A Graduation Gift

The world went pitch black as Cassandra gingerly closed her eyes, then the colors of her surroundings burst out when she opened them again. She had imagined her encounter with Rufus countless times just several hours before now. Finally, she was a free person—she could come to see him without being judged and it wouldn't be against her morals either.

Maybe, while she slept, Rufus would silently go to her bedside and kiss her gently on the face. The tenderness would awaken her from her sleepy form and she would open her eyes in delight. Their eyes would meet at the first beam of sunshine, and they would smile at each other.

Or, she would welcome his arrival while she basked under the warmest sunlight at noon. They would embrace each other so tight and step on their shadows as if burying all their miseries in the past.

Or again, he would find her at dusk, where the entire sky would be a wistful red. His eyes would be attractively dark brown like always, and he would whisper to her the sweetest words from his heart…

In all the scenes that she had envisioned, there were only two of them. What she had wished for, was the life between only the two of them.

Never in her wildest dreams would she have imagined that when they came across each other again, there were three of them—and ironically, she seemed to be the outsider.

Her eyes scanned down her own body—dark stains were smeared on her clothes, and her hands still holding the spade she used for digging were muddy.

Beads of sweat trickled down from her forehead. Her clothes were glued to her back, and she could almost hear the sound of the fabric rubbing against her skin when she started to move.

This definitely wasn't an ideal encounter.

There by the porch stood Rufus and a proud, gorgeous woman by his side. Her eyes didn't intend to hide her boiling contempt for Cassandra.

A frown marred Rufus's face. The beautiful woman had asked a question, but her voice was drowned in his thoughts. He didn't respond, as he seemed to be quite confused with what he saw in front of him.

"Cassandra, what are you doing here?" he asked in doubt.

His voice wasn't gentle; his expression wasn't tender; he didn't even intend to give her a warm hug. It was a totally different scene from her dream.

He was even holding the hand of another woman. Cassandra didn't know how to respond, but she managed to squeeze out a few words.

"I…I'm just planting some flowers..." Silence hung like a heavy curtain in the air.

Awkwardness crept through her skin as if she was the intruder who had broken into this property and even dug an ugly hole in the yard without the owner's consent.

"Isn't it cold outside? Come in," he said.

When the words came out of his lips, his brows were still creased, and then he walked into the room.

The woman beside him followed suit, and Cassandra was left outside petrified like a statue.

Suddenly, the woman in red whipped her head around and shot Cassandra a meaningful glance. A huge smile was plastered on her face—it was a smile that meant triumph and victory.

Her lips curved into a willful smile in silence; then she turned her beautiful, arrogant head back and followed Rufus's footsteps.

A gust of the night breeze kissed Cassandra's skin, making it quiver with goosebumps.

hot just now after her wearisome activities, was now

to hold Rufus's

excited to see me? Why

the endless questions, Cassandra blankly stared

poked her head out of the

Cassandra, she sent a flying kiss, and

felt so silly on the inside.

gave me a flying kiss to

have settle down here, but it turned out that I've occupied someone else's place,

faint yellow sky. The sullen sun was setting behind the thick gloomy clouds,

why are

and tangled through her hair as she ran

and onto her lips. 'That's salty,

and was surrounded by the woods. Hardly any people could be seen in this desolate area.

and ran, until she lost track of time. It was only when she couldn't catch her breath

after she looked up at the sky and as far as she could see, the only thing beyond the woods was the orange sun. It radiated a dim glow which painted the entire horizon of its color before it fell completely behind the

disappear bit by bit into the horizon. Soon enough, darkness

You have waited from dawn till night. What you actually saw was not Rufus whom you have desired, nor

that this is only a wishful thinking on

lips as she grinned

He was Tang Group's CEO, Horace Tang's son, the most promising young

dictate the fate of others; he could have anything he desired. That was the man Rufus was. How could she innocently believe that he was

as she knew, she was miles apart from the naive young girls who dreamt of princes to love. How could she fall into the trap of a man who just occasionally cared for her? Was it because she

idiot!'

that he would give her a home so that she wouldn't have to wander around in search for a shelter. However, right now in the dark night, she had no place to go. How

Why are you here?"

the

recognized the familiar voice, she surprisingly felt like a little deer caught by a

around every time when she was

heavy set of photography equipment in his arms.

darted from left to right as she fumbled for an

much as she wanted to vent her feelings to someone, she didn't even

the sunset!" the ardent lover of

usual, and its infectious delight seemed to have driven some coldness

go to the bar!" Cassandra suggested out of the

the better of her. If she was drunk, she could forget all about the

from behind the curtain of her hair and looked pleadingly at Dylon.