A Graduation Gift

Chapter 44 Going Back Home With You

Obscene moans could be heard continually from the video on the screen. Some of the employees blushed with embarrassment and the whispers in the crowd grew heated, resulting in an increased commotion. Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

When the words 'Lionel Tang' showed up on the screen, each one of them turned to look at Lionel, who was sitting in the front of the room.

Lionel had turned pale the moment he saw the video. Now, seeing his name on it, he jumped out of his chair. Rushing to the stage, he plucked the remote out of the hands of the stunned emcee.

Pointing it at the screen, he turned off the video and furiously looked around.

"Who is responsible for this prank? And what are you people looking at? Close your eyes, goddammit, all of you!"

Lionel's eyes flashed with rage like flames of fire. Ivy's face had gone white. She was completely dumbfounded at what just happened. How did the video get switched to this?

She had arranged the video in the playlist, the one of Rufus and Cassandra entering and leaving the hotel room in H City. How did it get swapped for the footage of her and Lionel in bed?

The erotic video spoiled the celebration banquet. Everyone had been having a great time until now, an awkward tension lingered in the air. Horace was trembling. He wanted to go up on the stage and slap his disappointing son.

"What a shame! How disgraceful!"

Jill put an arm around Horace and patted him on the chest in consolation. She was red with embarrassment too.

People were whispering once again. Cassandra blinked and looked around, not sure what to do next. She gulped hard, feeling like she had lost the ability to speak.

"Did you do that?"

she somehow asked Rufus, who stood next to her. His face had been expressionless ever since the video began. He didn't let out so much as a gasp. Unlike others, he wasn't shocked or scandalized.

He was always calm in the face of all kinds of situations, no matter how startling they were. But why today? Why did he decide to play the video in front of all employees in the Tang Group at the victory banquet? It was quite a real blow to Lionel.

"I'm just reciprocating an act of kindness."

Rufus sneered, not answering her directly. The curl of his lips sent a chill down her spine.

His words dripped with insinuation and it puzzled Cassandra. What was he playing at? The very air around him was daunting.

"Isn't…this a bit too much?"

After a long pause, Cassandra mustered up her courage and asked him the question, wringing her hands.

"Is it, though? You think I crossed a line?"

Rufus asked her pointedly without looking at her. His voice was cold and indifferent.

He sighed internally. Cassandra didn't know about Lionel and Ivy's plan. If he hadn't changed the video himself, she would have been the one humiliated in this scenario.

"It's just…tonight was meant for celebration. I don't think it was appropriate to play that video,"

Cassandra said lightly, attempting to explain her point of view. She had sensed the displeasure in his words.

"Cassandra, the truth is much crueler than you think."

Rufus smiled mirthlessly and left her side without another word. He strode toward the stage, meaning to clean up the mess he had created.

Cassandra looked at his receding figure until it gradually escaped her view. She blinked in confusion, not understanding what he had meant to say.

She always knew that Rufus was not a simple man, but he seemed to be an enigma. She had no idea about the secrets he hid deep inside his heart.

Back at the Tang mansion, a terrible silence pervaded the living room.

"Tell me. What the hell was that video? I always turned a blind eye to your flings with those women as long as you didn't do anything unforgivable. Now, the entire company knows about your affairs! You've embarrassed our family!"

Horace sat in the middle of the room and glared at Lionel. His face was dreadfully grim. His son had failed him utterly.

However, Lionel turned a deaf ear to Horace. His eyes were fastened on Rufus, who sat next to Horace impassively, dismissive of the scene he was witnessing.

"Rufus, you've impressed me. You got what you want. You've successfully caused me to lose face. Are you satisfied now? Did you really think you could kick me out of the company, out of my family?"

Lionel blamed Rufus entirely for what had happened. If it wasn't for his half-brother, he wouldn't have been so humiliated tonight.

At Lionel's words, Horace tried to compose himself. He coughed a little and looked at Rufus, embarrassed.

Horace wasn't a fool. The playlist had been set for the banquet. Few people could tamper with it. Rufus was mature and rational. Horace refused to believe that he would do such a thing to disgrace his family, especially during such an important event.

But who would be capable of doing this, except for Rufus?

"Rufus, you must have spent a lot of effort for tonight's banquet. You and Lionel are biological brothers. If you two have problems, it's better you talk them out openly, instead of going behind each other's backs. I don't want to see you both..."

Rufus interrupted him before he could finish. Crossing his legs lazily, he cast Lionel a frosty glance and said in a low voice, "You suspect me. And where's the evidence? Everyone could see that Lionel brought his mistress to the company party tonight, despite the fact that his wife was at the banquet too. If he can do such a thing, what other shameless things is he capable of? What are you trying to achieve by playing the martyr, Lionel? Huh?"

Rufus's face was expressionless. His words were emphatic, and they hit Lionel like stones being hurled at him.

Comprehension dawned on Horace's face. According to Rufus, Lionel meant to humiliate Cassandra by broadcasting the video to the public, so that he could reveal that the woman he had brought along to the banquet tonight was his mistress.

"Screw you, Rufus. This isn't over! I still remember that you kicked me in the hotel that day. Sooner or later, you will pay for what you have done, and I'll be there to collect my revenge."

Lionel was pissed off. He no longer wanted to continue arguing about the video.

He went for wool and came home shorn. He had failed this time. Afraid that his family would find out about his and Ivy's plan if he continued to argue, he dropped the subject and

turned around to leave the mansion. His visible fury caused the servants to scatter like roaches. No one dared to come in his way.

Watching Lionel leave, Horace heaved a long sigh.

The same time, Cassandra walked downstairs in worry, having heard the argument. She had just finished showering and was dressed in cotton pajamas, holding an empty glass in her hand.

"Dad, are you okay?"

Her concern was genuine. She could feel the tension in the air and wanted to comfort Horace.

After all, it was not right for Horace to get involved in the problems between the two brothers. He seemed to have aged tonight, as if the episode at the banquet had taken a toll on him.

Rufus cast Cassandra a look, still peeved about the displeasure she had expressed about the leaked video.

"Cassandra, Lionel…we're sorry. You did a lot to help us with the project. What do you want as a prize? No matter what it is, I promise I will make it happen for you,"

Horace said, forcing a small smile on his face. Her arrival had lightened up his mood.

Cassandra had not thought about what she truly needed. However, there was one thing she had been wanting to do for ages. She had been too busy to do it before.

"Dad, can I go home and visit my mother?"

Home. The word was both strange and familiar to Cassandra. If it wasn't for her mother, she probably wouldn't have wanted to go back again.

"Sure. You can go whenever you want. I will ask the butler to buy a present for your mother. But I'm afraid Lionel cannot accompany you,"

Horace said yes to her request without hesitation. He failed to hide the disappointment in his eyes at the mention of his son's name.

"That's fine. I can go by myself…"

Cassandra beamed, an exciting little smile spreading over her face. Before she could finish, however, Rufus interrupted her with a husky voice.

"I can accompany Cassandra. I heard that the Qin family is quite far away from here. It wouldn't be safe for a woman to go alone…"

Cassandra's head jerked up at his words. Their eyes met and something sparked between them. Her heart hammered in her chest and her brain seemed to turn foggy. The way he made her feel was beyond words.

Somehow, her heart just couldn't help but look forward to going home with Rufus…