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.

home being a huge realization for

have been because she wanted you

she looked at him with great sadness in her eyes.

who made her suffer would not be

go of her, trying to suppress his

her revenge, then I can't even imagine what kind of person you would turn out to be now,"

responded to what

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

It was easier for

growing inside her womb. She loved you more than she loved herself. That's what blood does. That's what a family does. You are the person

mom, though, her baby never got to come out into the world. 'Maybe

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

cracking voice as tears filled her

did everything she could because she loved me. But that is not enough to make me

to pay for his mistakes. Unable to think of any way

his actions and to regret what

for Jill, I know she regrets what she did to your

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

in his hands reflected the coldness in

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. None of their

finality in his words. There

of hope in Cassandra's eyes dimmed after she heard what he said. She thought that she would manage

Horace suffers, I can't

all the cards she had to bargain and

Rufus turned to her with

why are you

a bluff in her face. He didn't understand why she was trying to protect the Tang family. 'She should stand on my side and support me, shouldn't she? Why is she doing this?'

want to stay with someone who can do this to his family. I want someone who is responsible, forgiving, and loving, especially to the people closest to

as she emphasized every word. She knew what was important

not my

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