A Graduation Gift novel Chapter 199

Lionel was livid over the decision to make Arthur the next spokesperson. He was severely upset, which was why he snapped at Cassandra that way. However, when he saw Cassandra's face fell, Lionel held his tongue back.

Cassandra didn't deserve to be yelled at that way. She wasn't even at fault. Lionel glanced around him and immediately regretted saying those words. There were plenty of people, including some government officials, who were looking at them. It was such a humiliating situation.

Ivy immediately echoed before Lionel spoke something to defuse the tense situation, "You broke Lionel and me. And now, you're ruining Miss Ke. It makes me wonder where you found the audacity to keep ruining people's lives. Why don't you just stay away and leave us and the Tang family alone? Your father's already rotting in jail and he deserved it. That alone should be reason enough for the Tang family to refuse you. Don't even try to blame the Tang family on your family's misery!"

Ivy knew Cassandra's weaknesses well. She cursed her with everything she could come up with. Cassandra was incredibly upset that her knees started to buckle, composure and strength seemingly vaporizing out of her.

From the eyes of the people who didn't know or barely knew Cassandra, it seemed to them that she was a gold-digging succubus that would use her men to get ahead.

After she divorced Lionel, she immediately clung herself to Rufus. It looked like she played tricks behind everyone's back.

All the people looked at Cassandra disdainfully. They absolutely despised her. Cassandra was so upset at Ivy's words that her body started to tremble with anger.

"It's been a particularly long time since I was a member of the Tang family. Why are you looking at me like I had something to do with your failures? I haven't done anything to you. Don't you dare accuse me!"

Cassandra bit back. Her retort, however, easily fell on deaf ears because everybody was already having the bad impression of her.

The onlookers started to whisper and belittle her. They didn't care about the severity and the consequences of what their gossiping would lead to. The spectators were hungry for drama and they were just about to eat a handful of it.

"Don't you dare try to spin this on me, you harlot. You're not as innocent as you think you are, don't play the fucking victim. Jesus Christ, I know everything you've done behind our backs. It's a good thing that I'm kind to you. I wouldn't tell other people about the atrocious things that you've done. Let's focus back on today's topic, shall we? You tripped me, and I demand an apology from you."

Ivy was being aggressive. When Lionel was there supporting her, she became bolder. She would never let Cassandra go that easily.

"Tell me, Ivy," Cassandra started. "Why the hell would I apologize for something I haven't done? You wronged yourself and went out of your way to frame me. I will not apologize to someone as despicable as you!"

Cassandra spat. There was absolutely no way that she would ever apologize to such a snake! Witnesses be damned, Cassandra knew she was innocent.

"Everybody, look! Look at her! This is Vernon's daughter! Purely like father, like daughter. Dishonorable little shits!"

Ivy turned around to face the people and spurred their attention. Vernon's criminal action was a joke to everyone in the field. Everybody equally despised him. What was his daughter trying to do all alone, defeating the powerful Tang family? It was absolutely impossible. Only dreams could help her achieve that goal.

Cassandra watched as Ivy used the crowd to get to her, and slowly, she could feel her ears ringing. It was high-pitched and loud, and Cassandra quickly shook her head to dispel it.

"Don't you dare insult my father. The court has already given him a fair trial. To err is human. He's already realized his mistake, and is paying for it in jail. He has had time to reflect while in jail. However, there are occasions where the court simply couldn't give a fair trial. Someone knows what you have done. Do I have to remind you what that was? Fabricating a charge against the wrong person, or even premeditated murder!"

Cassandra gritted her teeth and squeezed the words out slowly, spitefully, one by one.

Ivy had framed her for the death of her baby; a plot that Cassandra knew was made by Ivy all along.

Cassandra said so, in order to remind Ivy that she knew of the truth. She didn't bother to reveal it to the public because she wasn't an attention-seeking monger like Ivy.

Ivy suddenly felt a bit guilty upon Cassandra's speech, knowing that Cassandra was right. She had intentionally taken some medicine and killed her own child before the accident. Then she decided to pin it on Cassandra by luring her onto the second floor and throwing herself down the stairs. Ivy was certain that her plan was foolproof. She never expected that Cassandra actually knew everything.

Suddenly, a tall man appeared from the crowd. He had forced himself through and walked straight to Cassandra. The man then stopped beside her, and looked over at Lionel. It was Rufus.

"What are you doing, Rufus? You are a member of the Tang family. You are not supposed to stand by an outsider's side!"

Lionel shouted angrily. He raised his chin at Rufus and provoked him on purpose. He didn't believe that Rufus would speak mean words to him openly! They were brothers, after all.

