A Graduation Gift

Lionel took his phone out of his trousers' pocket. Ivy's name flashed on the screen, somewhat dampening his spirits.
His eyes darkened and the expression on his face grew hesitant as he debated whether or not to answer the call.
Ordinarily, Lionel would have answered it without hesitation. But right now, Ivy's call had obtruded on his plan. It made him
impatient.
The phone kept ringing. Lionel glanced at Cassandra, who was looking at him uneasily and shivering. He thought he could give
Ivy a short greeting and then get back to business, so he quickly pressed the answer key.
He heard Ivy's panicked whimper as soon as he put the phone to his ear. She spoke to him in between tears, "Lionel, can you
come right now? I... I'm scared."
Lionel's heart jolted. Ivy was an elegant and demure woman. The only time she had pushed the panic button was when
Cassandra had become his legal wife. That news cut her to the quick at that time.
Since then, however, Ivy had stood strong like a rose with thorns. Lovely, but dangerous. She had never given him a sign of
vulnerability and he had never seen her cry again. What happened today? What had upset her?
"What happened, Ivy?"
Lionel asked patiently despite his agitation. Her next words immediately doused him in cold water.
"I... I'm pregnant!" she cried out.
Lionel froze, panic shooting through his veins. He could hardly believe his ears. Pregnant? They used condoms every single
time. How could she get pregnant?
"That's impossible. You must have made a mistake!"
Lionel's eyes widened a fraction as he tried to convince himself that she was joking. He had been pressured into marrying
Cassandra under his father's arrangement. He had been forced to make a considerable sacrifice in the form of his marriage, for
the sake of Tang Group and in the hopes that he would take over the company one day.
So he reluctantly accepted Cassandra as his legal wife just to win his father's favor.
However, after Rufus appeared, he lost his position in the group. And at the last celebration party, Rufus publicly disgraced him.

Now Ivy was pregnant. Misfortune seemed to follow him everywhere. If Ivy was right, the baby had undeniably come at the worst
possible time.
They used protections and he had been very cautious the whole time. There was just no way that Ivy could get pregnant!
Lionel was pulled out of his musings as her cries filled his ear and her breathing got uneven.
"What should I do, Lionel? I... I'm really pregnant. It's confirmed. Would you come to me? I'm so scared and lonely."
Lionel had talked to her about the matter before. She agreed to his decision not to have babies for the time being after analyzing
all the pros and cons. Now that she suddenly found herself pregnant, she was terrified.
"Lionel, are you coming over? I really need you..."
Lionel was so upset right now that he wanted to throw the phone across the room, but her weak and helpless pleas drew him
back to reason.
It was most crucial to tackle this problem.
Ivy had been his lover for many years, and the baby was a product of their love. He must not commit any mistakes with regards
to this situation though. Otherwise, he risked getting caught.
Horace and Jill were still in the living room. If he tried to go outside now, they would inevitably catch him. It would get even more
troublesome if he couldn't explain why he was leaving the mansion.
Horace was already unhappy with the sex video that was played at the celebration party. If he got to know that Ivy was pregnant,
he would fly into a rage and Rufus would have more reasons to gloat.
It put Lionel's teeth on edge to think about Rufus, but Ivy was still sobbing on the phone asking for him. He couldn't ditch her and
force her to face this alone.
When he got married to Cassandra, Ivy had been heartbroken. He had sacrificed Ivy's happiness to get in his father's good
books.
She had been so depressed that she walked down the streets absent-mindedly and found herself right in front of a speeding car.
She had suffered from the accident because of him. The guilt had always weighed on him. This time, if she got hurt because of
the pregnancy, he would never forgive himself.

