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.

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

positively to his apology. However, she only lowered her head. She didn't even say anything.

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

out and pressed her into

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

was so much danger and he did not want to leave Cassandra in this

can't leave with

determined to

"Why?" he asked.

he found it difficult to understand Cassandra. No matter how honest he got with her, she still felt so distant. He couldn't feel her heart the way he

making up for it, my heart would never be at peace,"

a low

back to the Tang family, Lionel still

business strategies against the Dawn Star Group. Even without him, Rufus was sure that Lionel was going to lead the Tang Group to

be different. At least, Lionel would not be so helpless in dealing with the

share of the market. It was only now that Cassandra realized his true intention. He did that to bury the company in debt

distanced himself from the crisis but what he did was

state would worsen until it went bankrupt.

them, Cassandra? I don't

and more difficult to understand

in peace if she saw

hoping that the mention of his mother would be enough to persuade him. Rufus, however, loosened his grip on her.

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

The fact that Cassandra could not seem to understand his feelings annoyed him.

down, then I would rather

she forgot something. Then, she

she took off, leaving Rufus alone

the Tang

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

she was thinking about family, the 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

walked to her car in tears. Ivy

ashamed with what Rufus had done to her. She could not believe that he asked her to leave and said all those humiliating things in front of Cassandra. She felt

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

the place because Rufus drove

that Rufus must have driven her out too. He must

Memories of her and