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.

heart? You can't see

only lowered her head. She didn't even say anything.

yield easily. But now, her pained eyes and expression made

out and pressed her into his chest even more tightly.

Okay? Leave with me, my darling,"

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

leave with you now,"

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

"Why?" he asked.

how honest he got with her, she still felt so distant. He

up for it,

a low yet

family? Huh! Even if I didn't come back to the Tang family,

had no contingency plans whenever he deployed business strategies against the Dawn Star Group. Even without him, Rufus was

would be

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

distanced himself from the crisis but

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

defend them, Cassandra? I don't

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

don't think your mother would rest in peace if she saw

enough to persuade him. Rufus, however, loosened his grip on

Cassandra. And you know why? It's because of the Tang family. And I will never ever help them get out of this. Don't ever talk to me about

Cassandra could not seem to understand his

is take them down, then I would rather

was disappointed. But before she stepped out, she suddenly stopped as if she forgot something. Then, she turned to face Rufus and said, "I

she finished her words, she took off, leaving Rufus alone with

initiative to terminate the agreement with the Tang Group. Why are you doing this? Why aren't you standing by me?' he thought sadly.

among family. When will you realize that? When will you let go of your desire

thinking about family, the faces of Vernon and Edith appeared in her mind. It was probably time to pay her father a

walked to her car in tears. Ivy had been waiting

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

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

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

Amanda cry so intensely, Ivy guessed that Rufus must have driven her out too. He must have sided with Cassandra.

stop crying. Memories of her and Rufus started to play in her mind.