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.

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

lowered her head. She didn't even say anything. In her eyes were sadness and loneliness.

But now, her pained eyes

and pressed her into his chest

leave this city. Okay? Leave with me, my

There was so much danger and he

can't leave with you

determined to keep her close.

"Why?" he asked.

felt so distant. He

up

spoke with a low

didn't come back to the Tang family, Lionel still would have perished in the war with Arthur!" he

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

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

but what he did

Its state would worsen until

defend them, Cassandra? I don't get

and more difficult to

mother would rest in peace if she saw you with so much hatred in your heart,"

mention of his mother would be enough to persuade him. Rufus, however,

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

that Cassandra could not seem

want to do is take them down, then

Then, she turned to face Rufus and said, "I am not going anywhere with you unless you help the Tang Group get out of

off, leaving Rufus alone with his

initiative to terminate the agreement with the Tang Group. Why are

is no real hatred among family. When will you realize that?

in her mind. It was probably time to pay her father a visit. 'I hope this winter would not be as cold as

walked to her car in tears. Ivy had

She felt so ashamed with what Rufus had done to her. She could not believe that he asked her to leave and said all

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

sullen. She had to leave the place because Rufus drove her out. She

driven her 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