A Graduation Gift novel Chapter 5

Neon lights blazed in the most bustling street in the metropolis. The night looked seductive with its endless stream of people and rushing traffic.

A high-end restaurant was located on the street, where Horace had booked a box to celebrate Cassandra's return to the city.

On the way to the restaurant, Lionel didn't utter a word to Cassandra. She too kept her mouth shut, having nothing to say.

Horace kept glancing at the pair with worry. What was going on between his son and his daughter-in-law? There was no love between them, but Horace had assumed good feelings would foster with time.

Cassandra just came home from abroad. It was the appropriate time for his son to take the next step in their relationship. If Cassandra could bless him with kids, it would prove to be great for the relations between the Tang and the Qin Families.

Cassandra took her seat once they entered the restaurant. Lionel quickly side-stepped her and sat next to his mother, Jill, without looking at his wife even once.

Cassandra was quite accustomed to this. She wore a neutral expression on her face, unmoved by Lionel's actions. She knew how to play the role of the obedient daughter-in-law in this family, and in her mind, that was enough. Anything more on her part was unwarranted.

"Since everyone is here, I'd like to make an announcement on this good occasion."

The dishes were being served up one by one. Horace cleared his throat. There was a look of dignity on his face even though he felt dejected deep down.

"What's the matter?"

Jill asked, the only person in the room paying attention. Cassandra had no interest in anything that occurred in this family, but she gave a look of faint curiosity anyway.

From the opposite side of the table, Lionel observed the look of false solicitude on Cassandra's face, a shadow of a cold smile playing upon his lips. He clicked his tongue silently. After so many years, the woman's acting was still sharp.

"Rufus will be back tomorrow. I hope each one of you treats him like family."

Horace exhaled in relief once the words were finally out. He had hardly finished speaking when Jill's glass of red wine crashed to the floor with a loud noise.

At the sound of broken glass, Cassandra froze. Jill rose up from her chair, her exquisitely made-up face full of vehement anger.

"There is no way that's happening. I won't allow it! Why didn't you discuss this with me first? I don't want him to come back. Absolutely not!"

Jill yelled at Horace in a shrill voice, forgetting where she was. Horace gazed at her coldly, disheartened but not surprised at her reaction.

"You think you have the right to say no?"

His words were authoritative and sent a shiver down Jill's spine. She halted in her actions, his deep-set eyes quietening her immediately. Jill stumbled a bit and went back to her seat, sniveling a bit at her grievance.

The sudden, explosive argument didn't affect Lionel in the least, who still sat wearing a not-in-my-back-yard expression on his face. The air around the table turned grave. Cassandra didn't know the man Horace mentioned, though she felt the name a bit familiar. She wondered who he was, and how he could make Jill, a most arrogant and domineering woman, panic like this.

"Lionel, take Cassandra home."

Horace's voice cut through the tense silence as his eyes swept to his son. Lionel was already sick of being in this place, so the minute his father finished speaking, he was on his feet and walking toward the door of the restaurant.

Cassandra shot up, gave her in-laws a forced smile and followed after Lionel as fast as she could.

It looked like Horace and Jill needed some privacy to deal with their issues. Cassandra sighed in relief as soon as she stepped out of the restaurant. It had been suffocating in there.