A Graduation Gift

As the night grew late, Cassandra prepared herself for the hotel that they were going to stay in. To her surprise, Rufus drove them to Hampton.

Hampton was a village by the beach in the city. It was filled with majestic and luxurious buildings, each with its own walled gardens.

There lived the most influential people in New York city—the most powerful political families, tycoons, movie stars, socialites, etc. Tons of paparazzi lurked to get their scoop on the city elites' lives.

Cassandra stared at an approaching convertible with her eyes wide open. 'Was the woman sitting on the front seat the movie star who just won an award for Best Supporting Actress?' she thought.

Row upon row of towering villas surrounded the coast. Each house was a masterpiece by several architects, impressive in their own way. They all looked sublime coupled with the stormy sea.

Rufus pulled over at a corner beside a slope, on top of which stood a blue castle. It reminded pedestrians of fairy tales from their childhood, making them feel as if there were a prince and a princess living inside.

"Do you like it? I named it 'Dream, '"

Rufus said, taking off his sunglasses. He smiled at Cassandra. His eyes were deep and attractive.

"Dream..."

Cassandra murmured, staring at the beautiful building. Her watery eyes brightened her face in the moonlight.

She walked on the castle's white cobbled path as Rufus drove to the back to park.

The iron gate was entwined with vines and a few pink flowers sprawled and adorned the exterior wall.

As a gentle breeze blew and twilight fell, Rufus walked across the yard, to the gate, and finally opened the castle doors to let Cassandra in.

"Welcome to Dream, my princess,"

He said as he put his left hand behind him, offered his right hand, and did a gentle bow similar to a royal curtsy.

Cassandra flashed a smile. Her eyes glittered like diamonds in the night. This was every little girl's fantasy. It was impossible to resist such a moment.

Rufus prepared a room facing the sea for her. Late at night, the sea reflected the stars as the waves rolled to the beach. This enchanting sight dazzled Cassandra.

She changed into a silk nightgown. The castle was empty but warm.

Lying on the bed she found herself still very wide awake. Cloris's words rang in her mind, "Mom asked me to seek help from you." She could hear her say it again and again. It was like a python, snarling at her with its mouth open. Her mind was in such a turmoil that she couldn't sleep.

What did she mean to her mother and sister?

Realizing that her attempts to quiet her mind would be futile, Cassandra got up and pushed the door open. She decided to explore the castle, instead.

Downstairs, the whole house was covered in dim light.

She noticed a huge portrait hung on the hall of the ground floor.

It was of a woman and a boy which was so lifelike that it seemed more like a photo than a painting.

a gentle smile whose warmth could light anyone's heart in a cold

young boy stood, good-looking with definite features. The wisdom and confidence that shone through his eyes

She was almost sure

sat on the staircase across the portrait and enjoyed

little boy. God endowed him with such adorable features that

a charming little boy.

of childhood, Cassandra

with her parents. Cloris, though, had several pictures with them that

why her parents were not as close to her

covered her face with her hands. Tears fell on

the pain in her heart that could not seem to

"Why aren't you asleep?"

a gentle voice from behind her. Rufus, in a loose robe, stood at the top of

he stopped beside Cassandra. He leaned against the

"Jet lag,"

She quickly wiped the tears off with her hands. She did not like looking vulnerable in front

knew she was not someone who would share feelings and secrets.

and stood beside her without a word.

"Thank you, Rufus,"

said. But it sounded

dark eyes and stared at her disheveled

wasn't this thin when they met in Rome. Stress clearly got to her. She was going through a lot.

woman turned to look

looked like a little fairy as the

does family mean

felt like for him to meet his father after years of

him to take charge of the company. But Cassandra wondered whether he ever blamed Horace for not

silent and clenched his fists so

didn't know if the family that Cassandra was pertaining to was the Tang

were, then that would be

Tang family meant nothing to him. He never

feel so out of place in this family. It's like

shake with her nightgown

his cigarette and got down to his

a relatively warm night, her

"Do you feel cold?"

Rufus frowned.

just

his

at her figure and stayed silent for a minute.

Let's

so much. He knew that there was not much that he could

It