A Graduation Gift

Lionel looked at Cassandra with mixed feelings reflected on his eyes. Then, he said, "I have an idea of what had happened
between you and Rufus, Cassandra. What I don't understand is why is he engaged to Amanda now but not with you? I am a
man. A man should do everything he can to win the heart of the woman he loves if what he feels for her is real. I really believe
that because that was exactly what I did for you before..."
His confusion led him to keep talking and talking, looking back at the time when he fell in love with the woman in front of him
now.
He always found Cassandra attractive. He even broke up with Ivy just to be with her.
It just hurt him because whenever he drew near, she pulled herself away.
Seeing where the conversation was going, Cassandra raised a hand to stop Lionel from continuing.
"If you really want me to help you, then don't ever say those words again,"
Cassandra said sternly. She did not want to hear anything about her relationship with Rufus anymore, from anyone.
It was complicated. No one would be able to understand. As for their future, she did not even want to think about it anymore. She
was no longer as naive as she was in the past.
"I'm not trying to make him look bad, or get between you two. After what happened between all of us, you can be sure I know my
place. I know I can't win your heart. But would it be too much for me to ask the woman I love to be happy, even without me?"
Lionel replied helplessly. He truly cared about Cassandra. Seeing her looking thinner and paler than whenever he last saw her
pained him.
"Please stop. Why did you break up with Ivy? You don't have to do that for me. I can't be in a relationship with someone who is
unfaithful, and that was exactly what you were,"
she shot back. In her heart, she was sad talking about what happened between her and Lionel. He seemed very different now.
He was too laid-back and impulsive. He would fall in love with someone just as easily as he would break up with them.
It took years before Cassandra learned to accept reality.

She liked to imagine herself as a Chinese parasol tree that would match up to Rufus. But she gradually came to realize that no
matter how hard she tried, the distance between her and Rufus was just too great.
This distance existed when they knew each other at the very beginning.
He had his own life formed by his past. She was an unexpected detour. It was all serendipity.
That fantasy lasted until today. Cassandra knew that they had each other in their hearts. When she thought about the future,
though, she could not see anything. She had no idea what their future would be like.
She was willing to live a simple life with him, but Rufus was born to be a great man with an eventful life. He will never be happy
with a plain life.
Everywhere he went, there were rumors about him. Controversy and trouble followed him. Still, Cassandra was willing to go
through them with him.
Lionel, on the other hand, grew speechless when she brought up Ivy. He wanted to live a peaceful life with Ivy, but his feelings of
Cassandra was just too strong for him to let go of.
"You know what, fine. I'll talk to Rufus about you. Wait for my message," Cassandra said.
Then, she took a look at Lionel and turned to leave. Lionel sat frozen as he thought about all the times he had spent with
Cassandra.
If he apologized to Rufus, that would mean he yielded to him. Would this make him lose his chances with Cassandra?
Cassandra was a proud woman. She would never settle for a loser.
A bitter smile appeared on Lionel's lips. He knew that this was the only possible way. Right now, all he could do was to wish that
Cassandra's conversation with Rufus would go well.
In a secret dark chamber
Arthur looked at Clark and smiled.
"Mr. Ji, I did everything as you asked me to do. Now, the Tang Group is facing great problems with regard to their money chain.
Their bank loan is about to mature, and if I am correct, the Tang Group is at the verge of bankruptcy!"

