A Graduation Gift

Cassandra sighed, watching her sister look all cute and sweet as she looked at Arthur with full admiration.
She would wish them happiness...if only she were convinced that they really loved each other. A part of her was suspicious that
Arthur reappeared at such a critical time. She could not help but feel that there was something off.
Cloris immediately ran towards Edith when they arrived the Garden Villa.
"Mother, I missed you so much!"
Cloris said excitedly as she wrapped her mother in her arms.
Cassandra and Arthur followed, carrying Cloris's suitcase. Edith took in the sight of her younger daughter. She could not believe
she was actually home! The sight filled Cassandra with happiness.
If only her father were present, then it would really be a family reunion.
"Mother, this is Arthur, my boyfriend."
Seeing Arthur come in, Cloris went to take his hand and led him to Edith.
Edith looked at him, surprised. She surveyed him from head to toe as Arthur greeted her with a graceful bow.
"Very pleased to meet you, Mrs. Qin. This is a gift for you,"
he said as he took out a gift box that he seemed to have prepared for Edith.
He looked like a very sophisticated man. This pleased Edith, but a part of her was still stuck on the surprise that Cloris had a
boyfriend.
"Mother, the food is getting cold. Cloris must be hungry,"
Cassandra announced to remind Edith of the meals she had prepared. Understandably, she was too excited to see her daughter
again. Edith nodded and acknowledged Cassandra's reminder.
"Oh yes, you're right! We should eat! I've prepared Cloris's favorite food!"
Edith had not completely recovered yet, but she managed to prepare a really delicious meal. Its appetizing aroma filled the
dining room as they all sat around the dining table. This felt like home.

Cloris kissed Edith on her cheeks happily and sat down on her seat, ready to enjoy the meal.
Edith filled Cloris's dish from time to time. She could not seem to wipe the smile off her face. Cloris was her favorite daughter.
She had almost forgotten what it was like to have her around ever since she went to study abroad.
Now, she was back with a boyfriend. Edith could not be happier.
"Cassandra, your younger sister has a boyfriend now. You need to hurry up and find yourself one, too! I'm starting to worry about
you!"
Edith said. She always grasped every opportunity to remind Cassandra to find a partner. As usual, Cassandra rolled her eyes
with amusement.
Cassandra left as soon as she finished eating. Lyndsy was going to be discharged today and she wanted to help her out.
After she left, Cloris inquired, "Isn't she dating Rufus? Aren't they going to get married yet?"
Cloris didn't care much about her elder sister so she basically knew nothing about what had happened to Cassandra while she
was gone.
"Huh? Rufus is already engaged to another woman but she still refuses to see other men. I really don't know what her plan is,"
Edith said with disappointment
"What? Why? Rufus loves her, doesn't he?"
Cloris was shocked. Before Cassandra's divorce, they'd fallen in love. But why was Rufus engaged to another woman now that
she was already divorced?
"Loves her? Pfft. He almost destroyed her. He brought her nothing but trouble! I'm guessing that's why she's so blind to other
men now. There's actually a guy who's pursuing her but she keeps rejecting him! He even owns this house. His name is Clark! I
have no idea why Cassandra doesn't like him. He's really nice to her. Oh, may God help her!"
Edith deplored Cassandra's stupidity. She rarely had anyone to talk to. Now, here was Cloris. It felt refreshing to finally have
someone she could rant to.
Arthur, who sat silently beside Cloris, suddenly spoke, "Mr. Ji is pursuing Cassandra? Oh my God. He's a really great guy!"

