A Graduation Gift

She knew there was no need for her to worry about what they would talk about. No matter what it was, her father would definitely take her side.

Once she was out of the room, Charlie's demeanor changed into a more serious air. He looked at Rufus with a deep, penetrating gaze and asked, "Rufus, are you sure you will marry Amanda?"

Any trace of his earlier cheerfulness was now gone from his face. Charlie had asked Amanda to leave, knowing that she would possibly be hurt by the conversation. Rufus's expression did not escape him. He knew that something was wrong.

Rufus held the older man's gaze with his own. "To be honest, Charlie, I don't want to marry her."

Rufus did not like taking the roundabout way of doing things. After all, Charlie was his mentor. He gave him his answer directly. Now that there was only the two of them, there was nothing holding him back from speaking his mind.

Charlie's face visibly hardened at his answer. "But why did you... why did you stay with her last night!"

Rufus had expected his outburst. The older man's hands shook as he tried to hold his anger.

'Since when did Rufus become such an irresponsible man?! Just last night, he has slept with Amanda, and now he is saying he doesn't want to marry her? What is this bastard thinking?' Charlie cursed inwardly.

"You know perfectly why. I care for Amanda because I think of her as a sister. The woman I love is Cassandra."

Rufus's face softened as he spoke of Cassandra. A gentle expression appeared on his face as he mentioned her name.

"Pfft. Love be damned! You're not thinking clearly. That woman isn't good enough for you!"

Charlie had Cassandra investigated a long time ago. He learned that she had close relations with Rufus despite being married to his brother Lionel. When Rufus's aunt Michelle went to talk to her to put a stop to their relationship, they had a quarrel which ended with Michelle falling down from the third floor.

She was worthless. She had nothing to her name and a torn reputation in everyone's eyes. But Rufus was saying that he loved her! Charlie couldn't believe the ridiculousness of it all.

sharp words that were threatening to go out from his mouth. He had always respected Charlie,

If you know her better, you would

he said. He looked into Charlie's eyes as he spoke, as if to prove the sincerity of his

and returned his

are with my daughter now, and you had better stop screwing around with other women." He took a step closer to Rufus. "Forget that

woman's trap. It would seem that she was an expert in manipulating rich men using her beauty. She would not be the first. Charlie had seen his fair share of her sort in

will not

That woman had filled his mind, even as he stared into the older man's eyes.

him, and he knew that. He would give her all the time in the world to think, if that was what she needed. He would wait for her for a lifetime, if that was what it took.

what you think. You will marry Amanda. Leave

was no way he could take Rufus's words seriously. He would make sure that his daughter would

back to G City. You will be coming

didn't want to waste his time discussing about Cassandra with Rufus. That woman only served to sour his mood. He opted instead to speak about his

"Problems?"

furrowed in

devoted himself to building a name for himself, and not once did he involve himself in Dark Night's matters. Why was Charlie mentioning it to him

about Clark. Word has reached us that he's involved in some shady business," Charlie

froze upon hearing the name. There was no way he

he was still being trained in the Group, Clark had specifically singled him out and nitpicked his every move. He

fighting back

not a