Lionel turned to look at Cassandra. She had turned pale and her lips were colorless. Her slim body was leaning against the wall
and she was looking at him with guarded eyes.
Suddenly, an idea presented itself to Lionel.
"Just wait for me. I'll be right there."
He hung up the phone and turned to the woman he had cornered. Cassandra had been quiet while he was on the phone, but
now she seemed to want to huddle further into the corner. The blood had all but drained from her face.
"What's the matter with you?"
Lionel was still anxious about Ivy's pregnancy, but he noticed that Cassandra didn't look well either. He reached up and touched
Cassandra's forehead with the back of his hand.
She was burning up.
Cassandra had a fever. Lionel's gaze sharpened, the wheels churning in his head. He knew what to do next.
"Hon, you're sick. Come on. I'm taking you to the hospital."
He snatched her hand and dragged her downstairs before she could refuse him.
Horace and Jill were talking to Cloris in the living room.
Cloris stuck out her tongue in embarrassment. She didn't expect Cassandra and Lionel to come downstairs again. To give them
some space, she had lied that she was sleepy, but she still hadn't gone to bed.
"Cassandra, I thought you were resting. What happened?"
Horace looked up at the pair, puzzled, "Lionel, what's wrong? What's the matter?"
Worry was etched on Lionel's face. The others looked at him, bewildered.
"Cassandra is having a fever. I am taking her to the hospital for emergency treatment."
Horace knitted his brows. He remembered that Cassandra looked off color and didn't speak much at dinner.
Sweat was beginning to form on her pale face. The poor girl was clearly ill.

Jill didn't like Cassandra, but she feigned concern anyway. Standing up from the sofa, she ordered a servant to call the family
doctor, "Ask Dr. Jason to come over. Cassandra just came back from visiting her parents. It must have been a hectic travel back
to G City. She must be looked after well before she gets her energy back."
Lionel had wanted to find an excuse to go out so late in the night, but now the servant was about to call the family doctor. He
gritted his teeth in desperation.
Suddenly, Rufus emerged from the shadows, standing on the second-floor staircase. He glanced at Cassandra quickly.
"Dr. Jason has gone abroad. He won't return until the end of the month," he said slowly.
Hearing this, Lionel smiled on the inside. Nobody could stop him now. He made a sound of desperation and gave the others a
worried glance.
"We have no time to lose. I'll drive Cassandra to the hospital immediately."
Cloris stood up and walked to Cassandra's side, saying, "I will go with you."
Lionel groaned internally, wishing that she was joking. He had found the perfect excuse to slip away. If he took Cloris with him to
the hospital, his plan would be ruined. He wanted to see Ivy, not accompany his wife to the doctor. Lionel wondered how he
could refuse Cloris's offer.
Rufus, who still stood immobile at the top of the stairs, came to his aid, "It's quite late now. The Emergency Department might
require hospitalization. You'll disturb your sister if you go, so let Lionel take her to the hospital alone. You must be tired too. Have
a good night's rest and go see her tomorrow."
Cloris cast a long glance at Rufus. It was the first time she had lost her heart to a man. His concern for Cassandra was off-
putting, but she still nodded in agreement, "You are right, Rufus. Lionel, please take care of my sister. Call us if you need help."
Lionel looked at his half-brother with confusion in his eyes. Rufus had already helped him twice in less than five minutes...How
strange. He shook his head slightly. It didn't matter because this was exactly what he wanted. God be thanked!
After assuring Horace and Jill that he would get Cassandra to the hospital safely, Lionel dragged her out of the living room.
Rufus's gaze darkened as Cassandra followed Lionel out like a ragdoll, too weak to put up a resistance. It drove him mad.

Lionel pulled her to the garage and pushed her in the back seat. He swiftly got behind the wheel and drove the car out at
lightning speed.
Cassandra was tired and didn't have the energy to oppose Lionel. Her eyelids started to droop. She felt like she was wrapped
inside a silk cocoon; her strength seemed to have dried up and she was just biding her time.
Befuddled, she forced herself to open her eyes and then frowned when she saw the back of Lionel's head.
'Why is Lionel with me when I'm sick? I wish it was Rufus who stayed with me, '
she couldn't get that thought out of her head and smiled unknowingly as she allowed her mind to linger on Rufus.
His smile. His scent. His sensual mouth.
The ruthless lips that always gave her a hot kiss.
The muscular arms that always lifted her up in warm a embrace.
The deep and husky voice that whispered sweet nothings in her ear. Even his scolding now would sound so enticing.
...
Unfortunately, it wasn't Rufus with her.
Cassandra finally drifted off to sleep, her thoughts dissolving into nothing.
'I must relax...I must stop thinking about Lionel and Rufus...No drama, no hatefulness, and no complication...I just want to
sleep...When I wake up, I wouldn't feel so tired...'