A Graduation Gift novel Chapter 126

Jill heard Horace mention that Arthur was an ungrateful money-grubbing man. Ever since he took over the Dawn Star Group, he had poached the customers from Tang group despite the close relationship between their two families. What was even worse, Arthur had tried to mobilize other members of the Union to vote for his own company to lead the Union as its Director.

When Dawn Star Group was just a small company, Horace had consistently aided Arthur's father, who was the leader of the company then. He had even given away plenty of engineering projects to help Arthur's company grow.

Dawn Star Group should have been thankful for Horace's contributions. However, now that the Dawn Star Group was a bigger company under Arthur's leadership, the Group disrespectfully undermined the Tang Group. Horace attempted to hide his disappointment even when he went to the hospital to visit Arthur's father, since he couldn't blame the father for what happened to their companies. He knew Arthur acted out on his own. That was why, when Jill saw Arthur, her eyes immediately began to burn from anger.

She held her tongue despite wanting to shout at Arthur when she saw Cloris with him.

At present, stating that the Tang Group and the Dawn Star Group were in a tense competitive relationship was an understatement. It seemed that Cassandra's sister Cloris and Arthur were in love seeing that they're together. Jill's shoulders grew tense as she began to doubt Cassandra's loyalty to the Tang Group.

"It seems that Mr. Zhuang has become a prisoner of love. Cloris is as beautiful as her sister, Cassandra. No wonder he's fallen in love with her!"

Ivy said with a smile, deliberately mentioning Cassandra. Jill glared at Ivy as her doubt began to grow.

"There's no point in being beautiful if you don't have the brains to back it up. If Cassandra is loyal to the Tang family, how could she allow her sister to engage in a relationship with Arthur?"Jill chided.

When Jill first met Cloris, she had a good impression of her. But now, she disliked Cloris as much as she did to Cassandra.

"Auntie, don't be mad. People are free to choose who they want to love. This has nothing to do with loyalty. If one loves a person, it's because they saw something in them. Don't you think so?"

Ivy said with a meaningful look.

Looking at Ivy silently, Jill became more suspicious of Cassandra.

'It's because they saw something in them, ' Jill reiterated in her head. 'Maybe Cloris hooked up with Arthur for his money, ' she thought quietly.

'Yes, that's right. Vernon is in prison. They need money to pay the fines. Their mother Edith is a housewife and she has no way of getting her own income. Cassandra couldn't get any help from the Tang family, so Cloris is trying to look for a rich boyfriend to help the Qin family get out of their crisis!'

Jill deduced.

It was obvious that Cloris's relationship with Arthur would do no good to the Tang Group. Dawn Star Group was their sole competitor. If Cloris passed information to Arthur, he could use it to attack the Tang Group.

"Oh! Do you think there's love between them? Please! Don't make me laugh. The Qin family is evil. Cloris is no better,"

Jill insulted, eyes glaring at the couple.

"Auntie, just forget them. Let's go back!"

Ivy remarked, unable to let the smile come off of her face as she took Jill by the arm and walked her out of the mall. She was able to successfully trigger Jill's hatred for Cassandra.

"Ivy, you know there's a reason to look down on gold diggers. They're such shameless people!" Jill asserted as she let Ivy lead her away.

Afraid of being seen by Cloris, Ivy quickened her pace and took a detour to avoid the couple.

"Cloris, tomorrow is my mother's birthday. I want to invite you to come home with me tomorrow night. I think it's a good time to introduce you to her and the rest of the family. Get yourself a beautiful dress. Don't worry, I'll pay for it!"

Arthur said, winking as he gave Cloris's hand a squeeze.

Cloris blushed out of happiness. He had always been generous with his praise and admiration of her. Cloris had long ago fallen in love with him.

Cloris chose a pink, silk dress that was beautiful and expensive. Arthur reached out to the counter and swiped his card without a second thought.

"Honey, I'll have to meet a client later. You should go to the hotel first. I'll go find you when I'm done,"

Arthur whispered against Cloris's ear. She shot him a bashful look, batting her eyes and biting her lip. Cloris blushed once again.

"Hmm. Okay. But you need to come back as soon as you finish, okay?"

Cloris replied in a low voice. She grabbed her purchase and turned to walk away. Arthur looked at her back until she wasn't in sight any longer. A sinister smile spread across his face as he left the store.

