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

been working hard all those years in order to provide you with a good environment for growth. The reason why she kept you from your father must have been because she wanted you two to

him with great sadness in

the man who made her suffer would

go of her, trying to suppress his own

get her revenge, then I can't even imagine what

immediately responded to

were all she wanted, she would not have even given birth to you. And even if she did decide to still have you, what would your childhood

she understood Rufus's mom better. It was easier for her to empathize with her

womb. She loved you more than she loved herself. That's what blood does. That's what a family does. You are

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

and she did not blame anybody for what happened. Instead, she focused 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

with a cracking voice as tears filled her

this go. What you said is true. My mother did everything she could because she loved me. But that is not enough

him but he had to stay firm. Horace had to pay for his mistakes. Unable to think of any way to appease

worked towards 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

did was wrong. As for Jill, I know she regrets what she did to your

the first time, his hands were cold. He had always been so relaxed and composed. This

hands reflected the coldness in

really felt bad for what he did to my mother. He only apologized because he had to. The only reason he came here was because 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

finality in his words. There seemed to

dimmed after she heard what he said. She thought that she would manage to change his mind, but it seemed to be impossible even for her to sway him.

suffers, I can't be

determined to use all the cards she had to bargain and hoped he'd change his mind.

her with an incredulous expression.

are you

of a bluff in her face. He didn't understand why she was trying to protect

family. I want someone who is responsible, forgiving, and loving, especially to

was important to her and what

are not

argued angrily. He could not understand why Cassandra still regarded them as his family.