The Poison Rose novel Chapter 10

The crisp sound of footsteps made Cassandra sink deeper into the bed sheets. She closed her eyes and felt a headache coming on. She wondered what in the world was happening. Why did she keep running into problems ever since she got back from Rome?

As Lionel walked into the ward, his eyes swept indifferently over the woman hiding under the sheets before they landed on Rufus.

"What's going on? You took over Tang Group the second you came back to the city. Now you've set your sights on my wife too?"

Lionel said, sarcasm dripping from his tone. He crossed his arms as he glared at Rufus. His attitude toward his half-brother had always been hostile. Rufus just came out of nowhere, and his father treated him with utmost respect and admiration. His brother's alienating and cold eyes only pissed Lionel off further, since he was used to being proud and arrogant.

In the aisle outside the ward, Horace had just announced that Rufus was about to take over Tang Group. He would become the new CEO of the company.

In the past few years, Lionel had been looking after everything at Tang Group. His position might be inferior to his father's, but he had been in charge of all the significant business decisions. There was only a difference of the title between them. At first, Lionel couldn't believe his ears when Horace made the announcement. In a matter of minutes, he handed over the company to this illegitimate bastard who had materialized out of thin air. It was completely unfair to Lionel, who was the presumed heir of the Tang family. In his mind, he should have been the CEO of the company -the one who would hold the highest power.

He could not allow Rufus to replace him.

Rufus made no response to his ironic question and simply ignored his younger brother. He didn't bother gracing Lionel with a look. His half-brother simply had no effect on him.

"Rufus, I don't know what you said to my father to make him hand over the company to you, but don't you ever forget that I'm the rightful heir of the Tang family. You will never win!"

Rufus's cavalier attitude was beginning to infuriate Lionel. He looked like he had no care in the world. In all of Lionel's privileged life, no one -be it a servant or the president of a multinational company -had dared to treat him in this careless manner. He approached Rufus with a clear warning in his eyes, the sharp sound of his shoes echoing in the ward. Lionel raised a threatening eyebrow at his older brother.

"Right,"

Rufus replied lazily. Their demeanor was in sharp contrast -Lionel was almost shaking with anger while Rufus was sitting on the bed leisurely as if he was on a vacation.

Lionel felt frustration rise up in him like never before. His eyes narrowed in anger and his lips curved up in a taunting smile. Once again, he issued his brother a slow warning.

"We'll see. Watch your back, brother."

Lionel pivoted on one foot and walked out, in his irritation slamming the door with a violent thud. He paid no heed to the patient in the room.

Watching Lionel leave, Ruf us looked at the swaying door and smiled a little. His face was an unreadable mask; his intentions unclear.

It was like a battlefield without any smoke. Cassandra had been hiding under the quilt all this while, listening to Lionel's tense words. The news was unexpected. Horace had handed over Tang Group to Rufus, who had only just returned home.

Cassandra knew Horace was far from recklessness. He must have his reasons for this. Was he trying to make up to Rufus, mending the bond between them? Or did he have a secret agenda?

"How much longer will you hide?" Rufus asked her when it became clear she wouldn't speak.

He threw back the quilt and saw the little woman curled up in bed. The sudden light hurt her eyes and she made a sound of annoyance. When she raised her head, a pair of beautiful, wicked eyes smiled in her direction, calming her nerves a little.

"Rufus, we have to talk," Cassandra said.