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?"

called out from the study,

"Clark."

but at the mention of Clark's name, her feet had involuntarily

was he here?

him?" Cassandra asked, keeping her

the only reason she could think of for Clark's sudden appearance.

But I'll go see what he wants," Rufus said.

still smiling. For a moment, neither of them spoke,

chill only seemed to be magnified by the two men's silent encounter. Cassandra shivered as the door opened,

and closed the door halfway, so as to prevent the chill from coming in the room.

you've forgotten common courtesy, Rufus.

never left his face as his eyes gleamed with

crap. What do you

icily. He was in no mood for Clark's

and taking a step back, Clark made a show of being hurt. "How you wound me. We have known

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

are you

to get straight to the point.

took out a red envelope from his jacket and handed it

out the words and watching Rufus's face closely. "I hope you and

Rufus was taken

be there,"

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

for any semblance of change in his expression. Then, after a moment, Clark withdrew with a quick

soon as he turned round, Clark's face seethed in anger.

of a bitch. Let's see how calm you would be at the wedding, ' he cursed silently, promising

he

of the room was a comforting change from the chill outside. As Rufus entered, Cassandra was quick to notice the

"What is it?"

asked, setting the tray down.

and Amanda's

indifferently as he threw the

gaze went to the invitation on the table, to Rufus,

and Amanda's

to say anything more from her shock. Why

she found someone else to marry,"

but Cassandra felt strange. She bit her lip thoughtfully as she tried to take in

sofa. Rufus turned on the TV and watched the news. Cassandra snuggled up to him

for some time, and even then, I hadn't been able to completely understand him. He says one thing, but does something else afterwards. It doesn't add up. What if he is just

her voice laced with