A Graduation Gift

Lionel's words echoed through the large bedroom, ringing in Cassandra's ears. Cassandra looked around, irritated. 'Doesn't Lionel dislike me? Why would he come to my bedroom at such a time?' she wondered.

'Unless…Unless he saw me in Rufus' bedroom just now!' The thought made Cassandra nervous.

"Cassandra, you haven't answered my question! Where were you just now? It's late." Lionel's question broke through Cassandra's thoughts and snapped her back to attention.

Lionel gripped Cassandra's chin harder, forcing her to look into his eyes and answer him. Cassandra shifted uncomfortably, trying not to whimper from the pain. She returned Lionel's gaze, raising her chin in angry defiance, then took a deep breath.

"I had a meeting with my friend tonight,"

she spoke slowly, trying to calm herself down.

Cassandra knew that she couldn't tell Lionel the truth right now. After all, she knew that what she had done was wrong.

"Your friend? Funny...After all those years you spent in Rome, I'm surprised that you still have friends in G City."

Lionel raised his eyebrows and snorted sarcastically. Clearly, he didn't believe Cassandra. The calmer she stood before him, never breaking his gaze, the more she could see his anger rising.

Cassandra had always been good at hiding her feelings. And cunning women angered him the most.

"Can you please let go of me? You're hurting me!"

him with her weakness so that she could change the topic. The truth was that she was actually overwhelmed by the pain in her chin. This infuriated her. How dare he treated

do. He unfurled his grip and released her face. Breaking free from his grip, Cassandra breathed a sigh of relief. She turned immediately and headed for the bedroom.

late now. Is Mr. Tang still

inside to the bedroom. Once again

he

Cassandra. She turned to look at him, afraid to

her roughly

are you

of her chest. The thought of being touched by this man filled her with horror, and

a married couple in name only. There had never been any physical contact between them. This was the first time.

smile crept across Lionel's face.

it why you married me? Huh? Why pretend to be

were like blades, carving patterns of pain into her skin. Cassandra instinctively bit her lips. Then

look at you like that when he had first come back to the family? Could it be something to do with the time he spent in Rome? Did

pressed her lips together defiantly, causing Lionel to become angrier and angrier. Lionel had been asking around, and it turned out that his brother had been to Rome just before he came back here.

Rufus and Cassandra had towards each other when they first

about you so much? Could it be...because you slept with him

up from the bed. Pale and silent, she regarded her husband for a