Cloris returned to the hotel. After a long, comfortable shower, she changed into her pajamas. She lay in bed and watched TV as she waited for Arthur anxiously, not sure if she should feel nervous or excited.

She waited for a few hours, but Arthur still hadn't come back. Finally she grew tired and fell asleep.

In a little while, she slowly woke to find a man's body lying beside her. Her hand grazed against the man's arm by accident.

The TV and the lamp had been turned off, and it was impossible for her to see him in the darkness.

Cloris quietly whispered Arthur's name, her hand moving from his arm to his chest.

Her voice trembled slightly from feeling a mix of excitement, fear, and anticipation.

She heard the man's breath quicken at her touch and voice.

Before she knew it, he covered her lips with his own. Cloris was shocked and tried to pull away.

"W-Wait...I..." Cloris murmured.

The man didn't stop and took her lips again. Cloris started to get more nervous as his hands began to wander around her body. Something wasn't right. Cloris gripped the man's hand on her waist to stop him.

The man turned his hand so that he was holding her hand instead, calloused fingers grazing the back of her palm.

Cloris opened her eyes instantly, wide awake. That wasn't Arthur's hand!

She struggled as she tried to push him away, fear and panic taking over her.

The man groaned and tried to push himself above her to control her.

She was able to shove him off and sat up quickly to turn the light on.

"Ah!" Cloris screamed, nearly stumbling as she got up from the bed to look at the intruder.

A complete stranger was in front of her.

He was probably as tall as Arthur was, but he was ugly and wretched-looking.

The man froze as the light turned on. Nervousness traced his face as he realized that the girl had seen him. However, he composed himself quickly.

"W-Who are you! You bastard, get out of my room!"

Cloris yelled as she took the remote control on the bedside table, the only thing she could use as a weapon that was within reach.

"Aha, I didn't know you were such a feisty beauty. You were so gentle and passionate a moment ago!"

The man teased, looking at Cloris lasciviously and propping up in bed with his elbow tucked underneath his head.

"Get out now! Or I call the police!"

Cloris screamed, frantically looking for her phone. It was nowhere in sight.

"Don't waste your energy. I've put your phone away,"

the man responded as he sat up from the bed casually. Shooting a smile at Cloris, which made the latter shiver, he took off his suit slowly. Apparently, he had no intention of leaving.

Cloris was trembling with fear. Arthur hadn't come, and a strange man appeared in her room. She couldn't process the information.

If she hadn't been alert, the man might as well have raped her in her sleep. But even then, he would have raped her when she woke up since she willingly kissed him in the darkness.

"Why are you here and how did you get in? I have never seen you in my life,"

Cloris asked, unable to hide the shaking in her voice. She started to tear up despite trying to calm herself down. She never expected being in such a situation.

"Oh Beautiful! Are you crying? Don't be scared. I've come to help you. I'll make a real woman out of you,"

The man stood up and walked closer to her, looking at her with lecherous eyes. Cloris stumbled back until she felt the wall behind her; her hand was still gripping the remote by her chest as if to shield herself from him.

"Don't you dare. My boyfriend will be here soon. If you hurt me, he'll kill you!"

Cloris's tears fell out of her eyes. She was horrified.

"Your boyfriend? Who is he? You think I would be afraid of him? Nobody can scare me off. So don't fool yourself into thinking you could threaten me,"

the man said dryly as he continued his approach.

"Who are you working for? Are you hired by someone to ruin me? Who is it? Tell me!"

Cloris asked in a louder voice. The little woman was smart and quickly figured out what was happening. She didn't expect that what she had been experiencing now was deliberately arranged! But she didn't have any enemies. Who could the mastermind be? Anger started to wash over her, overpowering her fear against the man in front of her.

"Sorry, that's classified. Otherwise, I wouldn't get paid."

Cloris was now trapped in between him and the wall. The man started to unbutton his shirt and stared at Cloris wantonly.

"I-I have money! If you just let me go, I can pay you ten times as much as your employer!"

Cloris tried to persuade him.

"Don't try to fool me! I know your older sister is rich, but you and your mother are practically poor,"

The man chided. With that, he eagerly grabbed Cloris's wrists and pinned them above her head, his face nearing her own. Suddenly, the door was smashed open, and the man and Cloris both darted their eyes towards the door.

"Get your evil hands off my girl! Go to hell! You son of a bitch!"