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.

when she saw Rufus's ashen face and broken

"Are you feeling better?"

asked after a long period of loaded silence. It was a simple question and anyone could have asked it. She

on your

that Rufus and Cassandra would be talking peacefully so he wanted to go straight to

for she didn't even know what was on her mind.

to have a family—of all people, she thought Rufus should be the one to

ask too much from you? Was I too greedy? Are we where we are now because of me?" Cassandra

face twisted into

when you ask too much; it only bothers

her. The last thing he

her head low

and reached out for Cassandra's

"Don't leave me, okay?"

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

was in a coma, I thought I heard you speaking to me. I wasn't sure if it was

locking his gaze

woke up. I was

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

and we can

her. Suddenly, tears were welling

heard Rufus right. 'Did he just say he wanted

the first time he had mentioned getting married. Could it be that he really did love me enough to want to

nowhere near perfect. Remember? You even got mad at me. So

seeing Cassandra cry—he felt his heart twist whenever he

since he held her like this. Cassandra could hear his strong and steady heartbeat which calmed her own

control her tears but they just kept coming out and drenching Rufus's

Cassandra owned Rufus's

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

which only made him

that formed a

was Arthur standing humbly as if he revered

They invested so much

a smile on his face. His smile had a sort of chilling vibe to it that even

from their investment because well,

a careful smile on

easy to take down the Tang Group. I'd be able to take them down easily even without the investment

his eyes which only

need their money, I still wouldn't give a dime back to TY which means they would lose a