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 legs, she bit her

"Are you feeling better?"

It was a simple question and anyone could have asked it. She

on your

first time that Rufus and Cassandra would be talking peacefully so he wanted to go straight to the point.

didn't even know what was on her mind.

she thought Rufus

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

into a sneer.

bother when you ask too much; it only bothers me when you don't

her. The last thing he

instead she hung her head low and fidgeted with her

sighed and reached out

"Don't leave me, okay?"

voice, squeezing her hand. The familiar warmth of his

me. I wasn't sure if it was real but I was sure it was you and your

locking his gaze into

you weren't there when I woke up.

empty and disconnected when he woke up to find that Cassandra wasn't by his side—until now, he could still feel the pain

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

were welling up in Cassandra's eyes.

sure if she'd heard Rufus right. 'Did he just say he wanted to get married? And

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

with me for a long time. I know I've proposed before and it was nowhere near perfect. Remember? You even

cry—he felt his heart twist whenever he

been a while since he held her like this. Cassandra could hear his strong and steady heartbeat

tried to control her tears but they just kept

Cassandra owned Rufus's heart.

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

curved upwards which only made him look more charming.

that formed

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

is generous. They invested so much money in your

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

their investment because well, we're all business partners who share a communion of

with a careful smile on his face, avoiding

pretty easy to take down the Tang Group. I'd be able to take them down

man said confidently. He narrowed his eyes which only

need their money, I still wouldn't give a dime back to TY which means they would lose a lot of money. But my priority right now is to destroy the