A Graduation Gift

Cassandra felt someone tapping her on the shoulder as she got lost in her own thoughts. She was surprised to find Michelle when she turned around.

"Come in. He wants to see you," Michelle said.

Cassandra was startled—Rufus wanted to see her? Why?

Wasn't he staying with Amanda?

Michelle had already seen her hiding by the balcony earlier but she chose to ignore her. However, Rufus insisted on seeing her and Michelle really couldn't do anything about that so she did as he wished.

How difficult all of this was!

"Amanda's gone. It's just going to be you and him. Communicate and talk everything over, okay? Fix this."

As soon as Michelle finished speaking, she turned around and walked towards Jasper who was waiting for her in the corridor.

Both Michelle and Jasper turned around to look at Cassandra. Looking helpless, they both shook their heads and left.

Cassandra remained frozen and was unable to gather her thoughts. Was she really going to finally see him?

When Rufus was still in comatose, she took care of him all throughout hoping that she would be the first face he would see when he woke up. But now, she was afraid to see him, and even talk to him.

Cassandra took a deep breath to calm herself down. Then she pushed the door open and walked in. She didn't want to see him right away so she kept her eyes fixed on the floor and her mouth tightly shut.

"Come here,"

Rufus said in a placid tone. Cassandra slowly walked towards his bed.

Rufus felt something break inside him when he saw how hesitant Cassandra was to even look him in the eye. He reached out his hand and patted the edge of the bed.

"Come and sit,"

he softly suggested.

Cassandra sat on the edge of the bed—careful with her every move. When she finally raised her head to look at him, she found him staring at her deeply. It was difficult to read him.

"Say something."

Rufus frowned at her silence.

Cassandra wanted to tell him so many things but she couldn't make her mouth move as if her throat had been sealed shut.

She wanted so bad to ask him about Amanda and if he'd already chosen her. She wanted to ask him why he couldn't let her go.

She wanted to tell him how bad she was hurting and she wanted to ask him how he could treat her this way.

face and broken

"Are you feeling better?"

silence. It was a simple question and anyone could have asked it. She didn't know what else to say to him.

on your

first time that Rufus and Cassandra would be talking peacefully so he

a word, for she didn't even know what was on her mind. She should

and commit to it; she wanted a quiet life; she wanted to have a family—of all people, she thought Rufus should be the one to know all of this. However, now that he was asking what was on her mind, she

ask too much from you? Was I too greedy? Are we where we are

face twisted into

when you ask too much; it only

eyes on her. The last thing he wanted to happen was for

she hung her head low and fidgeted with her

and reached out for Cassandra's

"Don't leave me, okay?"

in a soft voice, squeezing her hand. The familiar warmth of his

I thought I heard you speaking to me. I wasn't sure if it was real but

his gaze

weren't there when I woke up. I

that Cassandra wasn't by his side—until now, he could still feel the pain

and don't be mad anymore. Come back, please, and we can live together again. We can

were welling

if she'd heard Rufus right. 'Did he just say

time he had mentioned getting married. Could it be that he really

near perfect. Remember? You even got mad at

seeing Cassandra cry—he felt his heart twist whenever he saw Cassandra

while since he held her like this. Cassandra could hear

tears but they just kept coming out and drenching

Cassandra owned Rufus's

Star Group, a handsome man sat on the president's chair instead of

eyes were curved upwards which only made

lips that formed a light, dazzling smile.

if he revered and respected the man on

so much money in

His smile had a sort of chilling vibe to it that even Arthur

from their investment because well, we're all business partners who share

a careful smile on his face,

what you are. It's pretty easy to take down the Tang Group. I'd be able to take them down easily even without the

man said confidently. He narrowed his eyes which only showed how

whatever I want with it. Even if I didn't need their money, I still wouldn't give a dime back to TY which means they would lose a lot of money. But