A Graduation Gift

Chapter 39 A Clown Being Watched

It is said that a man has gold under his knees - he should never show his weakness by kneeling before another person. Yet here Lionel found himself kneeling to Cassandra, but of course that was because Rufus had made him. He collapsed in a heap, rocking back and forth, trying to find a way to get up off the floor.

Lionel felt absolutely humiliated. He had never kneeled to anyone in his life. The awkward gesture rendered Cassandra startled. She gasped as she covered her mouth with her tiny hands, her eyes filled with surprise.

"Rufus, forget it. I didn't get hurt anyway. Let him go."

Cassandra was afraid that the spectators would make mountains out of molehills. She wanted everything to be copacetic, for everyone to get along. She hated drama. At her words, Lionel broke free from Rufus.

But Lionel was furious and ready for a rematch. Between his impetuousness and Rufus's machismo, they were poised to go at each other again. Fortunately, someone had called hotel security. Security guards arrived just in time to wrestle the two away from each other.

"Rufus, this is not over! Don't even think we are done. I'll get you back for this someday, when you least expect it! And I swear it'll hurt far worse than your weak-ass kick."

Lionel glared at Rufus like a cat gone feral, aching to sink his teeth into some blood and flesh. He gnashed his teeth and pointed two fingers at Rufus as he turned to leave the hotel. Rufus, for his part, kept it cool as Lionel bolted his way out of the door.

Lionel caught one last look at Cassandra as he left. His foul mood had been brewing and demanded that he had to leave now, before his ego took anymore damage. So he looked away quickly and sped up his pace to get the hell out of there.

A sudden and unexpected farce had come to an end. After Lionel left, there was a worried look on Cassandra's face and her eyebrows furrowed. She bit her lips subconciously. Lionel wouldn't give up easily this time. He wouldn't stop until he ferreted out the truth. The man was on a crusade.

If Lionel didn't stop at this incident – if he didn't let go of Rufus during their scuffle and tracked down the clues – sooner or later, he would find out what had happened between Cassandra and Rufus that night in Rome. And if that actually happened, it would be a disaster.

"Don't worry. I'm here with you,"

Rufus said to Cassandra, hoping to bring her a bit of comfort. He could feel her anxiety and worry. Rufus gazed at Cassandra lovingly as he glided toward her. His gentle voice was magical, easing her fears.

Cassandra raised her eyes to meet his and nodded her head.

She didn't know why, but she felt so secure having him around her, as always.

She couldn't help but long to depend on him.

The Tang mansion blazed with light in the night sky.

When Cassandra and Rufus arrived at the mansion together, Jill walked right up to Cassandra and slapped her in the face.

It happened so fast that even Rufus, who was vigilant at all times, didn't have time to react.

Cassandra was dumbstruck as she brought her hand up to soothe her stinging cheek. But it was hard to stanch the flow of tears, as she didn't understand why this had just happened.

"What the hell! Why did you just slap her for no reason? Who gave you the authority to attack someone out of the blue like that?"

Rufus's demanding, booming voice broke the silence. His face took on a menacing look, and his words felt threatening.

Even Jill, who was fierce and had just made a very bold move, took a step back out of fright. But soon, she channeled her inner toughness, pointed her fingers at them and yelled, "I slapped her for no reason? Really? I'm teaching my daughter-in-law a lesson she should have learned by now! Cassandra, you are such a whore. And you're making a fool out of my dear Lionel. You deserve it!"

Jill, whose face was always plastered with makeup, looked hideous inside and out after saying such nasty words. She glared at Cassandra, imagining tearing her apart, limb by limb.

Obviously, Lionel had said something to Jill when he came back. Cassandra's worry was right. Her head was filled with panic again.

"What makes you think I am a whore?"

Cassandra said calmly, as she lifted her head to look Jill squarely in the eye. From her newly composed demeanor, no one would have believed Jill had just slapped her moments earlier.

"Are you still trying to lie to me, Cassandra? Lionel told me everything. He said that you and Rufus were having affairs. You've cheated on my son! No wonder you are an illegitimate child, Rufus. The fish rots from the head down. I couldn't care less about your personal life, but this woman is my son's wife! You crossed the line!"

Jill grew more rude and feisty as she continued to badger Rufus and Cassandra. She even had insulted Rufus's mother.

"Don't you dare say that again!"

Rufus said, dropping his words slowly, one by one. It was difficult to discern his mood, but there was a glimmer of something frightening in his chocolate eyes.

"What? You feel like you want to take a swing at me, don't you? I tell you what. Both of you are shameless and care nothing about your reputation. But that's not the case with my son and the Tang family. You'd better mind your behavior!"

Jill was startled by the furrowed, angry look on his face. But she knew that she was still in the Tang mansion and no matter how angry Rufus was, he dared not lay a finger on her.

A cloud of anger filled the room, making the atmosphere suffocating. But Rufus was fueled by the increasing discontent. Even Cassandra, who was standing next to Rufus, could feel his anger.

His face was also lit up by the room's energy. He took out his hands from his pocket and smiled coldly. Then he walked towards Jill.

"What is it that you want to do to me? Rufus, what are you doing?"

Jill was really frightened this time, especially with Rufus in such close proximity to her. She stepped back out of instinct as she looked around and asked for help.

"You're nuts! You're embarrassing me!"

In this scary and precarious moment, Horace came out of the bedroom suddenly. He grabbed Jill's arm and pushed her away.

Jill lost her balance and fell down on the floor. Horace stared at her, warning her not to speak another word.

Jill wasn't stupid. She knew it would do nothing good if she continued this argument, especially in Horace's presence.

"Rufus, please don't be mad at Jill. After all, she's an elder. I sincerely apologize to you for what she has said," Horace begged.

Horace's apology made him look inferior to Rufus. He was a full head shorter than Rufus. Now, he didn't look like Rufus's father at all. Instead, he looked like a child who had accidentally shit his pants and tried to beg for his parents' forgiveness.

Rufus loosened his fists, but kept biting his lips. His sharp eyes softened a bit.

"If anyone ever insults my mother again, no matter who it is, he or she will pay for it!"

He sounded oddly indifferent yet calm. But his voice was as scary and threatening as usual. Then Rufus looked at Cassandra and said to Horace, "When you accuse someone of screwing others over, you need to show some evidence. Clearly, Jill has no proof. What are you going to do with her? She just slapped Cassandra."

Rufus was smart. He didn't forget about Cassandra and placed the onus on Horace to deal with Jill's behavior.

Horace was embarrassed to look at Cassandra. But when he mustered the courage, he saw her with both hands on her face. Tears had welled up in her eyes, and Horace could see she was trying mightily to hold them back.

"Cassandra, Lionel confided those things to Jill. Please don't be mad at her. After all, she's just concerned about the health of your marriage. Let me apolo…"

Before Horace could finish the word, Cassandra stopped him, "Dad, I'm okay. There's no need to apologize,"

Cassandra said slowly and forced a smile. She was tired of being stared at by the onlookers to the fight, so she walked to the stairs. Somehow, she had become a butt of the proverbial joke.

The secret Cassandra had been keeping to herself haunted her, torturing her constantly. She felt on the verge of collapsing. She was having trouble catching her breath. But then, she pulled herself together because she hated feeling this way: trapped in a secret she absolutely had to keep.

She wished this was all just a nightmare and eventually she would wake up happy. As she passed Rufus, he saw the tears in her eyes.

His heart sank, because he could feel her sadness and loneliness. He wanted desperately to be the one to erase her despair.