Cassandra hadn't slept in her princess bed in a long time, but the sheets still smelled of her lost
childhood. She looked around her former room. Nothing had changed. The teddy bear at the foot of the
bed, the wind chime twinkling above the windowsill, the numerous photographs on the wall that
captured her adolescence...Everything remained the same. She stood dully, reminiscing on her past.
She had so many memories attached to this bedroom and her house.
Just then, there was a sharp knock on the door.
"Cassandra, I'm done taking my bath. Can I come in?" Cloris exclaimed, interrupting Cassandra's long-
lost memories.
Cassandra snapped back to reality and turned around to open the door. Cloris came in wearing a
bathrobe, her face breaking into a wide grin. Once inside, she changed into her pajamas.
She was pretty and had a perfect hour-glass figure that obviously attracted attention. People, including
most women, simply couldn't tear their eyes off her when she walked into a room.
Her smooth, creamy white skin contrasted sharply against her black PJs, giving a strong visual effect.
Cassandra made a sound halfway between a gasp and a sigh as she stared at her little sister. Cloris
had grown up to be quite a stunner. She was as beautiful and graceful as a swan.
"Cloris, you are just so lovely. Nobody can take their eyes off you."
Cassandra's praise came from the bottom of her heart, and her sister gave her a soft smile in return.
Cloris moved closer to Cassandra and embraced her, breathing in deeply. She leaned back and looked
at her.
"Cassandra, may I ask you a question?"
Cloris asked. A mild blush stained her cheeks. Cassandra's heart jolted. She already knew what Cloris
was going to ask, but she smiled and nodded anyway, "Sure."
Cloris pulled her sister's arm shyly and the two of them sat on the bed. She opened and shut her mouth
repeatedly, too nervous to say anything. After a moment's silence, she finally blurted, "Does Rufus
have a girlfriend?"
Just as Cassandra had expected, Cloris was curious about Rufus. She had seen her sneaking glances
at him downstairs. Cassandra's heart sank to the bottom of her stomach and she swallowed visibly. Her
throat had turned dry.
"I don't know. Probably not. I haven't heard that he has one,"
Cassandra answered softly and lowered her eyes, avoiding her sister's inquiring gaze.
"Really? That's awesome."
Cloris grinned widely, clearly overjoyed. She hugged Cassandra around the neck and then kissed her
on the cheek, unable to contain her excitement.
Cassandra stared at her lovely sister, wondering if Rufus liked simple and innocent girls like Cloris.
Perhaps he would. If they were to be together, Cassandra would have to watch from the sidelines.
"Cassandra, I like Rufus a lot. Can you help me win him over?"
Cloris asked after a while once she had reigned in her excitement.
"Huh? I don't know how I'd do that."
Cassandra glanced at Cloris from the corner of her eyes, deeply embarrassed. It was the first time
someone had asked her to play matchmaker. Besides, she had feelings for Rufus. How could she help
her sister win his heart?
Cloris squinted her eyes, her brain churning. Suddenly, an idea presented itself to her. Her bright eyes
lit up with delight as she gazed at her sister.
"Cassandra, you'll go back to the Tang mansion tomorrow, right?"
Cassandra nodded in silence and trepidation, wondering what Cloris had in mind.
"Can I go with you and stay there for some time? It's my summer vacation right now. I get bored at
home, and I would rather spend some time with you."
Cloris pulled at Cassandra's wrist, looking at her with imploring eyes.
It was probably the first time in many years that the two sisters were being so intimate. Cassandra's
feelings towards her family hardly went deep, but the girl sitting in front of her was, after all, her sister.
She couldn't say no to her request for spending some time together.
"If you want, sure."
Cassandra finally understood why her family spoiled Cloris so much. Even Vernon, who was usually
serious and impersonal, was fond of her. She did have a charm about her that people were drawn to.
Nobody could refuse her.
