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.

smile whose warmth could light anyone's heart in

definite features. The wisdom and confidence that shone

She was almost sure this was

the portrait and enjoyed it with her head cocked to

such adorable features that

a charming

of childhood, Cassandra felt

with her parents. Cloris, though, had several pictures with them that adorned their home when they

as close to her as they

closed her eyes and covered her face with her hands. Tears fell on her

in her heart that could not

"Why aren't you asleep?"

a gentle voice from behind her. Rufus, in a

few steps down, he stopped beside Cassandra. He leaned against the

"Jet lag,"

the tears off with her hands. She did not like looking vulnerable in front of others.

not someone who would share feelings and

cigarette and stood beside

"Thank you, Rufus,"

But it

eyes and stared at her disheveled

when they met in Rome. Stress clearly got to her. She was going

turned to look

looked like a little fairy as the moon illuminated her

does family mean to

for him to

of the company. But Cassandra wondered whether

clenched his fists so hard that his hands began to

family mean to him? He didn't know if the family that Cassandra was pertaining to was the Tang

then that

family meant nothing to him.

murmured, "Sometimes, I feel so out of place in this

body began to shake with her nightgown

out his cigarette and got down to his knees. He brought the sad girl to his arms.

it was a relatively warm night, her

"Do you feel cold?"

Rufus frowned.

I just feel

from his

figure and stayed

a coat. Let's

sighed. He felt helpless seeing Cassandra worry so much. He knew that there was not much that he

was a quiet night. The sea was calm, reflecting the starlight above it. It looked nothing like how it did in daylight when the waves were lively.