A Graduation Gift novel Chapter 149

Cassandra was shocked by Cloris's act. Her intent was becoming too obvious through her reckless actions.

"Are you alright, Cloris?"

At this moment, Edith saw that Cloris was growing angry so she immediately went to her and started babbling anxiously. She was afraid that her daughter might grow angry due to not feeling well.

Cassandra stopped where she was, looking down to see the remote control. Her eyes turned and saw Rufus. A sudden awkward feeling filled her.

Later, Edith walked back to the living room with her frowning brows.

"What happened to her? Why did her face turn pale all of a sudden? She seemed alright a minute ago."

Not able to answer the question, Cassandra simply smiled to hide the truth she knew. She then tried to change the topic and said, "Mother, there is something important that I need to tell you. I've already divorced Lionel."

She said trying to downplay the gravity of her statement. It didn't work as Edith still cried out loudly.

"What did you say? Why didn't you come to me earlier? When did this happen?"

Edit asked as her eyes grew wide. This revelation was just too much for her to accept. Wasn't this such a rash decision?

"We got the divorce certificates just a few days ago. We don't love each other and neither of us was happy in the marriage. With this, I can now concentrate on father's company."

Cassandra knew that her mother wouldn't easily accept her decision, so she tried to explain it carefully.

"How could you, Cassandra! Why didn't you tell us anything before making such decision?"

A frown formed on Edith's eyebrows. She was surprised and very unhappy to hear this news.

The marriage between Lionel and Cassandra was the idea from Vernon and her. Suddenly her daughter got a divorce without even informing her. She felt like her role and identity as a mother was being challenged.

"Mother, I'm an adult now. I know what I'm doing,"

said Cassandra as she looked directly into her mother's eyes.

While trying to find words to tell Cassandra, Edith simply looked at her. Suddenly, she remembered something about Vernon.

Many years ago, when Vernon gave up a secure and well-paying job to start his own business, he had the same firm and serious expression as well.

She realized that her elder daughter was so much like her husband.

All of a sudden, Edith noticed Rufus standing beside Cassandra. With the divorce, she was no longer a member of the Tang family, so why was he with her?

Cassandra immediately recognized the confusion in her mother's eyes. But, she didn't not know how to properly explain the situation.

A sneer suddenly came from behind her.

"Don't you use that 'concentrate on father's company' excuse. You got a divorce so you can be with Rufus openly, am I right?"

It was Cloris. She walked towards her and stared at Cassandra coldly.

"Cloris, is... is that true?"

Edith always tended to trust Cloris's words more. She then glanced at Cassandra and Rufus with skeptical eyes.

"Mother, that's not true..."

Cassandra tried to explain her side. However, Cloris continued teasing, "You don't have to pretend anymore! Do you think we're all stupid? I know all your dirty little secrets. You've had feelings for Rufus way before the divorce. I saw that with my own eyes when I was serving my internship at Tang Group."

Cloris laughed menacingly. She remembered the night when she was almost raped by that nasty man. She knew that it was Cassandra who paid him to set her up.

Cassandra opened her mouth to try to explain herself. But before any word came out of her mouth, Edith raised her hand and slapped Cassandra across the cheek.

The sound of the slap echoed in the living room. It happened so fast that Rufus was not able to react.

"You bitch! Get out of this house! I do not have a selfish daughter like you!"

shouted Edith as she shivered in anger.

Cassandra slowly placed her hand on her cheek, right where Edith's hand landed. And as she felt the warm, stinging pain, she felt her heart breaking.

This was not the first time she got slapped by her own mother. The last time was when Edith found out that Cassandra acted on her own to sell the Qin family's villa.

Cassandra suddenly recalled that year when she turned 18, Edith cried in front of her.

She was crying so hard while begging her to marry Lionel to benefit the Qin family.

Cassandra felt pity for her mother, so she agreed. But, why could't her mother ever understand how she felt?

Edith immediately accepted the twisted words that came out of Cloris's mouth and didn't even allow her to say her piece.

