A Graduation Gift

From inside the room, Amanda felt even more agitated than she already was with the conversation she could not help overhearing.

She hated that people gossiped behind her back. Why did she have to be in this situation?

In her irritation, she randomly took a vase from her bedside table and threw it violently against the door. After the loud clash, the voices outside finally ceased.

The more she thought about it, the angrier she got. Tears welled up in her eyes.

She had spent so much time preparing for the wedding just so she could paint a great image of herself in front of so many people.

She wanted to be the star of the show, to be admired and envied.

To her disappointment, Rufus and Cassandra didn't come.

It felt as if she punched something with all her might and suddenly realized that her target was made of a parcel of cotton instead of something more solid. Her effort ended up harming only herself instead of her opponent.

Images of Rufus and Cassandra flashed across her mind. As she pictured their loving gazes and sweet caresses on each other, her heart burned with inextinguishable jealousy.

Suddenly, the door to the make-up room opened. It was Clark. He immediately spotted the broken vase on the floor.

"What's this?" he inquired.

He apparently spotted the group of people who came out of Amanda's room with caution on their faces. This immediately gave him a hint that something went wrong so he took it upon himself to check on Amanda.

As he had expected, the pampered woman threw a tantrum and made a huge mess.

Wordlessly, she shot Clark a furious glare.

"Oh, are you angry? Come, show everyone that you're angry. What good is it doing you when you're just displaying your temper to no one but yourself?"

he said sarcastically.

This made Amanda even more infuriated. She took another item and smashed it on the floor. Normally, she was subdued and restrained when she was in front of Clark. At that moment though, she found herself so overwhelmed with her emotions that she almost forgot all the fear she had for the man in front of her.

Predictably, Clark saw her defiance. Her behavior made his face turn grim.

"Are you testing me?"

Clark said as he drew nearer to intimidate her. She merely glared back with wrath.

"I don't want to get married! I'm not going to marry you!" she shouted.

Suddenly, she wanted to take back her words the moment she said them. She doubted her impulsive remark. Besides, the marriage was a way to secure her safety. Was she really about to throw that away? She had given up on Rufus and allowed Cassandra to take him. Still, she kept suffering.

you

eyes were fixed on Amanda's face now, and

NOT GOING TO

shouted, stressing every word, showing her stubborn determination.

attached and beautifully entangled with her hair. Pulling it out so suddenly made

completely detached and threw it on

her arms and pulled her so close that her

it seems that you've forgotten what you should be

such an ice cold voice that she felt

of Clark's fury seemed to have pulled her out of her tantrum. She suddenly realized the terror that was

"Let… Let me go…"

escape from Clark's grip, but it

now? Weren't

dared as he raised his

into her face until she was consumed with pure

he pressed against her body with his

her back exposed. Below her was the cold

you broke your promise, I don't have to keep mine

Please don't do that

knew what Clark could do to torture her. The mere thought of the possibilities scared

sorry? It's too late! I

to

She felt as if she was losing her

Clark, are you

from outside the door. He had been looking for Clark and was told by someone that he

interruption stopped Clark on his tracks. Forcibly suppressing her emotions, Amanda managed to muster a normal tone to answer, "Yes, Dad, we're here. We're just...

turned to the man on top of her; her

need to attend to the

parents. As for Amanda, Charlie was the only one in attendance and had been spending the whole day entertaining all

to commence soon. Quick!" he insisted.

push. 'What is wrong with these two? Why are they still dilly-dallying? It's

Okay! We

she pushed the body on top of her

himself, and stood up.

hairdresser. I'll need some touch-up,"

how badly she must look right now. There was no way she was going to step out of the room

crew entered. None of them spoke. Everyone just went on doing their required

she looked like the gorgeous bride she was before her debacle with Clark. Her heart was

Clark soon. The moment they exchanged vows, any hope