A Graduation Gift

For the first time in their long storied life together, Jill saw Horace pleading like his life depended on it. She, who had been
arrogant and unreasonable all her life suddenly started to break down.
She turned her head away as she felt the tears streaming down her face. She promptly wiped them with her hand. It was
devastating to see her husband begging someone like Cassandra.
"Cassandra, I know that what I'm going to say is shameful, and I know it's probably too late, but I need to get this off my chest. I
would like to apologize for everything. We have wronged you. It was only after quite some time that I realized that Ivy's
miscarriage had nothing to do with you! I am sincerely sorry for blaming it all on you and even went as far as to drive you out of
the Tang family. I was blinded by my anger and misjudged everything about you. I should never have accused you without even
getting to the bottom of things. I just want to apologize even when we're way past that point," Jill said as she turned away.
As much as she wanted to wipe the additional tears that streamed down her face, she couldn't bring herself to do it and just let
the tears flow.
Her voice was tinged with sorrow. This obviously had been weighing on her for quite some time now.
Eyes widened in disbelief, Cassandra stared at Jill. Did she hear her right? This woman was like a queen and certainly was
arrogant like one. She had always treated her like a lowly servant and had never spoken to her in such a soft voice, but she just
apologized to her!
"Cassandra, it's all my fault! It's all my fault! Please help us. I'm begging you! If the Tang Group goes under, we might just as well
die!" Jill exclaimed, arms flailing about.
No sooner had she finished her outburst than she started to wail uncontrollably.
"Mrs. Tang, please don't do this. I would definitely help you if I could. And I've been looking for a way. But... But Rufus won't
listen to me. I tried to ask him to help you several times before, but he refused me outright."
Cassandra felt helpless. Despite her will to help them, she just couldn't do it. The gap between Rufus and Tang family was just
too wide. Horace was the sole reason why his mother had to suffer, unable to move as she was in a vegetative state. She had
been stuck on a hospital bed, unmoving for almost a decade before she passed away. In Rufus's point of view, if Horace hadn't
kicked his mother out, she would never have had to go through so much hardship that could cost her life in the end. For so many
years, his hatred festered and grew. How could Cassandra even attempt to dissuade him from taking his revenge?

"I fully understand that we can't depend on Rufus right now. Remember when you were still working for the Tang Group and you
competed against Arthur several times, but won almost every encounter? Can you please come back and help us with the bid
this time around? Please Cassandra, you're our only hope! I hope you'll find forgiveness in your heart for what we did to you. If
you help us get through this tough time, I'm willing to do anything for you!" Jill begged again, holding Cassandra by the
shoulders.
She kept wailing, and suddenly sunk to the floor on her knees.
Cassandra was shocked and processed what just happened for a few moments. She then hurriedly pulled Jill up to her feet.
Horace was surprised with what his wife had done, as well. His wife had always been a proud woman, too proud at times. But
now, she had thrown away her pride and humbled herself by kneeling in front of Cassandra to show her outmost sincerity. This
was a gigantic sacrifice for her, and she did it all for him. Horace didn't know whether he should feel touched, or guilty.
"Cassandra, I'm on a wheelchair now, and I cannot stand without the assistance of others. But I assure you, if I could, I would
kneel down as well!"
To save what he had built up his whole life, Horace had no choice but to humble himself before Cassandra. His tired eyes began
to well up.
"Mr. and Mrs. Tang, please stop. I already promised I'd help!"
Cassandra had to agree to their request. She really had no choice. If anyone ever saw the old couple kneeling before her, it
would introduce a whole lot of trouble.
"But I can't attend the bidding. I've looked through the proposal already, and it was fine. As for the draft, I can help revise and
modify it. There are some aspects to it that can use a little touch-up."
Cassandra was fully aware that she was no longer an employee of the Tang Group. It would be extremely inappropriate for her to
attend an official bidding event.
To add to things, Arthur and Cloris were in a relationship. If she blatantly helped the Tang Group, Cloris would definitely hate her
even more.
"That'll do. I am overjoyed that you're willing to help. Thank you, Cassandra. We've brought the bid proposal and draft. If there is
anything that you want to change, feel free to do so! The bidding event will take place a few days from now. This is our last
chance!"

