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."

where Rufus was, but at the mention of Clark's name, her

Why was he

an appointment with him?" Cassandra asked, keeping her

reason she could

what

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 with their gazes.

windy, snowy night, and the chill only seemed to be magnified by the two men's silent encounter.

so as to prevent

them. "I can't believe you've forgotten common

never left his face as his eyes gleamed with malice.

What do you

in no

a show of being

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

you

wanting to get straight to

red envelope from his jacket and handed it to

an invitation to my wedding with Amanda," he said slowly, drawing out the words and watching Rufus's face closely. "I

to Rufus, who subconsciously took it. Rufus was taken off guard by his words, but he

be

replied nonchalantly, saying nothing more. He knew Clark came to see how he would react, and there was no way he was giving

his expression. Then, after a moment, Clark withdrew with a quick goodbye

he turned round, Clark's face seethed

see how calm you would be at

eyes as he walked away, and then closed the

was a comforting change from the chill outside. As Rufus entered, Cassandra was quick to notice the red envelope in his hands. She was holding a tray of refreshments that she

"What is it?"

asked, setting the

and Amanda's wedding

threw the envelope on

eyes widened in her surprise. Her gaze went to the invitation on the table, to Rufus, and then back

and

anything more from her shock. Why were they getting

the engagement with Amanda, so she found someone else to marry," he shrugged. "Although, I don't know

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

on the sofa. Rufus turned on the TV and watched the news.

able to completely understand him. He says one thing, but does something else

under her breath, her voice laced