A Graduation Gift novel Chapter 233

It had been a month since Rufus finally got discharged from the hospital. His injuries had surprisingly recovered faster than what was usual. Even the doctors were impressed by how fast he recovered.

The entire month, Cassandra had stayed in Garden Villa to take care of him. No one from the Tang family cared enough to check up on him. They didn't even know he was discharged and back to the villa. Sometimes, Horace would call him to ask him whether he could visit him. However, Rufus always refused, saying he didn't want anyone to bother him in the hospital.

"Why don't you bring back all your stuff here?"

Rufus furrowed his eyebrows and looked at Cassandra. She had only gotten some change clothes back to the villa.

"These clothes are enough. I will bring back other stuff later."

Considering Rufus was still recovering, Cassandra didn't want to risk annoying him. Actually, she had no intention of coming back to Garden Villa.

They could live together for the time being, but moving back here would mean accepting Rufus's proposal. And she didn't want to be in a marriage that wasn't blessed.

She could accept the wedding celebration to be low-key but it still had to be warm and sweet. How could she marry him without the blessings and support of their families?

"If you think moving back would be inconvenient and tiring, I can ask someone to help you,"

Rufus said. He was confused as to why she was putting it off further.

"It's fine. Let's wait until you completely recover."

Cassandra had decided to put her cards on the table and speak with complete honesty only after he got better.

Rufus, however, had mixed feelings about what was on Cassandra's mind. On one hand, she took so much care of him and did all the housework, and on the other, she rejected him.

And yet, Rufus could do nothing about it.

Wasn't it fascinating? The day had finally come. A man like Rufus didn't know how to handle a woman, anymore. He had never imagined there would come a day when he would feel so helpless.

"I heard you joined the Union of Real Estate?"

Victor had told Rufus about it. He was slightly hurt, since he had gotten to know this from someone other than her. She used to share everything with him.

The contract Cassandra signed to join the Union was drafted by Arthur. Even Arthur got to know it before Rufus. He felt disappointed and betrayed.

"Uh-huh. I hope Qin Group can have a brighter future."

Cassandra hadn't expected Rufus to bring this up. She found it strange and kept looking at him with a sheepish, confused smile.

Rufus remained quiet for a while, wondering whether he should confront her or not. "Why didn't you tell me?" he asked, finally.

He hated that he had to act like a gossipy woman, asking for all the trivial details of her life. But Cassandra was the one who had estranged herself from him in the first place. He could feel she was keeping herself distant on purpose. She was with him here in person, yet it felt like she was far away. But the truth was, he missed her and wanted to know how she was doing lately, hence he insisted.

"I thought you would soon find out after I handed in the application form!"

Her eyes squinted as she cast a sharp look at Rufus. He was the director of the Union of Real Estate and the president of the Tang Group. Of course, he would have found out immediately.

Another reason why Cassandra didn't tell Rufus was that she didn't want others to think she had become a part of the Union because of her relationship with Rufus.

"You know I am resting these days. Isn't it obvious I wouldn't be checking on any work whatsoever? Arthur is in charge now,"

Rufus spoke matter-of-factly, looking at her face and trying to find the natural sense of sharing there once was between them. Were they really strangers now?

"What do you want to eat? I'll cook for you."

Cassandra looked away, breaking away from his accusing gaze. She didn't want to argue about any of this with him anymore. He asked her things and she avoided him. The pattern was becoming exhausting.

"You,"

Rufus said with that same expression.

The desire he had for her was making him crazy. He saw Cassandra in front of him every day, all the time, yet he couldn't touch her beautiful body. It was getting so strong that it had almost become an ache for him. Perhaps, he would have to recover from this too.

Cassandra softened immediately. She laughed heartily and glanced at him with her eyes crinkling. She didn't utter a single word but swiftly walked to the kitchen, as her hand gently brushed past his chest.

Watching her walk away, Rufus's face turned gloomy again.

Soon, he had to go back to Tang Group and resume with all the work. He had heard Lionel complain and whine everyday, which was understandable, given that all his power was taken away from him so abruptly. He hated Rufus to the core.

