A Graduation Gift

Cassandra was in bed brainstorming about how she could talk Rufus out of his revenge plan when she heard a knock on her window.

She sat up nervously and hurried to open the window. As expected, outside was Rufus.

Looking up at Cassandra, Rufus wore an enchanting smile.

Then, as if it were the most natural thing to do, he stepped over the windowsill and into her bedroom, stretched out his hands and embraced her tightly.

"Cassandra, it doesn't look good for Horace. We might see the end of him soon. I'm just taking my time but I'll attend to business again soon."

Recently, he had received information from the banks about the Tang Group's loan status. Lawsuits were arriving here and there. It won't be long before they go bankrupt. This made Rufus feel very pleased.

What Rufus said made Cassandra feel sad. She understood what he meant. The Tang Group was in grave danger and someone needed to save it fast. Rufus was the only one who could do that, but instead of finding ways to keep it alive, he was trying to think of ways on how to kill it faster.

"Rufus, are you really going to watch the Tang Group go down without even trying to help?"

Cassandra asked, looking up at him in his arms.

"I know where this is going, Cassandra. You've already tried talking me out of my plan to destroy the Tang family out of hatred. I told you once and I'll tell you again: I'm not going to change my mind. I will not do anything to stop what's happening to the Tang Group. Okay? This is what I want so please don't try to convince me to do otherwise,"

Rufus replied as he stroked her back with his hands gently.

"Everything you hate about your father can be resolved. If your mother were alive, she would hate to see you do this,"

Cassandra sighed softly, recalling the photos she saw of his mother in his seaside castle. She seemed to be a reserved and quiet woman. At a glance, it was clear that she had a very kind heart.

"I don't care what she would think. She had her own opinions, but she was wrong. She lived a miserable life. Moreover, she got ill at such a young age and spent ten years in bed as a vegetable before she finally died. She did everything she could do for a man who didn't even visit her on her deathbed," he said.

Talking about his mother filled Rufus's heart with more pain and resentment. He blamed all of her suffering to Horace.

"Rufus, you are wrong,"

Cassandra said as she pushed against his chest and looked at him intently with her black eyes.

"You should know the man your mother sacrificed everything for was not Horace. It was you," Cassandra said.

a huge realization for Rufus.

environment for growth. The reason why she kept you from your father must have been because she wanted you two

she looked at him with great sadness in her eyes.

I was doing now, the man who made her suffer would not be

her, trying to suppress his own emotions.

dedicate her life to get her revenge, then I can't even imagine

responded to what

given birth to you. And even if she did decide to still have you, what would your childhood be like if you were raised by a mother who was full of anger

better. It was easier for her to empathize with her and her situation.

more than she loved herself. That's what

womb filled Cassandra with sorrow as she remembered her own. Unlike what happened to Rufus's mom, though, her baby never got to come out into the world. 'Maybe I'm not meant to raise this baby,

on you—giving you a good life, and a good education. As a mother, that was all she wanted: her child to have a good life. I think this was the reason why she did not need a revenge. It was because she already had you and that was all she could ask

with a cracking voice

mother did everything she could because

to stay firm. Horace had to pay for his mistakes. Unable to think of any

this goal for many, many years. For so long, I have wanted Horace to feel remorse about his actions and to regret what he has done. How can I give it up now that I'm so close?' he

As for Jill, I know

his hands were cold. He had always been so relaxed and composed. This was really something that was important to

coldness in his hands reflected the coldness in his heart.

of the Tang Group, not me. As for Jill, she's even more unlikely to apologize. She thinks she's better than everyone else, especially me, who she always regarded as nothing more than an illegitimate child. Not once in my life did I see her look at me as an equal.

finality in his words. There seemed to be no

she heard what he said. She thought that she would manage to change his mind, but it seemed to be impossible even

Tang family goes bankrupt and Horace suffers, I can't be with you," she said

she had to

her with an incredulous

are you saying

didn't understand why she was trying to protect the Tang family. 'She should stand on my

want someone who is responsible, forgiving, and

replied as she emphasized every word. She knew what was important to her

are not

not understand why Cassandra still regarded them as