A Graduation Gift

A faint, shadowy smile passed through Clark's lips. 'You foolish woman, ' he thought to himself darkly. 'To think that you would stoop this low to take revenge on Rufus. How pathetic.'

"Whatever you want. I will send the invitation to Rufus myself. He will see with his own eyes how happy you are on our wedding day,"

he promised readily in front of Charlie even as his heart was filled with contempt for Amanda.

When Clark left, Charlie turned to Amanda and urged her to return to her bedroom.

"It's late. You should go and rest. You should take care of yourself, especially now that you're pregnant." Standing up, he continued, "I'm going back to the headquarters to prepare for your wedding. Clark's hands are too full to attend to the matters of the group. I have to do whatever I can to help him."

Now that Clark was going to be his son-in-law, Charlie had begun to look out for him more. After all, he would be part of the family in just a short time now.

It was something that went exactly as Clark had planned. Charlie would be a useful piece in this little game he was playing. If he won him over to his side, Rufus would be left with no allies. And when the perfect timing came, he would strike, and Rufus would be left helpless. He was brimming with excitement at the thought of Rufus's downfall, but for now, he had to be patient.

Charlie hurriedly left after only a short stay. Amanda silently followed her father's receding figure with her eyes, biting her tongue against the words that wanted to come out.

Charlie arrived in anger, but now watching his light steps, Amanda knew that he was feeling none of his earlier animosity, all due to her decision.

A tugging feeling crept through Amanda's chest. Was it the right decision?

She began to shiver despite the heat in the room.

The coldness seeped to her bones, racking her frame with shivers. She wrapped her arms tightly around herself. She felt more isolated than ever. No one knew that she was forcing herself to do something she didn't want to. She was all alone.

"The walls should be painted with vibrant colors. Green and yellow would work the best."

"I want a relaxing feel to the room, and the furnishings should be both modern and practical."

...

Cassandra described her design concept in detail to Rufus, taking down notes and sketching initial plans from time to time. Rufus listened to her attentively, delighting in the way her eyes gleamed as she spoke animatedly and explained her ideas. Like this, he could watch her all day.

Cassandra's hands were steady as she drew her vision for the new studio. She wanted everything to be perfect.

Just then, the doorbell rang, halting Cassandra's words. Rufus smiled at her and said, "We have a guest. I'll go see who it is."

He stood up and went out of the study to check the monitor.

His mood instantly soured at the face on the screen. Clark was standing outside the door, waiting for his hosts.

After a short moment, the man seemed to have sensed Rufus's gaze from the other side. He smiled at the monitor, but his eyes darkened with coldness.

Rufus watched him with an equally cold stare and pressed a button to let him in.

"Rufus, who's that?"

the study, thawing the

"Clark."

to where Rufus was, but at

was

appointment with him?"

the only reason she could

go see what he wants,"

this, Rufus walked to the main door and opened it. Clark was standing at the door, still smiling. For a moment, neither of them spoke, ice meeting with frost wordlessly as the two men leveled each other

chill only seemed to be magnified by the two men's silent encounter. Cassandra shivered as the door opened, but it was not entirely

Rufus immediately stepped out and closed the door halfway, so

"I can't believe you've forgotten common courtesy, Rufus. Do you usually let your

smile never left his face as his eyes gleamed

the crap. What do

in no mood

made a show of being hurt.

he really was, he might have believed his show of sincerity. But knowing what he had

you doing

wanting to get straight to the

red envelope from his

he said slowly, drawing out the words

took it. Rufus was taken off

be there,"

knew Clark came to see how he would react, and there was no way

change in his expression. Then, after a moment, Clark

as he turned round, Clark's face seethed

see how calm you would be at the wedding, ' he cursed silently,

he walked away, and

was quick to notice the red envelope in his hands. She was holding

"What is it?"

the

Amanda's wedding invitation,"

said indifferently as he threw the

on the table, to Rufus, and then

Clark and

was unable to say anything more from her shock.

else to marry," he shrugged.

the situation, but Cassandra felt strange. She bit her

on the TV and watched the news. Cassandra snuggled up to him in

I hadn't been able to completely understand him. He says one thing, but does something else afterwards. It doesn't add

breath, her voice laced