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

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

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

out and pressed her into his chest even more

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

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

can't leave with

to push him away but failed. Rufus was determined to keep

"Why?" he asked.

understand Cassandra. No matter how honest he got with her, she still felt so distant. He couldn't feel her heart

If you leave without making up

with a low yet determined voice.

didn't come back to the Tang family, Lionel still would

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.

you didn't borrow money from the bank to expand Tang Group, things would be different. At least, Lionel

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 market. It was

himself from the crisis but what he did was fatal.

other problems. Its state would worsen until it went bankrupt. That

always defend them, Cassandra? I don't get

more and more difficult to understand

would rest in peace if she saw

would be enough to persuade

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

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

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

before she stepped out, she suddenly stopped as if she forgot something. Then, she turned to face Rufus and

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

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

you realize that? When will you let go of

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

to her car in tears. Ivy

cried so like this before. She felt so ashamed with what Rufus had done to her. She could not believe that he asked her to leave and said all those humiliating things

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

the place because Rufus drove her out. She did not

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

Memories of her and Rufus started to