A Graduation Gift

With her back against the wall of the bathroom, Cassandra's heart thumped inside her chest. Her breath quickened and she felt
nervous but also secretly pleased that Rufus had decided to call her. She didn't know what was happening right now or why she
felt this way. She just knew that she was happy that Rufus wanted to see her. At the same time, she also felt a tinge of guilt
because she had no idea where this would lead them. She knew she shouldn't do this but she just couldn't help herself. It was as
if Rufus was a magnet and she was a helpless ferrous damsel that was being drawn towards him.
After a few moments, she opened her eyes and gently bit down on her lower lip in an effort to make up her mind. She resolutely
walked out of the bathroom into the bedroom that she shared with Cloris. Cloris looked up and saw the nervousness on her
sister's face and broke into a knowing smile. She assumed that the call had been from her brother-in-law. 'They really were a
sweet couple, ' she mused innocently.
"Sis, did he ask you to go and meet him? I am really sorry that I've interrupted you two,"
Cloris teased her sister. In spite of being young, Cloris was not ignorant about the ways between husband and wife. It was
normal for couples to want to be with each other all the time. Though she herself was not in a relationship right now, she could
understand the feeling. Cassandra's face burnt in embarrassment when she heard her sister's words. She lowered her head and
touched her flaming face then murmured shyly, "Cloris, I am going out for a while. Go to sleep. Don't wait for me, please."
Cloris nodded then waved at Cassandra urging her to go out and have fun. The teasing smile remained on her face the whole
time.
"I know, I know. Don't worry about me. Just go have 'FUN' with my brother-in-law!"
Cloris stressed the word 'fun' with a smirk, making Cassandra's face burn even hotter. She panicked momentarily but said
nothing in the end. She just nodded her head and hurriedly walked out the door, clutching her phone tightly in her hand.
Only when she had walked out and closed the door behind her could Cassandra breathe in relief. She didn't like lying to her
family, especially about something so overwhelming. At the moment, she just couldn't care less. Her steps became lighter and
her paces quickened. She didn't know why but she felt so happy all of a sudden. She had been wanting to see Rufus too.
The gentle fragrance of the yellow flowers blooming in the small back yard made her want to know the name of the flower.
Frankly, she had never even noticed them before. Perhaps it was because she was in such high spirits that even the smallest
thing delighted her. She was in love. This was something that she had never thought would happen to her because she had
already accepted her fate when she got married four years ago. Her heart had awakened and suddenly, she felt the bittersweet
taste of love.

Under the dim streetlight stood a tall man. The light shone down on him, forming a halo around his shoulders. He looked pure
and graceful like an angel. Clearly, he was waiting for someone. And one could tell that he had been waiting for a good while.
Cassandra quickened her steps and stopped in front of him. She had rushed all the way here so she was a little out of breath.
Their eyes locked and it seemed as if time had suddenly stopped around the two of them.
Neither of them opened their mouths to talk at first. Instantly, Rufus walked up to her and before she could say anything, he put
his lips on hers, swallowing the words she wanted to say.
It felt like both of them had been waiting for this moment for too long.
Cassandra closed her eyes because of his sudden move. But slowly, she opened her eyes and looked at Rufus' face. He was
really handsome and made her heart beat faster whenever their eyes met. Her heart was enmeshed in a warm feeling. A sudden
realization struck her hard.
She was aware that she liked the man who was standing in front of her. Maybe she was even in love with him.
"Cassandra, be my woman,"
after the kiss, Rufus sighed and whispered in her ears. His words made Cassandra's eyes widen in shock. She couldn't believe
her ears.
'Did I hear that he...
he said...said...that he wanted me...to be his woman?
Did he really just ask me to be his woman?'
Cassandra blinked and looked up at Rufus hesitatingly, too stunned to speak. She needed a minute to register what had just
happened. First, she came out to meet Rufus after the call. Then he kissed her without saying anything. Now he asked her to be
his woman! Her breath quickened loudly in the quiet night. Rufus was staring at her pretty face with adoration. His eyes were
brown, like the color of whisky. Cassandra could really be drowning in his loving gaze. The look on his face was deadly serious.
She had never seen him this serious.
Yes! Rufus really meant what he had just said. He was not kidding.

