A Graduation Gift

"No way! I'm not interested in hearing your side of the story," Cassandra said defiantly.

Immediately and with such determination, she laid down her case. Cassandra felt herself gaining strength and boldness, each day of her separation from this man she detested.

She hated to admit that this man had caused a lot of damage. Cassandra was so innocent when she met Lionel. During their arranged marriage, they just could not seem to get along with each other. His hatred and her resistance drifted the two further and further away. She had never been afraid of Lionel's threats before, and would never allow them to affect her in the future.

"You don't want to know what's happened, do you?" Lionel said, with a smirk on his arrogant face.

He was quite surprised, as he looked for that familiar curiosity in her eyes. Casandra no longer fell for his mind games. Sitting like a blueprint in front of her. He had become so obvious. The years of reading his every action had made her extremely perceptive. The repulsiveness sat in her throat when she looked at him.

"I do, but I trust Rufus more and will believe what he has told me. Your information is normally fragmented in lies and concealment," Cassandra said coldly.

Cassandra took a deep breath and looked at Lionel calmly. She no longer felt anxiety and had no pit in her stomach. How wonderful it was to be free of his bondage.

She wondered why Rufus hasn't told her everything. As she pondered, she realized, he was protecting her. He was a caring man, always putting her well being first. These two brothers couldn't have been any more different, even if they tried. Lionel was just a critically hard man. He could not commit, and had no loyalty.

with annoyance. Cassandra had been pushing him lately. He was going to make them regret their relationship. If he couldn't have her, neither could his brother. He always believed he was better. Thinking he had to prove his

she ever trust and believe in me as she believes in Rufus. How is that

going to find out. How dare he just walk in here and take over. He must have been manipulating her heart. He is so smooth, yet arrogant as hell. How can that self-righteous prig think he's better than the rest

believe in a man, who seduces the wife of his

look crept over

would definitely not be what it is today and would have been overshadowed by the Dawn Star Group, I am not exaggerating. What he has achieved is astounding. If you were half the man he was, you would go a long way. I don't care what you say, or what your intentions are. You never took into account how I felt before. Rufus and I are together. We respect each other, we work well together, and we have each others back. We don't have the sick, unhealthy relationship that you are thinking in

his eyes. Her thoughts flew to Rufus whom she wanted to share a meaningful life with. Did Lionel ever have any of those values?

openly in front of her, this went on for many months. The horror show, finally became too much. Ivy confronted Cassandra, and toyed with her emotions. She deliberately put on a show tumbling

her. She tried to put up with them in respect for Rufus. Cassandra just hoped the Tangs would unite. The Qins were segmented all over, and had no way of becoming a family again. Her heart longed for something she could

much in the house. Rufus apparently kept a distance with his father as well. And Jill, was never fond of Rufus to begin with. Cassandra felt bad for him

to her about the importance of family to Rufus. Being raised by his mother under hard conditions, he had become tough and strong. In

he won't admit it though." Thinking of what Michelle said, Cassandra felt like been torn apart. Although she had yet been told much about Rufus's past, she knew that her beloved man