Rufus reached out and held Cassandra in his arms to protect her.

He lowered his head and said to Cassandra, "You're being stupid. You've sacrificed so much for them but they take all of it for granted. There's no point in explaining yourself, let's go." Even though he was talking to Cassandra, the words were for Edith.

Rufus's eyes were still dark like always, but they seemed to be colder than normal.

Cassandra felt like all her strength drained out of her. She walked out of the house like a puppet being led by Rufus.

The car started. Cassandra was still silent. Her left face started to swell up and turned beet red.

"Why won't my mother trust me, just for once?"

Breaking the long silence, Cassandra finally spoke with a disappointed voice which would make anyone feel sad.

"You don't need others to trust you. Time will tell,"

Rufus said, trying to comfort her. He felt sorry for her and his heart ached upon seeing how her own family treated her.

On top of that, what Cloris did raised doubts in Rufus's mind, 'How could Cloris do that to her own sister?'

"Time will tell... Yes...Time will tell. And I'll prove it."

Turning her head to look outside of the car, Cassandra noticed a lot of red lanterns on the streets. Everyone was happily preparing for the upcoming Spring Festival. She planned to spend it with her family, but now that seemed like a wishful thinking.

Rufus seemed to see right through her and reached out to ruffle her hair with his right hand as if he was comforting a sad child.

"Don't think about it anymore. What would you like to do during the Spring Festival? I'll be with you."

Rufus had a nice beat in his voice now. He was trying to cheer up the frustrated Cassandra.

"I'm not sure yet..."

Try as he might, Rufus failed to brighten her mood at this moment as she was feeling extremely down.

"How about going to Harbin City? They have the coolest ice engraving shows during the winter season,"

Rufus proposed. He was still trying his best to cheer her up.

Ice engraving?

Cassandra recalled her dream about the ice kingdom. Her eyes suddenly lit up, then dimmed as quickly as they lit up.

"Well, no. I better stay at home and sort out Qin Group's files. I need to find an office downtown. The current office lease is about to expire and it would be too expensive to renew the lease. The loss outweighs the gain."

Cassandra was calculating the cost of the company carefully. If she could find a good space downtown, the company would be able to reduce significant costs even if there could be minor problems.

"Do you have any ideas?"

Rufus asked deliberately. He wanted to hear more from her.

"It's just a thought for now. I can no longer do the architecture designs now so I need to recruit some outside people. As for the other departments, there are some old employees who I can use in the company. They know it better and I'd like to keep them..."

Cassandra talked on and on when it came to her plan for Qin Group as if she would never stop. This finally began to cheer her up.

Rufus admired this about her. She never learned how to manage a company and it was rare for a rookie to take everything into consideration.

"Maybe you can cooperate with some larger construction companies and subcontract agreements with them. The Qin Group now is like a freshman in some ways, after all. You don't need to set up so many departments. Focus on the priority first,"

Rufus said, reminding Cassandra of some risks. He was afraid that the company's situation would deteriorate should she keep the unnecessary departments from the beginning.

Cassandra was stunned. She realized what Rufus said made a lot of sense.

Qin Group had terrible management in the past due to Vernon's stubborn pride. He rented the largest and the most expensive office in the North District. Yes, it gave them a luxurious appearance but in the end, it was too expensive for the company.

On top of that, the design department existed in name only. The people there produced little to no decent works at all. It sucked the company dry by being credited with contributing to the company's establishment.

Of course, profits went down due to the number of expenses and Vernon was the best example. He made desperate moves for profit. Cassandra realized that she could learn from her father's past mistakes.

"Thank you, Rufus!"

She turned around, looked at Rufus and thanked him sincerely. She felt that he couldn't be more handsome now.

"My pleasure. And stop thanking me all the time. You are my woman now. We're family."

Rufus rejoiced in his heart yet maintained a cool face.

Cassandra bent towards him and left a gentle kiss on his face.

She smelled so wonderful. Rufus could not help getting distracted.

"I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to control myself when you take the initiative."