He really wanted to be with the woman who was standing in front of him right now. No matter what he did, he just couldn't get her
out of his mind. And that was when he realized that he was serious about her. Cassandra's power over him was even stronger
than he had imagined.
He wanted her and only her. He wanted everything to do with her. He wanted to spoil her, protect and love her. He wanted to
make her his and only his.
Rufus had never expected to meet a woman who could steal his heart. In the beginning, he just thought that what they had had
before was a one-night stand, nothing special about it. But as he got to know her more, he was slowly drawn to her. There was
something about her that gave him a feeling that he had never experienced before.
"Divorce Lionel and be mine,"
Rufus repeated carefully. Seeing Cassandra's shocked face, the corners of his lips slowly curled into a smirk. He was aware of
the effect his words would have on Cassandra and he planned to make good use of it.
Cassandra's long lashes suddenly trembled in the arms of the man she liked. Smelling the familiar scent of him, seeing the smile
on his face, hearing his words, she felt like she was in a dream. She didn't want to ever wake up from this beautiful dream. His
words echoed in her head and wound around her heart. She really wanted to let go of everything and just be with him.
She stared at him, like staring at a dream that forever floated out of her reach.
The feeling was so surreal. She just couldn't believe this was really happening. The man she liked also liked her back. What
were the chances of becoming Rufus's woman, being with the man she liked and being liked in return. These were something
that Cassandra had never thought about before. If she said yes, then it meant that she could kiss him whenever she wanted.
Thinking of this, Cassandra couldn't help but feel a flutter in her heart.
But...what about both their families? Maybe it was just wishful thinking after all. This dream could never come true.
In the next second, Cassandra pushed Rufus away roughly and backed away a few steps. She lowered her head, not wanting
him to see the tears in her eyes. She didn't dare look into eyes. She was afraid that he would see right through her. And more
importantly, she was also afraid that if she looked into his magnetic eyes for one more second, she would crumble and say yes
to him without a care in the world. That would put both of them in a great dilemma.
"Rufus, what are you talking about? I am your sister-in-law, the wife of your brother. And we are in the house of my family.
Besides, Lionel and my parents are all upstairs, not to mention Cloris..."

Cassandra trailed off. Her voice was low, but her tone was firm. She reminded Rufus of their relationship and that both their
families were present. It was a warning to him and also to herself. She also reminded herself not to do anything reckless or silly
that would harm them both.
But before she could finish her words, Rufus approached her again. He reached out grabbing her chin and raised her head. He
forced her to look into his eyes, and interrupted her sharply, "Cut it out! If they know that we have slept together a long time ago,
will you still think their opinions matter?"
Rufus' words were honest but also cruel. Yes, they had already slept together once. She was already a cheater. So why did she
pretend to not want him? Rufus looked at the woman standing in front of him with intense eyes. He was determined to have her.
He always got what he wanted anyway.
Cassandra looked down, feeling the warmth radiating from the dominating man. All of a sudden, she felt that she was such a
hypocrite. What was she doing, saying those pious words? It was she who wanted to get closer to him and get to know him
better. And it was also she who had kissed him in her weak moment. But now, when he returned her feelings and wanted to be
with her, she was hesitant.
But she had to stop being so selfish.
If she really said yes to Rufus and to be with him, her family would surely face the consequences. What was worse, Rufus might
also be abandoned by his own family.
Lionel's brother betrayed him and got together with his sister-in-law; how ridiculous! If she really did this, all hell would break
loose.
Cassandra knew that Rufus had already lost his mother. She just didn't have the heart to put him in a situation where he would
lose the rest of his family. She just couldn't do it. No matter how much Rufus claimed to be indifferent to his own father,
Cassandra knew that she couldn't make Horace hate him.
"We are not innocent kids anymore. We are adults. Sleeping together under the influence of alcohol is pretty normal, isn't it?
Especially when we didn't know about each other's identity. Well, now that you have brought it up, let me be straightforward.
Rufus, I will not be your woman. It will never happen. I don't love you anyway,"
Cassandra snorted in a cold way, tilting her head. She made it look like Rufus had said something ridiculous. She deliberately
painted an infuriating smile on her face. She looked so innocent but the look on her face lit the flames that had been buried in
Rufus's heart.

