A Graduation Gift

But Cassandra thought otherwise. For a man that only saw her as a childbearing body, marriage was nothing but a tool!

'This is ridiculous. I can not believe it but I am still in love with him at this moment! I'm such a cheap and worthless person...' she was mad at herself.

Having a child with Rufus was supposed to send happy thoughts through her head.

Still, it saddened her that her child, though could be materially satisfied by Rufus, wouldn't grow up in a whole family.

"Rufus, what is the problem? You gave your condition and I accepted it," Cassandra asked.

There was finally a smile on her face at this moment but it was not the kind that he expected. It pained him to see this kind of smile.

"Nothing bad, okay. We can observe it from now on," he replied.

Rufus wasn't sure of when he started to find it difficult to compose himself around Cassandra. When she implied that she was willing to sacrifice a year of her life just to get rid of him, rage started to burn inside him.

He was tired of being a gentleman. He reached over, clasped her waist and hoisted her up on the table.

Rufus noticed her tenseness. Suddenly he heaved a sigh and tightened his hug.

"Not today! Tomorrow, you will not go back to your apartment after work. I will arrange a driver to pick you up so you don't have to feel guilty for using the company vehicle for personal needs," he said.

Rufus knew how she thought. She did her best not to use the company vehicles for private purposes.

In regular times, Cassandra would refuse. But in today's situation, she had no say in the decision.

Rufus held her in his arms and put her into the tub before he turned on the warm water. He said nothing as he washed her.

Cassandra was worried that he would take advantage of her again but to her surprise, he just bathed her with great care and no trace of violence.

She wondered whether he had been stung by his guilty conscience and thought he might have regretted what he had done.

talk to Rufus but as soon as she opened her mouth, it closed

thoughts. His lips curled into a crooked smile. He teased, "Don't take this wrong way. I know that today is not your ovulation

basin of cold water was poured all over her. Sure enough, he wanted nothing but a child. Rufus had lived with her for a long time, so he knew very well about her physiological

Well, how much he loves himself!'

on the bed and covered with a quilt. She drifted into sleep right away, unbothered

so

looking down at her sleeping face.

her arched

on the dark circles under her

for now at least, she would have no excuse to leave him.

leave him but during

to leave me, piss me off, or fool me!' he

alight with ease and joy as some inspiration sprung into his

slammed the laptop before her. Thinking about Jill's remarks from the night before filled her with

your health. I think it wouldn't affect your health if you and Lionel plan to have another child now. You'd better have a child when you are young because a young woman recovers more quickly from childbearing than an elder woman does,"

told her as she held her hands. Concern and sincerity emanated from her and Ivy just smiled and nodded, suppressing the grievance inside her.

she had lived with the Tangs for such a long time. Even Lionel had

had driven away Cassandra by her schemes but this now wasn't what she

was worse, Lionel had become more and more distant from her. He didn't touch her despite the fact that

to be so obsessed with her body but now he was indifferent. This brought a sense of crisis sweeping over her.

out or was suspected something mysterious

with respect in the presence of his parents, there were times

eyes off her. He looked at her with as much intensity, if not more, as he did with Ivy when he

the superficial harmony since she couldn't bear to think what would happen to her if

chitchat pulled Ivy from her

about when exactly you can get pregnant. Aren't you preparing for pregnancy? Why

believe you do believe in the superstition! I only believe in science. Measuring body temperature daily and using the ovulation test strips would be okay," the other one replied.

her advice and