A Graduation Gift

Cassandra was not his first woman. Put it more frankly, she was only one in a countless list, including a random fling here and
there or a one-night stand once in a while. It was hopeless to hang on to him.
Tonight, in the faint light and the dappled shade her stunning beauty still shined through. That captivated him. Like they did the
first time when they met, he ached to get her laid again.
But upon her cold and heartless words, his heart convulsed in an instant.
To recover from her smothering words he took a deep breath, reflected for a moment, and told himself to ignore his hurt feelings.
With intense eyes, he watched her face, and sensed a distance between them. It was a deep, dark rift that separated their souls
and emotions, even while she stood right in front of him. How awful!
"Sorry to say this, Cassandra, but you are doomed to lose!" he declared, without blinking.
Believing that the headstrong woman could never escape, he fixed his gaze on her, trying to read her mind. The insolence in his
voice was unmistakable.
But Cassandra didn't mind him. She simply brushed him off with a mocking smile.
"Well, whether I will win or lose, it is not up to you," she said nonchalantly.
"At least by now, you have been on a losing streak, haven't you?"
Rufus retorted.
Intentionally, he wanted to get on her nerves.
Never had Lionel treated her with respect, Cassandra's love and respect for him had fizzled out along the line. Now, she didn't
even give a damn. The only inspiration she had in this particular case were the interests of the Qins - her family.
"Whatever you think or do can't change anything. I've already made up my mind and I'm OK, without your advice!"
Cassandra stood her ground.
Frustrated by her stubbornness, Rufus heaved a sigh and thought for a moment before reaching out a hand to stroke her cheek.
"It is quite late, go to sleep!" he suggested.

Cassandra blinked, wondering what would be his next move. Their rivalry was was here to stay and it was only sensible for
Cassandra to keep a watchful eye, if she was to survive in the game.
Silently, she thought to herself, 'Am I such a fool? The man I keep fantasizing over is my husband's elder stepbrother. That's my
brother-in-law! Why invest my emotions in him when I know well it's a very complicated relationship?'
There was no doubt, her marriage to Lionel was just a trade-off. Her life had been set and it would not be wise to allow this man
into her life. She began to fear for her family, and their family.
As if escaping some danger, Cassandra went back to her room in haste, trotting all the way. By the time she got to the room, her
pulse was racing and her face flushing.
As she walked to the bed, she smiled at Cloris, who was fast asleep on the bed, like a delicate and adorable doll.
Careful not to disrupt her delicate, adorable sister on whom she dotted, Cassandra tiptoed around to her side of the bed and
quietly climbed into her quilt. Although Cloris was younger by three years, all along, they had looked more like twins. But now,
gazing at her sister, Cassandra realized that three year gap had somewhat aged her. 'Is it because I'm stressed up?' she
wondered.
In the meantime, Cloris was mumbling something in her dream, "Rufus..." The rest of her sentence was unintelligible.
'These are the fantasies of the naive girls. As long as they have someone on their mind, they can't stop thinking about them even
in their dreams, ' Cassandra sigh inwardly.
There was no need to trouble her mind over such petty issues, especially when it concerned her sister. Soon, she drifted into
sleep.
Dashing under the faint streetlight, the man lit a cigarette. The red glow flickered between his fingers. His dark brown eyes
looked all the more obscure behind the fumes of smoke that curling around him.
On the way back home to the Tangs family residence, Cassandra and Lionel rode in the same car. In her parents' presence, she
didn't think it was right to upset them when she could as well put on an appearance of a happy couple.
While her flashy sister Cloris, rode in the same car with Rufus, who cleverly hid his emotions behind a dark pair of sunglasses
that gave him the detached look of an insensitive sculpture.

