even though they had already broken
up, Rufus clearly still had feelings for her. She was the only one Rufus's heart was reserved for.
Lionel wasn't willing to accept this, despite the proofs. But he couldn't change the facts. Cassandra too held strong feelings for
Rufus. That was why she had refused Lionel so many times, which really frustrated him.
But the matter now was about his family business. Dawn Star Group wasn't willing to let them go. Besides, other people on the
board of directors also wanted to snatch the power now that Horace was ill. If Tang Group didn't survive this external and internal
attack, they would lose everything.
"What has Cassandra done to you? Why are you and Rufus both so obsessed with her? It's simply beyond me!"
Jill almost screamed, full of disdain. Like most people in G City, she too thought Cassandra was a woman with loose morals. She
had hooked up with Rufus while she was still married to Lionel. Now Rufus was with Amanda, and she still wouldn't let go of him.
"Mom, you don't have to meet her. I will talk to her myself and ask her to persuade Rufus. After that, we'll go to him directly and
apologise for whatever happened before and try to make him come back to help save the Tang Group,"
Lionel said, kneading Jill's shoulders. He sounded confident and determined. This was the only remaining way. He just hoped Jill
would support him and stop worrying about it.