Arthur threw in high praises for Clark.
"You know him?"
Cloris turned her head and looked at Arthur. She seemed surprised that they were connected.
"He's a famous investor. Do you know that he just purchased a five-star hotel in G City? I did hear that he was single, but I didn't
know he was pursuing your sister,"
Arthur said, shrugging his shoulders. Edith, on the other hand, grew angrier.
"Cassandra is just too stupid and stubborn! I told her so many times. She is a divorced woman! She should be thankful that a
man like Clark is chasing after her! He is perfect but she just turns a deaf ear to my words. What else does she want? I'm so
disappointed with her. She probably still has feelings for Rufus!"
Edith vented. She was so frustrated that she wanted to hit the table.
Hearing more great things about Clark from another person aggravated her sentiments. Clark was such a catch! A part of her
almost wished she could just drug her daughter and have her marry Clark in the Civil Affairs Department.
Cloris shrugged. In reality, she didn't care about Cassandra or who she was going to end up with. Right now, all she cared about
was Arthur. She wanted nothing but to keep him and she could not care less about everything else that was happening.
What Edith and Cloris did not notice, however, was Arthur's vicious and sinister expression.
Lyndsy had just checked out when Cassandra arrived at the hospital.
"Let me. I'll drive you home,"
Cassandra offered. She was relieved to see her friend looking better than before.
At the gate, they found a few passers-by looking at them suspiciously.
"Probably some entertainment reporters,"
Cassandra said as she looked at them, staying alert for any sudden movement.
"It's okay. I'll hide my face,"

Lyndsy replied. She was already so used to being chased by the media, it did not scare her anymore. The accident was surely a
huge scoop that every reporter would want to get their hands on. It was only natural for them to sneak and spy.
"They must be waiting for you now because you didn't show up at the press conference. Aren't you scared?"
Cassandra asked, surprised by her calm reaction. A part of her assumed that with her current state, Lyndsy would hate being
tailed by photographers and reporters.
"It will happen eventually, anyway. I can't hide from them forever,"
Lyndsy replied, smiling bitterly. It looked like she had already reconciled with what happened. Besides, her look might have
changed but she was still the same person inside.
Soon after they walked out of the building, people started to recognize who she was and started to approach them.
Cassandra stepped forward to block Lyndsy from their view. That, however, did not work. Cameras flickered as pictures were
taken here and there.
"Let them be. Let's walk,"
Lyndsy instructed calmly. She already had her hat and mask. Only her eyes were visible. She walked forward in a straight line,
totally ignoring the cameras and questions.
How strange! In the past, she hated being photographed. Now that she was about to lose everything, it looked like she didn't
even mind them at all.
Lyndsy walked quickly and Cassandra followed closely. Looking at the back of her friend, Cassandra felt she had grown much
stronger. Lyndsy inspired her.
Lyndsy's parents helped sort her suitcase when they got home while Lyndsy studied her script.
"Why don't you get some rest? Rufus said that you can shoot your scenes after everyone else finishes theirs,"
Cassandra suggested. She did not want Lyndsy to stretch herself too much especially since she just got out of the hospital.
'We're already behind schedule. I don't want to cause too much delay. We need to start shooting again as soon as possible,"

Lyndsy replied as she returned to her study, writing notes as she memorized her lines.
Cassandra watched her friend wordlessly. It felt like she was a different woman.
"So I was thinking...Since Rufus mentioned that you could go abroad for the plastic surgery with stem cell treatment to heal your
scars, I could start introducing our staff to TY Entertainment while you're gone. That way, by the time you're back, we have
contacts and connections. If the staff still wants to work with us then we can take them in! What do you think?"
Cassandra found it tricky to deal with the staff. She had thought about the best way to handle them for a long time before she
finally came up with this plan.
Lyndsy put down the script, raised her head slightly, and sighed. Then, she turned around and gave Cassandra a serious look.
"I...probably won't need them anymore. Find them positions in other companies. I'd be okay with that,"
she replied sadly. Her career was uncertain now because of her accident. She was not sure if she would still be able to come
back to the industry.
The film they were shooting now was already halfway through. The reason that Rufus decided to keep her was probably to avoid
wasting the work they had already done, and so that they could keep the same cast. As for her future, though, that was different.
It was highly unlikely that she would totally recover and get more jobs.
Lyndsy let out a helpless smile.
"Trust me, you're going to be all right,"
Cassandra said as she put her hands on Lyndsy's shoulders. She stroked her gently to comfort and encourage her.
"What about you? What's your plan?"
Lyndsy cared most about Cassandra compared to all her staff, especially because she was the one who asked her to work for
her.
"I'll be glad to work with you again when you decide to come back, if you like,"
she smiled and replied sincerely.