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 heart? You can't see it nor feel

his apology. However, she only lowered

not yield easily. But now, her pained eyes and expression

out and pressed her into

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

the more uneasy he felt. There was so much danger and he did not

leave with you

determined

"Why?" he asked.

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 did it get to this?

you leave without making up for it, my heart would never be at

with a low yet determined voice.

about the Tang family? Huh! Even if I didn't come back to the Tang family, Lionel still would have perished in the war with

to business. He had no contingency plans whenever he deployed business strategies against the Dawn Star Group. Even without him, Rufus was sure that Lionel was going to lead the Tang Group to its fall.

be different.

the company, everyone thought he did so to gain a bigger share of

crisis but

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

always defend them, Cassandra? I

looked at her, puzzled. To him, it became more and more difficult to understand what was going on in her mind.

your mother would rest in peace if she saw you

of his mother would be enough

because of the Tang family. And I will never ever help them

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

then I would rather that you stop talking to

she suddenly stopped as if she forgot something. Then,

finished her words, she took off, leaving Rufus alone

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

you realize that? When will you let go

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 as cold as

Ivy had been waiting for her inside.

like this before. She felt so ashamed with what Rufus had done to her. She could not believe that he

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

because Rufus drove her out.

so intensely, Ivy guessed that Rufus must have driven her out too. He must

and Rufus started