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.

wound in my heart? You can't see it nor feel it. You know

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

heart stung. She was very strong-willed and did not yield easily. But now,

her into his chest

Leave with me, my

the more uneasy he felt. There was so much danger and he did

with

she tried to push him away but failed. Rufus was determined to

"Why?" he asked.

so distant. He couldn't feel her heart the way he

leave without making up

with a low yet determined

back to the Tang family, Lionel still would have perished

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

would be different. At least, Lionel would

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 only now that Cassandra realized his true intention. He did that to bury the

but what

state would worsen until it went bankrupt. That was

defend them, Cassandra? I

more and more difficult to understand what was going

mother would rest in peace if she saw you with so

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

And I will never ever help them get out of this. Don't ever talk to me about this

could not seem

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

around to leave. Cassandra, too, was disappointed. But before she stepped out, she suddenly stopped as if she forgot something. Then, she turned to face Rufus and

her words, she took off, leaving Rufus

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

you realize that? When will you let go of your desire for vengeance and instead accept your family

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

to her car in tears. Ivy had been waiting for

She could not believe that he asked her to leave

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

place because Rufus drove her out.

her out too. He must have sided with Cassandra.

and Rufus started to