A Graduation Gift novel Chapter 116

This was perhaps the first time that Cassandra was dreaming during an afternoon nap. She'd fallen asleep in a distorted position in the office chair.

Time flew fast in her dream. Seasons changed in seconds. One second it was summer; then, autumn; next instance, winter. As she stood there looking at the leaves and light change around her, a shadow accompanied her. She recognized it to be Rufus, standing next to her, through the tumultuous changes.

The spring flowers were beautiful and so were the fallen autumn leaves. The winter snow glistened so beautifully it stunned her.

She looked at Rufus through flying hair in front of her eyes, grabbed his hand and walked in the snow. Their heads were covered in gently falling snow, making it look like they had grey hair. It looked like they were a couple grown old together. Dreams often, were considered to a method of wish fulfilment.

Cassandra always believed the idea of two people in love growing together was the most beautiful and romantic thing in the world. She had always imagined to be with someone who she could share this with. Before she could enjoy that imagined reality in her dream, Stella entered the office.

Cassandra opened her eyes, perturbed by the slight sound of the door closing behind Stella. She had always been a light sleeper and woke up very easily. She raised her head and saw Stella looking down at her.

"Oh... Stella. What's the matter?"

On finding it was her best friend who had entered the room, Cassandra let down her guard, slid back in her chair and rested her head on the desk again. She was still sleepy.

"Whose is this from?"

Stella asked, waving a white paper card at her, confused.

Cassandra got alert the moment she saw the card. Her eyes widened in surprise and panic took hold of her for a second.

"Oh, I have no idea. Maybe someone dropped it unintentionally,"

Cassandra said, taking the card from her and throwing it in the trash bin under her desk. There was still a slight hint of panic on her face.

Stella had always been a careless person. But Cassandra's unnatural behavior was so obvious that even she found it strange. She could tell when her friend was nervous or trying to hide something.

As Stella glanced around the office, her eyes landed on a round trace of water on Cassandra's desk, It looked like something had been placed on the desk, which left some water behind.

The size of the circle looked quite familiar. It looked exactly like the size of the container Stella had seen in the trash can!

Stella furrowed her eyebrows, recalling how nervous Victor was when she ran into him and how Cassandra had a similar reaction. Something was surely going on between those two. Or was it a mere coincidence?

Stella had always sensed Victor treated Cassandra specially. One time, he would even put lumps of sugar in her coffee himself.

And today, as per Stella's instinct, he'd bought lunch for Cassandra.

What was even more surprising was he had even tried to destroy the evidence by throwing the container away, to keep this a secret.

Something truly was fishy. Could it be that Victor had feelings for Cassandra?

To add to Stella's wonderment and suspicion was the white paper card. Perhaps, it was from Victor, which was why Cassandra got all nervous about it? Was she trying to keep this whole episode with Victor a secret from Stella, her best friend?

Honestly, Stella didn't think a sturdy and intimidating man like Victor would have such beautiful handwriting. It looked so elegant, like a girl's. She hadn't expected that but then again there really was no point dwelling on it.

She hesitated for a short while, staring at Cassandra with squinting, complicated eyes. She couldn't resist asking anymore. Finally, she let it out.

"Cassandra, I think we should talk," she said, gently biting her lower lip.

Stella looked serious, determined to have a conversation, in order to warn her. What she was doing was very dangerous. As a friend, it was Stella's moral duty to prevent her from making such a big mistake.

"A talk... About what?"

She got pretty nervous at the very sound of confrontation. Stella's dead serious face made her stomach drop. She had a bad feeling about this.

What if Stella suspected something already? Maybe that was why she wanted to talk to her? She couldn't stop trying to analyse.

Stella took a step back, fetched a chair and sat beside Cassandra, reaching out for her hand. She put it in her lap, looking at her with a succinct expression. Cassandra started to breathe faster.

"Cassandra, everyone makes mistakes. It's something that happens to all of us. But the most important thing is realizing your mistake and correcting it while you can,"

Stella said with a deep frown on her face. It seemed like she really was worried for her and was only looking out for her best interests.

"Stella... I..."

Cassandra was at a loss for words. She didn't now how to respond. It definitely seemed like Stella had found out about her and Rufus.

But why she would refer to it as a mistake, Cassandra couldn't really tell.

"You don't have to explain anything. I know you and understand what could be the reason for it. Everyone in the Tang group knows what kind of man Lionel is. Ever since that video of him making out with that other woman has come out, everyone has started to see the real side of him and that he is in the wrong. He isn't a faithful husband at all. But, he is, after all, Horace Tang's son which is why no one has the guts to say anything to him."