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 the next

into a crooked smile. He teased, "Don't take this wrong way. I know that today is not

for a long time, so he knew very well about her physiological period. And there was surely

Well, how much he loves himself!'

quilt. She drifted into sleep right away, unbothered by hunger or

so exhausted.

sat by the bed, looking down at her

of it was buried under the quilt, leaving her arched eyebrows

dark circles under her eyes that made her look

made a choice. Though it pissed him off, for now at least, she would have no

year. One year later she might have a chance to leave him but during the year, he would use other means to

to leave me, piss me off, or fool

watched her face, his eyes were alight with ease and joy as some inspiration sprung

a state of intense agitation, Ivy slammed the laptop before her. Thinking

and Lionel plan to have another child now. You'd better have a child when you

from her and Ivy

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

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

from her. He didn't

used to be so obsessed with her body but now he was indifferent. This brought a sense

out or was

mentioned anything and treated her with respect in the presence of his parents, there were times when she was utterly ignored by

met Cassandra, he was not able to take his eyes off her. He looked at her with as much intensity, if not more, as he did with Ivy when

she couldn't bear to think what would happen to her if she

pulled Ivy from

who can tell you about when exactly you can get pregnant. Aren't you preparing for pregnancy? Why not consult her?" one woman asked.

cannot 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,"

for her advice and are all pregnant now," the first woman said with