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.

she saw Rufus's ashen face and broken legs, she

"Are you feeling better?"

question and

on your mind

and Cassandra would be talking

didn't even know what was on her mind.

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 didn't know how to

too greedy? Are we where we are now because of me?" Cassandra asked.

face twisted into a sneer.

it only bothers me when you

her. The last thing he

respond, instead she hung her head low and fidgeted with

out for Cassandra's

"Don't leave me, okay?"

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

wasn't sure if it was real but I was sure it

locking his gaze into

when I woke up. I was

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

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

her. Suddenly, tears were welling up in

wasn't sure if she'd heard Rufus right. 'Did he just say he wanted to get married? And a wedding?

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

Remember? You even got mad at me. So I'm going to propose

his heart

out and held her in his arms. It had been a while since he held her like this. Cassandra

just kept coming out and drenching Rufus's hospital gown.

Cassandra owned Rufus's heart.

a handsome

upwards which only made him look

lips that formed

him was Arthur standing humbly as if he revered and respected the man on

generous. They invested so much money in your company

man said with a smile on his face. His smile had a sort of chilling vibe to it that even Arthur was

TY the interest from their investment because well, we're all business

said with a careful smile on his face, avoiding any eye contact.

Group. I'd be able to take them down easily even without

confidently. He narrowed his eyes which

their money now and I can do whatever I want with it. Even if I didn't need their money, I still wouldn't give a dime back to TY