A Graduation Gift

Rufus's embrace tightened further when he heard what she had just said.

"I will not allow you to jump. If you do, I will tear down the Qin family house and your company!"

Rufus shrieked at Cassandra on the spur of the moment. The domineering way in which he spoke would have made her laugh normally but she just wasn't in the right mood now.

In the end, she forced a bitter smile, underlying her soberness and bewilderment.

"I remember, when my family wanted me to marry Lionel, and I strongly opposed it. On that night, I went to the roof of my parents' house with this unicorn and spent the entire night sulking. I remember, the wind blew so strongly but still wasn't enough to blow my miseries away.

I kept asking myself, why it had to be me? Why did I have to make such a compromise?

Ever since I was young, I received less care and love from my parents as compared to my sister. Why, then, did I have to bear the responsibility in such a situation?"

Cassandra poured out her heart, her eyes half-closed, mellowed by tears. She kept thinking of how her family treated her when she was young and the tears started to flow out in streams.

"I stared at the sky from night to dawn, till the moon and stars faded and the first light appeared, till the sun rays pierced through the clouds and illuminated the sky.

Then suddenly, I heard sounds of colliding tableware coming from the kitchen and my mom speaking in the background. Eventually, the smell of breakfast wafted through the air."

Her tears left traces on her cheeks even after the wind dried them away. Her eyes turned

after all. And they were the ones who had granted me life and brought me into this wonderful world. I

turned her head in Rufus's direction,

beyond her to decipher. She had never seen

she continued, her voice seemed to contain hints of an impending confession, "I am scared of being alone. I have been alone in this villa most of the time. There is no other sound but that of my own footsteps and no body else around me but

wondering when you'd be back. This place feels and smells like home only when you are around. Only then, I don't

intently, his eyes flickering.

as a strong and independent person who didn't need to rely on anyone for her own happiness. The thought of her feeling lonely in a quiet house never crossed

so sorry, Cassandra. I promise I'll be home more often," Rufus said

saw her loneliness; he saw her grief. Now,

it," she said, not sure whether

smile crept up her lips, somehow

to her, hugging her tightly, sitting next to her. After a while, she

had surfaced completely above

have decided to move out,"

not to dither no matter what he