Rufus had always been the type of man who rarely showed his emotions on his face. He was the master of masking his feelings.
But now, after hearing this woman's refusal, his face hardened and a deep frown appeared on his face. His hand that was still
grabbing her chin tightened unconsciously.
"I have already married Lionel. And you also promised me that you would never bring up the thing in Rome again. So please, just
let me go. There are tones of women who want your attention. Just pick one. It is easy for you, isn't it?"
Feeling Rufus' silent anger, Cassandra said again. This time, she was even crueller. She intentionally said these hurtful words
only to make him give up on her. In fact, she could feel that Rufus was serious, that he really had feelings for her. But she just
couldn't be this selfish anymore. She had too many things to consider.
"Lionel is a playboy, I am aware of that. But he is still my husband after all. In fact, all men are alike. It doesn't really matter who I
am married to. Well, had you appeared sooner, maybe I would have married you instead of him!"
Cassandra tried to contain her emotions even as the cruel words left her lips. She suppressed her tears while saying this, a
perfect smile hung on her face.
"What do you mean?"
Rufus narrowed his eyes, his gaze on her. 'What did this woman say just now? Since when had she become this bold?'
Cassandra could almost feel the temperature drop because of him. He was really unhappy. It seemed that her words had really
made him furious.
'Does she mean that in her eyes, all men are the same? That I am exactly like Lionel? There's no difference between us?' Rufus
raged quietly.
"If the man I met in Rome wasn't you, I might have made the same mistake. You are not special, Rufus. Don't flatter yourself.
You just happened to be in my life. Let's stop this ridiculous thing between us. I am tired of it already. You are too serious about
this. Don't you know that it was just a fling? Don't tell me that you really love me. That's just funny,"
Cassandra said with a smile on her face. The light shone down on her pretty little face, making her look even more beautiful than
usual. But right now, all Rufus wanted was to shut her up.
Her words infuriated Rufus, making him angrier and angrier. She made it sound like what they had shared in Rome was casual
and meaningless. And that she would have slept with any other man had it not been him.

It was clear what she had meant.
Rufus was not special in her heart. What they had shared was just a coincidence.
'Ha, you really are something else, Cassandra, ' Rufus thought to himself. For the first time, Rufus felt stupid and humiliated. He,
who had always been a successful and powerful man, had been fooled by a little woman!
What Cassandra didn't know was Rufus never easily give up. Once he set his mind on something, he would surely get it. He was
never the one to lose.
"Cassandra, you will love me one day,"
he rumbled, the frown disappeared from his face. Suddenly Rufus dropped his hand, letting go of Cassandra. It seemed that he
was no longer angry. He was back to his lazy and carefree self.
Seeing Rufus' attitude change, Cassandra's heart throbbed. She knew that she had successfully hurt him. Even she hurt for him,
she couldn't show it. She remained calm and collected as if what Rufus had said didn't matter at all.
"Yeah, you know, it's easy for me to love a man. If a man helps me, protects me and gives me what I want, I will surely love him.
What's not to love, right?"
she said mimicking his carefree tone. The two were truly a match made in heaven.
Cassandra balled her hands into tight fists. Hearing her frivolous words, a flicker of anger flashed through Rufus's eyes but it
quickly disappeared. He immediately changed back into his casual attitude.