A Graduation Gift

Rufus frowned and looked at her, confused.

"Who are you waiting for?" he asked.

Cassandra pulled her collar up subconsciously. She didn't seem to be bothered by the wound on her neck. As the collar could not hide it completely, she tucked her neck a bit as she avoided Rufus's touch.

"There's another guy who is interested in the studio. I need to wait for him so I could show him around..." Cassandra replied.

She wanted to make sure that everything was settled for Lyndsy as soon as possible. That way, she could concentrate more on the shoot and her plastic surgery treatment abroad. Suddenly, Rufus interrupted her before she could even finish her words.

"It's me. Let's go. I'll send someone to sign the sale and purchase agreement with you,"

he said, feeling relaxed now. He initially thought that Cassandra just downright rejected him. As it turned out, she only wanted to make sure that the office sale was taken care of as soon as possible.

"What? It's you?!"

Cassandra's eyes widened as she looked at him in surprise.

"I didn't expect Amanda to get here before I did. Otherwise, you would not have been hurt," he replied ignoring her expression.

Her reaction satisfied Rufus very much. A smile appeared at the corners of his mouth.

"Why do you buy this place? What are you going to do with it?"

Cassandra asked with furrowed brows.

"You will know it when it's time," he replied simply.

He did not want to tell her his plan just yet. He wanted it to be a surprise.

Cassandra looked at him with suspicion. In the long time that she had known him, she still found it difficult to read him sometimes.

Rufus smiled and held her in his arms. Then, he put his chin on her head and smelled her hair.

"I didn't know that my hesitation would cause you pain until today when I saw what she did to you. I'm sorry," he apologized.

There was guilt in his voice. His heart ached seeing the scratch marks on her fair neck.

Still, Cassandra remained sorrowful despite his words.

'You hurt me a long time ago, Rufus. You just didn't know it.

the wound in my heart? You can't see it nor feel

she only lowered her head. She didn't even

She was very strong-willed and did not yield easily. But now, her pained eyes and expression

and pressed her into his chest even more tightly.

this city. Okay? Leave with me, my

he felt. There was so much danger and

can't leave with you now,"

to push him away but failed. Rufus was determined to keep her close. He would not

"Why?" he asked.

so distant. He couldn't feel her heart the way he did before. What had happened between them? How did it get to this?

without making up

a low yet determined voice.

if I didn't come back to the

he deployed business strategies against the Dawn Star Group. Even without

if you didn't borrow money from the bank to expand Tang Group, things would be different. At least, Lionel would not be so

answered back. She was not a fool. When Rufus applied for loans from the bank to expand the company, everyone thought he did so to gain a bigger share of the market. It was only now that Cassandra realized his true intention. He did that to bury the company in debt and leave Lionel

himself from the crisis but what he

Its state would worsen until it went bankrupt. That was the domino effect that Rufus instigated.

them, Cassandra? I

looked at her, puzzled. To him, it became more and more difficult

if

the mention of his mother would be enough

because of the Tang family. And I will never ever help them get out of this. Don't ever

replied, frustrated. The fact that Cassandra could not seem to understand his feelings annoyed

them down, then I

forgot something. Then, she turned to face Rufus and said, "I am not going anywhere with you unless you help

finished her words, she took off, leaving Rufus alone with his fists still clenched.

and took the initiative to terminate the agreement with the Tang Group. Why are you doing this? Why aren't you standing by

you realize that? When will you let go of your desire for vengeance and

faces of Vernon and Edith appeared in her mind. It was probably time to pay her father a visit. 'I hope this winter would not be as

her car in tears. Ivy had

Rufus had done to her. She could not believe that he asked her

"Amanda, don't cry anymore..."

had to leave the place because Rufus drove her out. She did not

out too. He must have sided with Cassandra. Otherwise, Amanda would not have lost her cool.

could not stop crying. Memories of her and Rufus started to play in her