Cassandra dozed off all the way, while Lionel kept stealing looks at her every now and then. Something cruel gripped his mind as
they went.
'You cannot dodge me at all times! Tonight, I won't let you make any excuses!' he cursed within.
'Why should I waste my time on pleasing one girl, when I have the whole world at my feet?'
he sneered in silence, cutting a spiteful look.
On arrival at the Tang family's lavish residence, Rufus got out of the car first and walked around to open the door for Cloris on
the other side. Like a perfect gentleman, he stood aside and kept one hand on the upper part of the door as if blocking the car
roof, in case Cloris hit her head.
To that kind gesture, Cloris's face lit with a sweet ear to ear smile, you'd think she was a teenage girl in love. Even Lionel couldn't
help but notice her elation and hot looks.
Anyway, who on earth wouldn't appreciate such beauty? Wasn't how it worked all the time? The girl with brains and great looks
always got all the attention, fame and accolades.
When Jill came out to greet them, Cloris fell into her open hands with a warm embrace as they exchanged greetings.
"Aunt Jill, you're stunning. You even look much younger!" For the day, Jill had chosen a purple nightingale occasion dress and
jacket. She looked gorgeous in every sense of the word.
It was more than four years since Jill and Cloris had met. That was before Cassandra went abroad, and when Cloris was still a
little, innocent girl.
Now she had grown into a beautiful, graceful lady, whose warmth made Jill feel much pleasant.
After a little of small talk, Jill turned around to greet Cassandra, whom she had caught a glimpse of while she was still engrossed
with Cloris.
With a touch of sarcasm, she coaxed, "How sweet is Cloris! So much adorable than those who are ignorant and say one thing
and do another!"
To which Cassandra excused herself, pretending to be under the weather. "Hi mom. I've caught a cold," she explained.
Doing her best to stay as unflappable as possible, she lifted her heavy eyelids, and gave Jill a faint smile.

"Can Cloris stay here to keep me company for a while? I've really missed her. I guess we have a lot to catch up on," Cassandra
requested.
While she spoke, Lionel suddenly walked over and stood next to her. Feigning deep affection, he held on her left hand and
interrupted, "You have been sleeping all the way, sweetie. Are you feeling alright?
Let me stay around and watch over you tonight. Cloris is our guest and will be here for some time. You'll have all the time in the
world to catch up later, once you feel better."
At Lionel's intense gaze, Cloris flushed.
She admired in her mind, 'My brother-in-law is really affectionate toward my sister.He must have missed her badly since she and
I spent last night together. If I still borrow his love tonight, it would be unfair on him.'
Politely, she declined, "Cassandra, I can sleep alone tonight! It is okay for me. You know I sleep like a baby. Since you're coming
down with a cold, I'd be the worst person to count on for help, should you get an emergence in the middle of the night. It's better
for Lionel to look after you tonight."
Ignoring Lionel's masquerading, Rufus kept his eyes on Cassandra, he knew she was quite anxious at this point.
The moment he met Rufus's eyes, Lionel with a smug wrapped his arm around Cassandra's shoulders, to mark his territory.
This woman, was his wife, was his. No matter how he disliked her, he would not let another man come near her. Provocatively
arching his eyebrow, Lionel's lips curled into a malicious smile.
He turned to Cassandra and said in a gentle tone, "Let's make a baby tonight! Isn't that what you have been wishing for!"
Then he reached out and stroked Cassandra's long hair, in front of everyone. A chill ran over Cassandra's body. She had never
seen Lionel so...creepy before.
Cassandra tilted her face away and glared at at Lionel uncomfortably before she quickly steered away from the conversation
subject.
"It is the first time that Cloris is visiting us. I have to take her around," she nudged Lionel away.
At that very moment, when she happened to meet Rufus's gaze, she was mortified and turned away at once.

'What is wrong with me? Why am I afraid to look him in the eye?' she mulled, a pang of guilt eating at her conscience. It felt as if
she had been caught red-handed. Images of Rufus and her making out in the Qins' backyard flashed through her mind. She
blushed crimson.
"Cassandra, don't worry about me! Rufus had promised to keep me company. You and Lionel must be tired, just go have a rest,"
Cloris said tenderly.
What a sensible and considerate girl! Her sweet voice and her innocent look, somehow, left Cassandra absent-minded.
Cassandra remembered last night when the little girl had just asked her to pair her off with Rufus. She hated to admit it, but she
knew, a pure girl like her sister could well be the perfect match for Rufus.
'What am I thinking about? I'm a married woman and there is no chance I'd ditch Lionel to remarry Rufus. That is impossible!'
she scolded herself.
No doubt those remarks under the streetlight had caused a stir in her mind. The flood of thoughts and conflicted emotions came
so thick and fast that she had to heave a sigh to recover from the shock.
Dropping her head in disappointment, Cassandra told herself to stop those fantasies. All those romantic memories with Rufus on
the night in Rome and their kiss in the Qins' backyard last night were things that she needed to let go. Hell, even her future in the
Tangs' family now hung in the balance.