A Graduation Gift

"Cassandra, when I can finally settle all the things that I've come here to accomplish, I'm gonna take you away from here, away from this wretched city. We'll go to any country of your choosing, anywhere you fancy, and then we'll settle down there, wherever that may be, so we could live happily and forget all of the things that happened here. Will you come with me?"

Rufus wrapped his arm around her shoulders and touched the back of her head to push her against his chest.

His powerful heartbeat brought music to her ears. It was unflinching yet soothing at the same time.

Cassandra broke into tears at once and they even got into Rufus's clothes.

Those words had brought music to her ears, and the picture he was painting just felt so real and so enticing. But Cassandra had already been through a lot during their time together. She wasn't sure whether it would be right to give him a chance again or not.

"Please stop crying. I swear I'm gonna make you happy every single day."

Rufus could feel that her shoulders were trembling, so he lifted his hand, caressed her cheek, and wiped off her tears dry.

Then he sealed her lips with his and kissed her passionately, unable to hold it in. Everything bad that had happened seemed to have gotten washed away the second their lips touched, all that was left were their hearts beating like a drum.

If she was being completely honest, the kiss managed to get rid of some of her worries, and so, Cassandra basked in Rufus's warmth, feeling quite relieved. She could tell that her heart was beginning to ease up and beat steadily.

waiting for Amanda's full recovery?" Cassandra just couldn't keep

quite agitated. If Amanda didn't start to get better any time soon or at all, could that also mean

any opportunities to get married to each other. Would they have to keep hiding from everyone until hell was frozen over?

Cassandra could feel it thumping so loud as though it had been hit by a surge of adrenaline.

me, Cassandra. I have to ask you to be strong, and I'll find a way to get out of this mess soon enough. I don't want you to be having any senseless ideas. You're the one I want, the only one. I couldn't care less what Amanda

few days, so Rufus deduced that Lionel wasn't able to hold on the business. Thus, Horace was eager to get him back

slip away—a chance to get back at his father, to lay waste to his company, to

feel restless in his arms. Despite the fact that she absolutely had no clue as to what was really going on inside that mind of his,

and how much you wanted to spend the rest of your life together with me, so why couldn't you stop keeping any secrets from me from here on out? If you insist on keeping me in the dark, the two of us being together forever...I don't see it happening. Do you get what I'm trying to

Rufus away from her a little, Cassandra looked straight

own good, Cassandra! Please trust me on

get caught up in what was about to come. He was thinking that it would be best for her to stay out of harm's way, at least just until everything was taken care of. Only then would they be able to go on living together without ever

would be the last time the two of us would meet. You won't ever see me

blurting out those words, trying to get a rise out

man is capable of

Everything happened so fast that