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

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

a child. Rufus had lived with her for a long

much he loves himself!' she snorted

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

so

sat by the bed, looking

it was buried under the quilt, leaving her arched eyebrows and delicate nose for his viewing.

eyelashes fell on the dark circles under her

now at least, she would have no excuse to

to leave him but during the

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

his eyes were alight with ease and joy as some

of intense agitation, Ivy slammed the laptop before her. Thinking about Jill's remarks from the night before filled her

long time to nourish your health. I think it wouldn't affect your health if you and Lionel plan to have another child now. You'd better have

and sincerity emanated from her and Ivy just smiled and

fact that she had lived with the Tangs for such a long

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

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

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

something out or

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

to take his eyes off her. He looked at her with as much intensity, if not more, as he did

tried to keep it all inside as to not break the superficial harmony since she couldn't bear to think what would happen to her

pulled Ivy from

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

Measuring body temperature daily and using the ovulation test strips would be okay," the other one replied.

am not joking. Some people I know have asked for her advice