A Graduation Gift

If men were likened to animals, Rufus would definitely be a cheetah.
A cheetah was a master of stealth. It would hide in the jungle and wait silently. The moment it spoted its prey, it would attack and
deliver a fatal blow.
Ivy could feel Rufus's coldness as they dined together. She did not dare to even look at him. Instead, she conversed with Jill as
an attempt to ease her anxiety.
"Auntie, the world famous dress designer, Michelle Ling, is going to hold a charity auction in G City next week. There is this one
dress that everybody seems to be talking about. Rumors say that it was worn by a princess in Europe before it was donated to
Ling. The auction sounds fun. Would you like to go?" Ivy asked.
Jill smiled. Her eyes twinkled with excitement.
"Really?" she said. "I'd love to, but events like those are usually invite-only. I don't know Ling very well..." she said sadly.
Ivy gave Jill a reassuring smile.
"Don't worry. I have an invite! You can be my plus-one!" Ivy replied.
Jill knew that Ivy rubbed elbows with many influential people in the fashion and entertainment industry. Because of this, Jill got to
attend fancy events and galas as well whenever Ivy would take her.
After getting married to Horace, Jill spent most of her time playing mahjong, or in the beauty salon talking to her friends about
other rich women. It eventually started to bore her. When Ivy moved in, a new world opened up for her. Jill started to become
exposed to the world of fashion. It almost made her feel young again.
Luxury brands, limited edition clothes, famous designers, fashion icons...Jill became obsessed with these things.
But then, something occurred to her.
"I haven't been to a charity auction before. Is there anything I should prepare myself for?" she asked, worried.
Before Ivy could answer, Horace furrowed his eyebrows in annoyance.
"Stay at home! You're not going anywhere! Ivy, you're pregnant. Why would you want to go to those places? There are lots of
people there. What if you get hurt?!" he said.

Jill's face turned gloomy immediately. She looked forward to the auction. But because Horace didn't allow her to go, her
excitement quickly turned to disappointment.
Ivy was embarrassed and didn't know how to react. Lionel tried to lighten up the mood, smiling, he said, "That's fine, father. I'll go
with them. I'll take care of them. Nothing bad is gonna happen, I promise."
Hearing Lionel, Horace shook his head as he begrudgingly gave his consent. He didn't object anymore.
Rufus, who remained silent the whole time, seemed to realize something.
A charity auction? No wonder he couldn't see Michelle these days. She must be busy with the auction.
When Cassandra woke from her sleep, it was already midnight.
To avoid having to see Ivy, Cassandra decided not to have dinner. She was very hungry when she woke up. She could almost
hear her stomach grumbling.
She opened the door and snuck out. She crept down the stairs and headed to the kitchen, looking for food.
The moment she climbed down the stairs, though, a tall guy showed up right in front of her, blocking her way.
He smelled strongly of cigarettes. She blinked, surprised.
The smell was familiar, but she could not make out his features in the dark right away. Cassandra squinted and clenched her
fists.
He wasn't Rufus. It was Lionel.
When Lionel noticed Cassandra, he smiled maliciously and walked towards her. He just finished smoking.
"What are you doing here in the middle of night?" he asked flirtatiously with his husky voice. It was quite sexy.
Cassandra instinctively took a step back, forgetting the presence of the staircase. She lost her balance and slumped down on
the steps.
Lionel stepped forward, put one of his feet on the staircase, and bent down, removing the space in between them. Cassandra felt
her heart beating faster.

