A Graduation Gift

From what he had seen, it seemed that Cloris did not really think too highly of her sister. With a mere smile, her fuse blew. He
thought of the worried look in her eyes as she told him not to get close to her sister. It was an interesting development.
'If you knew that the family you try so hard to protect and provide think of you as nothing more than an eyesore, how would that
be, Cassandra?' Arthur thought to himself as he continued organizing Cloris's things.
'And you silly Cloris. You think Cassandra, whom you have always been jealous of, is trying to take away the happiness you
think you have when all she has done is put you before herself.' A cruel smile played on Arthur's lips as he contemplated the
situation. 'This should be interesting.'
The Qin family villa was a grand and beautiful sight to behold. No one would have ever guessed that inside the high, polished
walls was a storm brewing, with no less than the two sisters at its center.
Meanwhile, in a high-class restaurant, Clark and Ivy were sitting at a table across from each other. They snuck quick glances at
each other, trying to guess what was on the other person's mind.
Between them, a candle was giving off a warm and intimate light. Light and shadow danced across their faces. Somewhere in
the restaurant, a man was playing soft music on the piano, its melody caressing the ears of its listeners and lulling them.
Anyone would have taken Clark and Ivy for lovers, like the other ones inside the restaurant. But that could not have been more
far from the truth. There was no romance in the space that surrounded them, only schemes and plots that sought to take
advantage of what the other person had to offer. It was not courtship; it was a game, and a very dangerous one.
"I heard that you were with Lionel from the Tang Group before?" Clark started his attack. "I don't mean to pry, but I'm just
curious,"
he said slowly, an unreadable smile on his face.
His question had the desired effect. Ivy was caught off guard and visibly tensed. The first thought that came to her was Amanda.
It must have been her who told Clark!
That woman was nothing but a hypocrite. Despite claiming that the one she loved was Rufus to everyone, she was still fishing for
other men! There was no other explanation behind why she would have told this to Clark.

Gathering herself, Ivy quickly controlled her expression and relaxed her shoulders consciously. She had to somehow deflect his
question.
"Yeah, but that's a thing of the past now. Lionel was unfaithful. He cheated on me so we broke up,"
she said calmly. Her history with Lionel was nothing new. Clark would have known about it sooner or later. Her best course of
action for now was to tell the truth.
"Well, if it is in the past, then I think that you don't need to be in contact with him anymore,"
Clark said meaningfully. He picked up his glass of wine and swayed it around. The red liquid shook in the glass like a beautiful
tempest of blood.
He already knew why Rufus broke up with Amanda. It was all thanks to this sly woman in front of him.
Ivy had no idea what Clark meant with his words. Her chest tightened and she felt a cold tingle in her spine as she tried to
decipher his intentions. What did he mean by those words?
"I cut off my ties with him a long time ago," she said simply.
She secretly hoped that she was just imagining things or thinking too much.
"That's good to hear."
The corners of Clark's lips curled into a smile, but his eyes remained unreadable.
This woman had been with Lionel for so many years. Surely there were plenty of things she knew about the Tang Group even
though she had broken up with Lionel now. She would be useful, at least for a time.
With this in mind, Clark suddenly leaned towards Ivy and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. Locking his eyes with Ivy,
he whispered in a low voice, "I want a woman whose loyalty only belongs to me."
His eyes glinted in the candlelight and there was an irresistible smile on his lips. It was like he was offering her a tempting
invitation.
Ivy's eyes immediately lit up seeing his actions. She looked back at Clark with anticipation.
Was he saying that she would become his woman?

Clark was a man whose properties multiplied as fast as he blinked. To say that he was rich was an understatement. If he wanted,
he could build a city all on his own. He was a good opportunity. Suddenly, Ivy lost herself to the thought of the things she could
buy with his money.
As they said, money made the world go round.
As long as she could get herself a rich man, she didn't care who she had to sleep with.
Ivy's lips tilted into a smile. She lowered her head slightly, taking in the sight of the handsome man in front of her, her eyes
mirroring his seduction.
Clark almost let out a laugh at Ivy's attempt to seduce him. This woman really thought she was playing him, but just for now. He
just smiled and took a sip of his wine. He couldn't blame her. All women fell for his charms and his money.
All but one. Clark's eyes suddenly grew cold as the thought of Cassandra flashed through his mind.
Why didn't Cassandra fall for his act? Clark just couldn't understand it. He did everything he could, and he played the part so well
that even her mother was on his side. But Cassandra, she was just that stubborn. There was nothing but Rufus in her mind.
He couldn't stand this! His fingers gripped his glass as he thought of how he was going to destroy her.
After dinner, the two of them decided to go home. Before they separated, Clark bent his head and spoke low into Ivy's ear.
"Don't work for Amanda anymore. Come work for me ."
It was a tempting offer. Ivy couldn't help but start to consider. Clark was definitely interested in her, and he was wealthy too.
There was no reason to refuse him.
"Mr. Ji..."
she said coyly.
"Don't worry, I will talk to Amanda. I will definitely treat you well if you choose me,"
Clark reassured her. Ivy ate up his honeyed words. The scent of his cologne was intoxicating at this proximity.
Then, without any warning, Clark turned around and left. Ivy stared at his back and watched him walk away for a very long time.

This man was dangerous. But he was also attractive and rich. That was what mattered the most.
She had nothing to lose after all, so she'd rather work for Clark and be as close to him as possible.
Ivy watched his figure grow smaller and smaller as she thought of her next plans.
Clark drove away with a smirk on his face.
He would use whatever and whoever could be useful to him, and he would do it without mercy.