A Graduation Gift novel Chapter 249

"I forgot to mention, this cottage belongs to my friend. It hasn't started serving officially yet. But, you can stay here tonight and be the first guests. I believe it will be an exotic experience."

Amanda snapped her fingers. A steward approached her and bowed.

"Miss Ke, is there anything I can help you with?"

His politeness was impeccable. He clearly seemed trained very well for this job.

"Ready the best room for Mr. Tang and Miss Luo. They are going to spend the night here post dinner."

It seemed like Amanda knew this place and the staff very well.

"Okay, Miss Ke."

The steward bowed again before he exited the dining room. Amanda finished the last piece of steak on her plate and stood up, saying, "The atmosphere here is quite soothing. Though it may not be as good as the most famous shore cities, it has a feeling of its own. If you still want any more food, feel free to ask the steward to prepare it for you. I will excuse myself, now. Good night. It was nice meeting you, Mr. Tang."

She shook hands with both Ivy and Lionel, then waved them goodbye, walking out.

As she stepped outside the place, Amanda turned back to glance at the cottage. Her smiling eyes turned to squinting.

'Ivy, don't blame me for being too cruel. This is how the real world works—the more powerful ones prey on the weaker ones. Unfortunately, you are too weak to be a predator, so take this chance and be my prey, ' she thought smugly.

Lionel and Ivy still sat at the table. It had been forever since they had dinner together. They gazed at each other in awe in the flickering glow of the candle light, feeling the unprecedented charm of the other.

Ivy's alluring red lips were slightly parted. Her eyes seemed to twinkle like stars.

"Lionel, you might be getting really tired these days. I noticed you don't even sleep in late like you used to."

Just like the dinner, it had been long since Ivy said anything caring or empathetic to Lionel. He felt some warmth emanating from her voice.

"Yeah...the tension between Tang Group and Dawn Star Group has heightened to another level. I cannot afford to relax."

As soon as he mentioned business, he recalled Horace's disappointed face whenever he looked at him. Almost immediately, the elation was replaced by depression.

"Lionel, I want to work with you in the future. I don't like to see you so exhausted everyday."

Ivy slid her hand toward his, clutching it tightly.

Her fingers were slender, with nails painted rose-red. Looking at her hand, Lionel suddenly recalled something.

He looked up at her innocent face, and instantly fell into musings of the past.

He recalled the time when they had first started their relationship. He stood on the ground near her dorm, waiting for her to finish showering. When she came out, her long hair, still mildly wet, rested down on her shoulders and her back casually. He could smell the lovely fragrance of the shampoo as he drew closer to her.

Ivy seemed to dwell in her own reveries too. Both found the world around them fading, turning into the lovely past they had shared with each other.

The atmosphere was so cozy, they might as well have felt a fire warming their hearts. They kept staring straight into each other's eyes.

Breaking their trance, the steward walked into the restaurant and reported in a respectful tone, "Mr. Tang, Miss Luo, the room is ready for you."

It was the moment Ivy had been waiting for. They got up, and still holding hands, followed the steward into the room.

The entire room was decorated in a Mediterranean style. It was quite spacious and very carefully designed. The interior was genuinely tasteful and captivating.

The steward politely asked for his leave and closed the door behind him as he walked away.

It seemed like they had entered a small world of their own. They continued to gaze at each other lovingly.

Outside, the torrents hit the shore, as if they were telling some old stories.

Next morning, Ivy woke up with a heavy head. She could barely make her eyes open.

She could still hear the sounds of torrents, which kept beating the reef.

A small smile crept up her lips, her cheeks turning pink. The night she had spent with Lionel played like a film in front of her eyes.