A Graduation Gift

Cassandra's heart ached as she listened to her mother weep over the phone. She suddenly forgot all about her nagging from a while ago and spoke with utmost care, "Mom, I'm so sorry. I shouldn't worry you. I promise you, all the gossip and news about my affair will be gone within a year. I won't continue with Rufus in such a state for long."

She thought of the agreement she had made with Rufus, according to which after giving birth to his baby, she would be set free.

For the rest of her life, she could be with her own family. She could live a simple life, like she had always wanted, and never fool herself in the name of love again.

"What? Are you planning to marry him? Can Rufus marry you under Tang family's pressure?"

Edith's skeptical tone was enough to convey she had misinterpreted Cassandra's words.

Cassandra didn't know how she would explain the situation to her. Although Rufus was Horace's son, he wasn't going to heed in any kinds of arrangements Horace made for him, unlike Lionel—who was incapable of making his own choices and a total coward. Rufus had always been firm about wanting to marry her. It was she who didn't want it.

"Mom, just stop asking. All I can tell you is I have a plan. I'll make sure everything settles soon. Don't worry."

Hearing Cassandra give a vague reply, Edith started nagging her again. The conversation finally ended when Cassandra promised to visit her by the end of the month.

After hanging up, she heaved a deep sigh of relief. All kinds of feelings persisted in her mind, regarding Edith and Cloris.

But she continued to feel uneasy like she was before the phone call, about what Whitney had said to her. She felt like there was something she had forgotten but couldn't even point her finger at what it was.

"You don't look quite like yourself today. Is there something bothering you?" Rufus asked Cassandra, back in the villa.

Cassandra stood chopping vegetables in Garden Villa's cozy and homely kitchen. One hand that held the knife, went up and down rhythmically, like a machine; while the other looked absolutely still, somehow was just holding the onions instead of pushing them forward.

Rufus noticed her looking far off and cold as he came into the kitchen to grab a glass of water. Something was clearly wrong with her.

deal. It's just

of her musings, and she went back to cooking swiftly. Quickly, she

meal to permeate the kitchen. Rufus inhaled deeply, already satiated

Cassandra hadn't mentioned breaking up even once, and seemed a lot

occurred to

her lounge-wear clothes. They were the kind of clothes girls wore for Yoga. The material stuck to her skin, accentuating the curves of her body, making

wore consisted of pastoral colors—green for the grass and trees, and blue for the clear sky. It was decorated with pink cherry blossoms which gave it a

He walked toward her and scooped her into

you think it's troublesome to cook everyday? Do you need me to hire a

going to be

even want a helper on an hourly basis, much less a domestic

rumors about their relationship. She maintained a safe distance from him when they were

gossip about them, and that Rufus would fall into a conflict with

could potentially pose harm to Rufus. How could she allow

misunderstood her intention. He simply giggled behind her, hugging her tightly.

to taste the food you cook everyday?" he asked,

to brim with contentment and

he was thinking otherwise. Still, she didn't try to explain the

wrong. I just feel safer when I cook myself. Moreover, who can cook a more nutritious meal than my own self? If I don't,

and didn't respond warmly to Rufus's attempts at intimacy. She then freed herself from his

and slowly, he loosened his grip from her body, stepping back. An inexplicable pain