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 can't see it nor feel it. You know nothing about my pain, ' she

she would react positively to his apology. However, she only lowered her head. She didn't

easily. But now, her pained

into his chest even

Okay? Leave with me, my

so much danger and he did not want to

with you

push him away but failed. Rufus was determined to keep her close. He would not let her go that

"Why?" he asked.

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

leave without making up for it, my heart

low yet determined voice.

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

he deployed business strategies against the Dawn Star Group. Even without him, Rufus was sure that Lionel

Group, things would be different. At least, Lionel would not be

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

the crisis but what he did

would give rise to several other problems. Its state would worsen until it

always defend them, Cassandra? I don't

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

rest in peace if

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

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

replied, frustrated. The fact that Cassandra could not seem

want to do is take them down, then I would

was disappointed. But before she stepped out, she suddenly stopped as if she forgot something. Then, she turned to face Rufus and said, "I am not going anywhere with you unless you help the Tang Group get out of this

she took off, leaving Rufus alone with his

Cassandra? Even Amanda supported me and took the initiative to terminate the agreement with the Tang Group. Why are you doing this?

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

family, the faces of Vernon and Edith appeared in her mind. It was probably time to pay

tears. Ivy had been

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 in front of Cassandra. She felt as if he trampled her

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

said, looking sullen. She had to leave the place because Rufus drove her out. She did

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

not stop crying. Memories of her and