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.

are visible. But what about the wound in my heart? You can't see it nor feel it. You know nothing

apology. However, she only lowered her head. She didn't even say anything. In her eyes were sadness and loneliness.

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

into his chest

this city. Okay? Leave with me, my darling," he

they stayed in G City, the more uneasy he felt. There was so much danger and he did not want to leave Cassandra

with

but failed. Rufus was determined to

"Why?" he asked.

Cassandra. No matter how honest he got with her, she still felt so distant. He couldn't feel her heart the way he did before. What had happened between them? How

you leave without making up for it, my heart

spoke with a low

the Tang family, Lionel still would have perished in the

contingency plans whenever he deployed business strategies against the Dawn Star Group. Even without him, Rufus was sure that Lionel was going

would be different. At least, Lionel

to expand the company, everyone thought he did so to gain a bigger share of the market. It was only now that

distanced himself from the crisis but what he did was fatal.

rise to several other problems. Its state would worsen until it went bankrupt. That was the domino

do you always defend them, Cassandra? I

To him, it became more and more difficult to understand what

think your mother would rest in peace if she saw you with so

would be enough to persuade him.

And I will never ever help them get out of this. Don't ever talk

The fact that Cassandra could not seem to understand his

all you want to do is take them down, then I would

But before she stepped out, she suddenly stopped as if she forgot something. Then, she turned to face Rufus and said, "I am not going anywhere with you unless you help the

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

the agreement with the Tang Group. Why are you doing this?

darling, there is no real hatred among family. When will you realize that? When will you let go of your desire for

to pay her father a visit. 'I

her car in tears. Ivy had been

done to her. She could not believe that he asked her to leave and said all those humiliating things in front of Cassandra. She

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

looking sullen. She had to leave the place because Rufus drove her out. She did not really know what

cry so intensely, Ivy guessed that Rufus must have driven her out too. He must have sided with Cassandra. Otherwise, Amanda would not have lost her cool.

her and Rufus started to