A Graduation Gift

The frown on his face did not relax, and the muscles of his mouth grew, if anything, tenser, as he had already guessed the reason behind her unexpected visit.

Evidently, Amanda had already known about his short visit to Cassandra's office and she had showed up at his door to unburden her soul. However, Rufus wasn't aware of this just yet.

"Rufus, You haven't forgotten Cassandra, have you?"

Amanda's voice trembled. Her breath came so hard that Rufus could hear its suspiration where he stood.

"So, you know that I went to see her, right?"

Rufus was as sharp as a tack. Hardly anything could slip past his sharp mind without being noticed and Amanda's thoughts were of no exception.

'Now that she's here to talk to me about this matter, I might as well tell her everything I've got in my mind.' Rufus wanted to take advantage of this opportunity that had presented itself to him.

"Amanda, you know exactly what happened that night. And I don't think it was a coincidence that your father came into that room the next morning to witness the scene first-hand. You orchestrated all of that, didn't you?"

As he peered into her pretty face, he thought to himself, 'She is not as innocent as she tries to appear. She didn't hesitate to drug me with a philter just so she could become my woman.'

"Rufus, you can't make such baseless accusations about me just because you don't want to be with me!"

'Of course, I am not going to admit it. If I were foolish enough to admit to something like that, I wouldn't have any chance to become his girlfriend.' Amanda's flawless facade masked her private guilt.

"Yeah, well. If you say so, Amanda. I'm clearly aware of what you're capable of, thinking now."

His bitter frown transformed itself into a sneer smile and then a contemptuous one.

"I stayed with you for one whole month because of your illness, but I don't think I can hide my real thoughts to spend the rest of my life with you. The fact that I love Cassandra can't be changed. Someday you will meet a person who will love and cherish you, but that person is not me. I hope that one day you will understand me, Amanda."

again. Even just uttering Cassandra's name could change his

could you be so cruel? You won't even give me a

feeling. Amanda felt her chest tighten into a knot like a cramp

"Amanda, I'm so sorry."

in her head; so rather than keeping silent, he told her the truth. Even if he knew that it would break her heart, he

her car and drove away. Glancing at her helplessly, Rufus turned

down. Blinking lashes heavy with tears blurred her vision. Every word that came out of Rufus's mouth

"I love Cassandra..."

don't know why you have to be so heartless. I'm ready to give up everything in my life just to be with you, but you still love

of a sudden, she pulled over to the side of the road and dialled Cassandra's number.

hell! I curse you die alone in agony!

Cassandra was utterly baffled by the hurricane the woman on the other end of the line was subjecting her to. She paused

sorry, but...

the phone, Cassandra wasn't expecting to be bombarded

me that he still loved you. But mark my words, Cassandra, don't

Amanda hung up the phone. Her gasping wails echoed, as she sobbed unceasingly, hands clutching at the steering

the busy tone from the other end of the line, Cassandra slowly recovered from

told her the truth about how

on her skin like dew on spring grass. She could even feel it radiating and soothing her from within.

pretty bad, Cassandra was ready to accept the earful she had just received from

She wanted

and forth on the bed, as if she were a gleeful little bird flapping

received a piece of news that shocked