Perhaps it would be for the best if Cassandra brought Rufus and Cloris together. Then she'd be forced
to forget her memories of him. All the moments that she kept close to her heart would fade away like
forgotten dreams, as if they never happened.
It would be a perfect ending.
At the thought, Cassandra allowed herself a wry smile.
"Thank you, sis. I love you so much."
Cloris beamed, even more delighted now that she had her sister's consent. She threw herself back on
the bed and rolled, giggling happily.
Cloris's excitement reasserted Cassandra's decision to bring Rufus and her sister together.
It might be the best way to put an end to her relationship with him. As for her marriage with Lionel, it
might signal a new beginning.
But what about that kiss? What about that irresistible kiss in the garden not long ago? Cassandra
frowned, feeling like she had swallowed something bitter. Perhaps...Perhaps, she truly felt something
for Rufus.
That feeling made her feel reckless. It scared her. She did not want to break her own heart.
Cassandra shook her head. She could not go on feeling like this. She had to put an end to it.
Just then, her phone, which she had put aside, started ringing. Cloris stopped rolling on the bed and
watched Cassandra pick up her phone.
"Is it from your husband? You two are so in love. I know those media reports are baseless and only
written by people looking to gossip. You have a good relationship with Lionel. People are just jealous,"
Cloris said, already assuming that the call was from Lionel. With a sly smile, she cocked an eyebrow in
Cassandra's direction.
Cassandra shot her a smile in reply. She picked up her phone and walked into the bathroom.
Closing the door cautiously, she made sure that the call couldn't be heard from the outside. She stared
at the flickering name on the screen in a daze.
It was late. Why was Rufus calling her?
The phone kept ringing. Cassandra unknowingly bit her lower lip and finally pressed the answer key.
"What took you so long?"
Rufus asked her once she picked up the call, a hint of frustration seeping into his voice. He seldom lost
his temper. Cassandra grimaced and wondered what had happened.
"It's late. What's the matter? Why did you call me?"
Cassandra whispered softly. Her eyebrows snapped together. Cloris was just outside. What if she
heard them?
"Open the window,"
the man on the other end of the phone said, the deep timbre of his voice as intoxicating as ever. It
made her heartbeat accelerate and her stomach flutter with butterflies.
"Well, I'm in the bathroom."
Cassandra was even more curious now. With a quick look around the bathroom, she walked over to the
window.
"Open it,"
Rufus continued. He already seemed to know where Cassandra was.
Cassandra was puzzled. She pushed the glass pane up and looked down.
A gentle breeze flew in through the window, making her hair dance. She saw a tall and handsome man
standing under the street lamp below. The golden light elongated his shadow and cast his figure in
stark relief. Rufus stood alone on the street, holding the phone in his hand as he raised his head. His
obsidian eyes were locked on Cassandra who stood two floors above, looking down at him.
Cassandra's heartbeat pounded in her ears. She inhaled deeply and opened her mouth, but said
nothing.
"Come down,"
Rufus said through the phone in a gentle voice. It felt like they had been looking at each other forever.
His voice lured her in like magic.
"What did you just say?"
Cassandra blinked. She felt like she was in a dream. What game was he playing?
"Cassandra, come down,"
Rufus raised his voice, still looking at her intensely. The voice stirred up something deep in her. What
was he doing?
"It's late,"
Cassandra repeated firmly, her heart racing uncontrollably even as she listened to the voice of reason
in her head. This was her parents' house, and she was married. She couldn't do anything improper.
"I have something to tell you. Come down."
Rufus ignored her reluctance and hung up the phone. He put his hands in the pockets of his trousers
and leaned against the lamp pole, waiting for her patiently. His eyes were deep pools of black, looking
at Cassandra with desire and tempting her.
Cassandra closed the window and turned her back to it as she took a deep, shaky breath. Why was
she so nervous? Why was her heart racing a mile a minute? Her hand that held the phone had sweat
running down it.
"I have something to tell you."
The words echoed in Cassandra's ears. She shut her eyes, uncertain whether she should go down or
not…
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