"Look at your cute pajamas. Are you looking for me, sweetie?" he asked.
The moonlight from the window illuminated parts of Lionel's face. He was just as handsome as Rufus. Unlike Rufus, though,
Lionel made Cassandra feel sick and disgusted. She wanted so badly to run away from him.
She attempted to push herself up, but Lionel pressed down on her shoulders. He was much stronger than she was. Her attempt
to escape was feeble. She only ended up falling to the floor again.
Cassandra glared at Lionel. Her immense anger shone through the fire in her eyes. Her blood was rising and her awareness,
heightened.
"Lionel, what do you want from me?" she said angrily.
Because Ivy was pregnant, Lionel couldn't touch her. Still, he needed to satisfy his desire.
Cassandra, even in her normal night clothes, turned him on.
She looked extremely sexy in her silk pajamas.
Lionel stared at the startled and anxious woman, with desire.
Cassandra was his wife. Of course, he could do anything to her.
He lifted her into the air. Cassandra was too surprised to shout for help. She was unable to react up until Lionel threw her onto
the bed in her bedroom.
Cassandra tried to move back but she was soon backed into a corner. She had nowhere else to go. Lionel approached. Despite
her anxiety, she did her best not to show it.
"Lionel, if I shout and wake Ivy, she will be mad at you. Being angry isn't good for her and the baby," she told him.
But Lionel just tilted his head patronizingly and smiled.
"Ivy? She will not dare to do anything here in the Tang family house. Cassandra, you're my wife. I'm surprised that you are so
concerned about what other women think.
I know you have been avoiding me," he said.

This pretty woman's resistance only made his desire grow stronger.
"Cassandra, Ivy is pregnant. You can't fall behind. What if... I offer you the opportunity to get pregnant tonight?" Lionel asked,
resting one of his hands on the wall behind her. He was starting to move closer and closer to her. Then, his face was only three
centimeters away from hers. He leaned in for a kiss.
Sleeping was difficult for Ivy. It was a difficult pregnancy. The window shook loudly because of the wind. It jolted the pregnant
woman awake.
She stretched out her hand, instinctively reaching for Lionel, but quickly realized that he was not beside her.
The bed was cool. Lionel must have been gone for a while.
Ivy had a strong intuition. She sat up immediately. She got out of the bed, put on her slippers and walked out of the bedroom.
Guest rooms were at the end of the corridor. She checked them one by one. Then, when she reached Cassandra's room, Ivy
pressed her ear against the door.
"The opportunity to get pregnant..." She heard Lionel's voice which made her felt furious.
Before Lionel married Cassandra, he promised Ivy that it was a marriage for convenience. He would never love her. He even
swore that he would never have sex with her.
Ivy was aware that Lionel was also seeing other women even though they were together. With Cassandra, though, she knew that
their relationship was not good. They never slept together.
Now that she was pregnant, though, it looked like Lionel could no longer control his desire.
She wanted to knock on the door, but restrained herself after a moment of thought.
'In the Tang family, Lionel and Cassandra are the married couple. Not like me, just a mistress who is allowed to move in because
I am having Lionel's child. It's not my place to interfere with their marital affairs.
If I did, Lionel might take Cassandra's side. What am I going to do then?'
Ivy was furious and jealous. Then, an idea came to her. She ran down to the living room, got a vase and threw it on the floor.

A loud noise filled the house as the ceramics scattered. Ivy, likewise, 'fell' on the floor.
The whole family woke.
Jill was the first one to come out of the bedroom to see what happened. She looked down to the living room from the third floor.
When she saw Ivy surrounded by the pieces of the broken vase, Jill exclaimed, "Ivy! What happened? Are you okay?!"
She hurriedly rushed down towards the living room.
Ivy put her hands on her belly. She looked as if she was in so much pain.
"I... I couldn't find Lionel. So I came downstairs to look for him and accidentally broke the vase..." she explained.
Jill bent down and helped Ivy stand up. Then, she shouted.
"Lionel! Lionel! Where are you? Come here!" she called out.
In Cassandra's bedroom, she was completely backed to a corner being dominated by Lionel. She helplessly watched him go
nearer and nearer with his lips getting closer to hers. The loud noise from the living room startled both of them.
Then, they heard footsteps and Jill's calls.
"Lionel! Come here!" she screamed.
Lionel punched the wall, annoyed. There is many a slip between the cup and the lip. He was that closed to get what he wanted.
He had to let go of Cassandra. Then Lionel turned around, opened the door and looked down at the living room.
Ivy was crying and Jill was anxious. There were ceramics and mud on the floor. Ivy seemed so frightened and in pain as she
held her belly with her hands.
"What are you doing still standing there?! Call the driver! Take Ivy to the hospital!" Jill immediately instructed.