Arthur laughed coldly. His white teeth reflected the little light that entered the room. They glimmered in the dark.
He had hated the Tang family for so many years. Seeing them at the brink of collapse thrilled him.
"Good job,"
Clark replied with a satisfied smile. Arthur was a good helper.
Clark wanted to know how Rufus really felt about the Tang Group through this predicament. As it turned out, Rufus did nothing to
help salvaging the company. This made Clark conclude that he really disliked Horace and the Tang family. Because of this, he
was not about to come to their aid at any point.
This also told him that if he went after Rufus, the Tang family would not try to protect him as well.
'Wait for me, Rufus! I'll destroy everything around you. I will make you suffer, little by little!' cursed Clark in his heart.
"Do you need me to put the Tang family in an even worse situation?"
Arthur asked. He wanted to get a bigger job.
"Oh? Try me,"
Clark asked, raising his eyebrows with interest.
"How would you like it if I make the Tang family lose its reputation even before the bankruptcy?"
A malicious expression formed on Arthur's face. He really seemed to hate the Tang family.
All these years, Lionel had always been better than him. The Dawn Star Group was always an underdog compared to the Tang
Group. Now, he had the chance to take his revenge and destroy them. Why would he settle with just removing their wealth? Why
not take their reputation too to make sure that they would never be able to rise to power again?
Arthur's suggestion took him by surprise but Clark was able to hide it well. This man was heartless. He seemed to have chosen
the right person.
A man with this much hatred was powerful enough to destroy everything!
"What are you planning?"

Clark asked as he looked at Arthur with a cold smile.
"There is a guy in my company who knew Rufus's birth mother. According to Horace, Rufus was abroad during his childhood
because he had a health condition. My source, however, found out that Horace actually abandoned them! Then again, everyone
knew that Horace was lying when he said the story about Rufus's health, but no one exposed him,"
Arthur said and smiled viciously. He was like a serpent waiting for its prey to come.
"What if I expose Horace as the unfaithful man? Then people will hate him! No one will ever help him get back to his feet after he
falls down. The Tang Group will go down along with Horace's reputation. Isn't that a better idea than before?"
Arthur laughed loudly, unable to contain his excitement. The thought of the Tang Group's fall made him feel elated.
"Well, it's up to you. But I need you to do one more thing,"
Clark said. Instead of rejecting his proposal, he opted to bargain for more.
"Sure, please. Anything for you, Mr. Ji," Arthur replied.
All the investments Arthur had were from Clark. He would do whatever Clark asked him to do.
"Did you date Cassandra's sister before?"
Clark asked meaningfully. This was one of Arthur's secrets; he was a bit taken aback by Clark's question.
"How do you know that? To answer your question, yes, I did. But she's a stupid woman. I broke up with her because she was too
boring," he admitted.
The question took Arthur off guard. He took advantage of Cloris to deal with Cassandra. After he succeeded, he dumped her
because she was no longer useful.
Clark didn't comment after Arthur replied. He merely smiled.
This man was not an honest man even in front of him. Did he really believe that he could fool everyone? Boring? That was
nothing but an excuse.
Clark then continued, "I want you to contact her again and continue dating her."

This was more an order than a suggestion. There was firmness in his voice. He wanted this done.
"But... But why?"
Arthur asked, puzzled. He was curious why Clark would want to meddle in his personal life.
"Don't ask too many questions. Just do it. In short, I want you to make her love you so unconditionally that she would do
whatever you ask her to do. I need her to become a pawn in my game!"
Clark's face darkened as he revealed his plan. He must control Cassandra's family!
She cared about Edith, her mother, very much. So, Clark deduced that her family was something that was very important to her.
Having Arthur who was her sister's past flame was a great opportunity for him. He was not about to let her go easily. It was
always how he destroyed his enemies: he would use every bit of information he had on them and use it against them.
At first, Arthur was surprised. Soon, he understood Clark's plan and agreed.
"Yes, I got it! Don't worry. She is a stupid girl and I have a lot of tricks up my sleeve. It'll be easy to make her fall in love with me,"
he said.
Arthur was always confident with himself. He had never worked on Cassandra before, but he had a good experience with Cloris
who was so easy to lure in.
"Don't be too hasty. Play carefully and make her trust you,"
Clark advised with gritted teeth.
He tried to win Cassandra's trust, but no matter what he did, he never succeeded.
She was such a strong and independent woman. She was very intuitive and was someone he never could predict and control.
Rufus was already aware that Clark was his neighbor, but this did not concern Clark.
Edith was living in his villa and he had that house designed craftily. If Rufus tried to break in, the alarm system would be
activated and he would definitely die!
'You want to play tricks on me, Cassandra? You'll be sorry, you dumb bitch, ' he cursed.