Horace gestured to Jill, who handed a USB drive to Cassandra. She took it, and grabbed it tight, a firm expression on her face.
"Rest assure. I will do my very best!"
Cassandra was confident with her ability to help the Tang Group. If not for Lionel's incapability, why would the Tang Group end
up in such a dangerous situation?
More times than she could count, she had faced off with Arthur. There was no one more familiar with the tricks Arthur was
capable of than Cassandra. After she had made her improvement on the Tang Group's proposal, the Tang Group would win
without a doubt!
The confidence on Cassandra's face did much to relax both Horace and Jill, who felt relief wash over them.
"Mr. and Mrs. Tang, you can go home now. After I make some changes, I'll bring the USB drive to you!"
Cassandra was worried that Horace's condition would worsen, so she pushed the wheelchair out.
Having reached their ultimate goal—Cassandra had accepted their call for help—both of them rested easy.
The driver helped Horace get into the car, and the wheelchair was then folded and put into the trunk. After Jill climbed into the
front seat, the driver then started the car.
Cassandra bid them farewell. After they became a tiny dot in the distance, she looked at the tiny USB drive that rested on the
palm of her hand.
Its silver sheen gave her a deep conviction.
Taking a deep breath, she decided that she would give it her all. The task at hand could save the Tang Group from the brink of
collapse.
She then returned to the mansion. Little did she know, that a hidden observer saw everything that transpired.
Clark zoomed in the screen in front of him, his eyes then lit up when he found what he was looking for—the USB drive in
Cassandra's hand. His eyes narrowed as a sinister glow surrounded them. He then suddenly punched the desk.
He had tasked Ivy into stealing the electronic copy of the Tang Group's bid proposal. But it seemed that now they were seeking
help from Cassandra, which meant the version Ivy stole would be as good as useless.

He had already asked Arthur to finish his proposal, where all the weak spots of the Tang Group's proposal were addressed. It
seemed that all his efforts were in vain.
Mightily frustrated, Clark stood up and kicked the desk several times to vent out.
Amidst the heavy thuds, the phone rang. He answered and found that it was Charlie, who was calling to follow up on the
wedding preparation progress.
"Clark, how is the wedding preparation? Have you arranged everything?"
Charlie's voice was full of life, and was a bit hasty.
It was, after all, the marriage of his one and only daughter. His concern was justified.
Putting aside his troubles, Clark mustered some patience and softly assured Charlie, "Mr. Ke, please don't worry. I'll arrange
everything nicely. The preparation in G City is all done! Please help with the formation at the Dark Night Group headquarters!"
Clark sounded joyful, but his face told an entirely different story.
"Okay! Okay! Now that Amanda is with child, she needs someone to take care of her. If you have time to spare, do accompany
her more often. Okay?"
Charlie firmly reminded Clark, afraid of his daughter's possible maltreatment.
"Of course, Mr. Ke. That goes without saying. I will come home to Amanda every day. I have already taken up her piano school
construction project, so she can be worry-free!"
Clark feigned politeness, but in his heart, he jeered, 'You old fool! When I'm finished milking you, I won't be so humble then! Do
you really think that your daughter is precious and innocent? Pregnant, my ass! That's hilarious!'
"Perfect! The wedding is fast approaching. Just please take care of her. Make sure she gets some rest, and don't let the baby get
hurt. I have already found her the best doctor. When she comes back, she can give birth with the best medical assistance!"
The mere thought of holding his grandchild filled the old man's weary heart with exhilaration.
However, a sinister smile formed on Clark's face. 'Wow, Amanda! You're doing such an amazing job of faking your pregnancy!
You've successfully fooled your idiot of a father!' he shouted deep in his heart.

Meanwhile, Amanda, who was staying at home, felt shivers creep down her spine. In no time, cold beads of sweat formed on her
back.
It was a harrowing experience. These days, she always suspected that her body had some sort of problem.
Despite this, she just ignored it and absent-mindedly resumed practicing the piano.
Her fingers were dancing gracefully on the keys as she practiced a particularly complicated piece.
According to the wedding plan, she was going to play this piece for the guests at the party. Her 'injured' hands, were swiftly
jumping from one key to another in perfect tempo. No trace of injury could be found at all. Furthermore, she had become even
more of an expert in playing the instrument.
Since she couldn't keep Rufus by her side by resorting to pretending that she was injured, pitiful and fragile, she then decided to
turn things around—by shining and standing out.
On the wedding day, she would put up her best performance. She would turn the wedding into a dream. By doing so, she would
maintain her own pride!
Her pride wouldn't allow herself to be under Rufus anymore. She decided to rise above him, going as far as to humiliate Rufus
for what he had done to her!
'Rufus, it's your loss for not choosing me. You're blind and foolish for choosing such an ordinary woman!
I want you to know, that I am the best woman in the world!' she exclaimed inwardly as she played her heart out.
The desire to humiliate Rufus fueled her fingers to play faster and faster. All the notes were in sync with her turbulent emotions.
At that moment, music had lost its meaning. All that was left was hatred...