'Let him be, ' Rufus thought as always, not caring at all. Lionel and his mother, Jill, had taken Horace away from Rufus many years ago, at the same time robbing him of all his resources and making his mother stay in a hospital for years. All Rufus wanted was to get back the things that once belonged to him and nothing of Tang family's fortune. He wanted to ruin Lionel's life and make him suffer the pain he once had gone through. Rufus had decided to ask them pay when the time was appropriate.

Everything was going according to his plan but the red car. That was no where to be found. No matter how much he tried, he just couldn't place it.

After dinner, Cassandra helped Rufus walk to the bedroom to put him to sleep. She found it more difficult than she had imagined—the man was quite heavy as he leaned most of his weight on her shoulders.

This was strange. She didn't find him so heavy before.

Anyway, she gritted her teeth and made it to the temporary bedroom on the first floor.

"It's so hot. Why don't you take off some clothes?"

"I''m fine. I'm afraid I might catch a cold if I take off some clothes. It's easy for people to catch a cold in spring."

Cassandra wiped the sweat off from her forehead and put Rufus's legs on the bed, tucking him in properly.

"Well, I feel hot," said Rufus, lifting the quilt.

"Don't. Please cover yourself. You haven't recovered yet. It's a very bad time for you to catch a cold."

She frowned, tucking the quilt again, disappointed at him behaving like a child.

Sometimes, Rufus really didn't know how to take care of himself. If he caught a cold sleeping through the night, it would do his wounded leg no good.

However, Cassandra wasn't aware of the fact that Rufus had already recovered enough. He was simply putting up a show because he missed her presence and wanted to be taken care of by her.

"No, it's really hot."

Rufus lifted the quilt again, ignoring Cassandra's warnings.

"Rufus! Don't piss me off! I'm taking care of you for free. I'm not your nanny. Stop being such a child and listen to me!"

Cassandra said angrily with her arms akimbo. Rufus wanted to laugh but controlled himself. He pretended to be uncomfortable, wiping his forehead with the back of his hand.

"But Cassandra, I feel hot whenever I see you. What can I do?"

he said, flirtatiously. Cassandra's mouth twisted into a smile. She was trying too hard to resist it, but her cheeks blushed anyway. This was exactly what Rufus had expected.

"I don't know! Take your nap! If you don't want the quilt, cool. Do whatever you want. I'm not the one who's going to be sick."

Cassandra turned around, ready to leave; Rufus grabbed her arm, pulling her into the bed.

"Please don't leave."

The bedroom he was staying in now used to be a study. It didn't have a lot of space. A single bed was all they could fit in there. Cassandra would sleep in the bedroom on the second floor. They hadn't slept together for a long, long time.

Presently, she could feel the warmth emancipating from Rufus's hand. Her heart started to beat faster as she tried to pull her hand out of his grip, failing.

"Rufus, you haven't recovered…"

Of course, Cassandra knew what Rufus was thinking. Thinking about his injured leg, she rejected the idea.

"Oh no, no. You misunderstand me. I just want you to massage my back. I feel some pain between my shoulders and my waist,"

Rufus suppressed what he actually wanted and teased Cassandra. Her face instantly turned redder.

She felt so embarrassed, blaming herself for thinking the other way. Poor Rufus had been sleeping in the same position for days due to the injury. He couldn't turn over in the bed at will. Obviously, he was in no position to have sex with her. Why would she even think about it?

Plus, the doctor had told Cassandra to massage his back as much as possible. She had completely forgotten!

"Oh...let me help you turn over."

Feeling guilty, Cassandra bent down and held up Rufus.

By the time she turned him, she had already broken into a sweat. Still, she massaged his back, all the way from his shoulders to the end of his spine.

The muscles on Rufus's shoulders were so strong and her hands started to cramp just after a few minutes.

Rufus could tell Cassandra was tired. He smiled playfully at her and said, "Why don't you sit on my back? That way, I'll feel more comfortable and you won't get tired.

Also, If you massage well, you will get a reward!"