Rufus's eyes darkened and he cast a cold glare at Lionel and Ivy. He hadn't even begun showing his true anger, but the people were starting to get scared.

"I'm not taking sides. I only support whoever is being reasonable. You want to know if Cassandra tripped Ivy? That's easy. There're so many cameras here in the lobby. Go and get the video footage and the truth will speak for itself. If you insist on making her apologize, we can go and check the video to confirm it. However, I don't think you'd like that, huh?"

Rufus cooly replied. He didn't shout, but his speech was clear enough to be heard by everyone.

Ivy's face immediately paled.

"O-Ouch! Lionel, my head is aching. I want to go home now,"

Ivy frowned and closed her eyes as she held her fingers against the temples of her head.

"What? A headache? How come all of a sudden? Don't worry, dear. Let's go home now,"

Lionel replied, voice tense. He quickly held Ivy in his arms and comforted her.

The crowd started to become skeptical about Ivy's sudden behavior, but they couldn't do anything about it. Was Ivy really sick? Or was she just fooling the crowd?

Lionel accompanied Ivy who kept whining about her migraine outside. Most of the people left around the same time when they did.

All the people present were either famous or from prominent families. None of them wanted to be involved in the trouble. They would not care about other's family affairs.

But generally speaking, probably they wouldn't have a good impression on Cassandra.

"Are you all right?"

Rufus bent slightly to Cassandra and asked her worriedly.

Cassandra didn't want to respond. She smiled bitterly and nodded, a tiny indication to help ease Rufus's worrying.

"What? Do you not want to talk to me? Please don't blame me for what the Tang family did to you. Talk to me, please."

Rufus grew anxious when he saw Cassandra was so upset. He was afraid to see such a frustrated look on her. He liked the lively and joyful Cassandra.

Cassandra raised her head slowly and looked at him. Her eyes were blank.

"They think I'm a bitch, right? Marry Lionel for money, divorce him for money, and get closer to you for the damn money again..."

A sad smile appeared on Cassandra's mouth. Her teasing and sorrowful tone made Rufus's heart prickle.

"Stop thinking about that! You don't need to care about what they think. I trust you. That alone should be enough!"

Rufus put his hands on her shoulders and comforted her. He looked into her eyes deeply.

Her mind blank, Cassandra simply stared back at Rufus's dark eyes.

"Why? Why do you trust me so much? I'm an ambitious woman. I'm eager for success..."

Cassandra's voice was weak. Before she could finish her words, Rufus placed his hand on her lips. His hand was warm against her cold, pale skin.

"I trust you, because I trust my heart. My heart told me to trust you."

Then he grabbed Cassandra's hand, feeling the soft, cold skin against his calloused fingers.

Slowly raising his hand, Rufus placed the little woman's hand over on his chest. Cassandra could feel the steady, but loud heartbeat against his sternum. She suddenly grew warm.

"No matter what they would say about you, I trust you. My heart beats fast only for you,"

Rufus rarely spoke such loving words to her. He always proved his love and passion for her through actions alone, not with words. He felt so shy when he said those words and his heart began beating faster immediately.

Looking at Rufus's handsome face, Cassandra felt all the negativity expel out of her. She closed her eyes to breathe, eyelashes quivering underneath his gaze. When she opened her eyes, tears immediately started to flow out.

Rufus realized that nothing in this world hurt more than seeing her cry. He reached out his hands towards her face once again, and wiped her tears away.

"No, no. Don't cry. You'll look like an albino rabbit with those red eyes if you do!"

His joke relieved Cassandra. She let herself laugh. Rufus was right. It didn't matter what everyone else thought. They were nobody to her.

As long as she had Rufus by her side, she was a fearless woman.

"I want to go home,"

Cassandra sniffed and looked at Rufus pleadingly.

This was not a place for her to stand in. All the people were talking about the drama she was involved in and mocked her in this very place. All she wanted to do now was go back home to Garden Villa. Staying here a bit longer would make her go crazy.

"Let's go home, then."

Without thinking twice, Rufus bent over and scooped Cassandra up in his arms. He walked towards the gate with Cassandra clinging onto his shoulders for support.

Everyone was shocked at the sight of them together, wide-eyed.

All the gossip and rumors about Cassandra and Rufus were proven to be true from that gesture alone. Cassandra, Lionel's ex-wife, former manager of the Design Department of Tang Group, and the current head of Qin group, was whisked away by Rufus, Lionel's brother. The onlookers started to chatter once more.