A Graduation Gift

A Maserati was driving fast on the road. In the driver's seat was Rufus, talking on the phone.

"Are you at your studio right now? I am coming with Cassandra. There is a small problem with her dress."

After these words, he hung up the call, turned his head to look at Cassandra and noticed the little woman was shell-shocked from what had just happened at the party. With a blank look on her face, she said nothing.

Seeing her like this, Rufus couldn't help but furrow his eyebrows. He silently let out a sigh.

There was no doubt, Cassandra was good at her work, and was a nice person to get along with. The only problem was that she was too trusting, almost naive and often let her guard down when around the people she shouldn't trust.

The night was warm, and the city was lit by bright streetlights. A cool breeze blew in the car through the rolled down window. Something unreadable flashed through Cassandra's eyes. She gently bit down on her lower lip and finally opened up to talk.

"The lace strap of this dress couldn't have easily torn by itself. Someone must have cut it."

From her small but firm voice, Rufus knew she was thinking through. A hint of anger flashed through his eyes, the corners of his mouth lifted. But he said nothing. He just hummed, letting her know that he understood what she was thinking.

It seemed that the little woman finally registered what had transpired. By now, she was calm enough to rationally think. Yes, Cassandra might be trusting and naive, but it didn't mean that she was stupid. What had just happened wasn't accidental. It was not that easy. Someone must have intentionally cut the lace strap of her dress to embarrass her. But who was it? Who would have wanted to do this to her?

Closing her eyes, she racked the brain for who would have a motive and the chance. It couldn't be Michelle Ling, because when the dress was delivered, Cassandra took enough time to confirm it was intact. There was no way Cassandra could have missed any sign of damage then.

Besides, Michelle Ling was a name synonymous with quality, class, and professionalism. The dress couldn't be of low quality that the strap would tear in the middle of the party. Who else could it be? Rufus? No, there was no way he would stoop that low to embarrass a woman. Not especially a woman that he loved. There was no chance in hell when the same dress had cost him a pretty penny. He wouldn't have a reason to pull such a lousy stunt. Then...

Cloris!

Cassandra couldn't help but shudder when her sister's name crossed her mind. Carefully, she thought back of the details when Cloris was with her.

A terrible hunch began to eat at her heart. She didn't want to accuse her sister. But the more she remembered what had happened when the two of them were together alone, the more she believed Cloris was culpable. Suddenly, without any good reason, Cassandra's head started to hurt.

With her fingers she rubbed her temple, trying to relieve the pain. It didn't work. What was worse, she even wanted to throw up.

"Stop the car,"

She demanded, out of the blue. Startled, Rufus glanced at her and realized she wasn't kidding. Right now, she looked so beat, that Rufus immediately pulled over to the side without a word.

As soon as the car stopped, Cassandra quickly opened that door and got out of the vehicle to stand by the roadside.

The cool breeze blowing on her face helped her feel less dizzy and nauseated. But at the same time, her heart grew cold. If Cloris was here, Cassandra feared she might have committed a felony.

Cloris was her biological sister for God's sake! Why did she have to do that to her? Cassandra's head began to spin again. She frantically tried to find a motive behind her sister's actions.

By that time Rufus had also gotten out of the car and walked to stand beside her. He reached out and steadied her wobbling body, his eyes full of worry for her.

"What is wrong, Cassandra? Is it carsickness?"

trance. They locked eyes as she lifted her head. That was when she finally understood why

So coming to the party, the naive girl must have thought that he was going to pick her over Cassandra, for a dance. It hurt her to see the man she

party fantasizing about Rufus, only

of shameful revenge against her own sister and best of

million years would she expect her sister to deal her a cruel blow like this. Also, she blamed herself for hurting Cloris. For all that her younger sister knew, Cassandra was married to Lionel. No matter what challenges the marriage had, Cloris did not expect that her elder sister to have an

What the hell are you doing right now? You know that Cloris likes Rufus, but still, you can't learn to keep your distance from him. Don't you think this embarrassment serves you right?'

matter how long he kept it there and stroked her, it failed to cheer up her cold heart. She was

from his touch and walked ahead without

Cassandra and walked up to

it wasn't that easy. Much to his surprise, the little woman struggled hard

from him again. The look on her face was cold and desperate. She was nothing like

exactly is wrong with you,

but shout in frustration. To be honest, Cassandra frightened him. He had no idea what she was thinking right now. And to make things worse, she refused to talk. Only a short time

You are my brother-in-law, for heaven's sake.

there wasn't the slightest hint of emotion on her face.

brother-in-law? Why would she want to do that? Rufus couldn't believe his ears.

of a sudden. It surprised him that she wasn't even grateful for how he had saved the day by whisking her away from humiliation at

save her! As if that was not enough, he was taking her straight to Michelle's studio for another dress at a tidy sum of money. But what was she doing as a reward

don't make me mad at

darkened eyes, he warned. From the look on his face, one could tell he was trying very hard

was no need to fight here. If anything, she was

brother-in law. Just

hands into tight fists. In a fit of rage, he punched the lamp post beside them so hard the metal reverberated. His hand must hurt, but he

reaction made Cassandra's

Rufus so angry at her, but she

at her heart, Cassandra bit down harshly at her lower lip and bowed her head to avoid meeting his gaze. She tried hard to contain her

if you don't want to drive me back, then I will

her dress and turned

up high and sauntered off as if there was nothing to worry about. The arrogance of her body language incensed Rufus more. She was testing the

was that her heart was bleeding. She was trying hard to hold back

all the while her heart getting colder and colder

for him and me. It's such a waste of time, '

stop being so kind to her and giving her false hope. It scared her to imagine falling in love with him only to set herself up for more drama and worse disappointment. Accepting him now would also be a bad idea, given the infatuations of

you and I don't belong together, Rufus. We'd better go our separate ways before we get too emotionally

now, it's not yet too late for me to face my faults

to say to him but she just

was much worse. But it was all Cassandra's fault. She let her

she had become overdependent on him. Inch by inch, she let him into her space, forgetting it was a complicated relationship from the word

regardless of their problems during the four years of their marriage. Moreover, she was the Qin family's lifeline at the moment. There was no way she was going to gamble with the lives of her