Confused, Dylon ended the call thinking that it was probably the poor reception. The dial tone disturbed
the room's deafening silence.
"What a pity. He doesn't even seem to care about you that much. Your call for help fell on indifferent
ears," Rufus uttered.
He watched her with his icy gaze as his lips curled into a sarcastic smile.
"Is that how you plan to get rid of me? Through death? Cassandra, none of your attempts have
succeeded so far. Do you need me to inspire you more?"
Rufus reached over, picked up a shard of glass, grabbed her wrist, and placed the broken piece up to
her wrist.
"Honey, cutting your hand doesn't work, except for bleeding and having a scar, far from fatal at all. See
here? Here is the artery. You should cut it swiftly. You understand? Hard and fast. With one clean
stroke, you'll be able to tear your skin and blood will flow out of your artery,"
Rufus said as he slid the glass gently on her skin. The ice-cold shard of glass sent chills down her
spine. She began to shiver.
"But this way of bleeding is so slow, your body will grow cold as the blood drains and your
consciousness will slowly go away with it. Then, you will start to convulse, just like a dying ant..."
Rufus whispered slowly in her ear, eyeing her ashen face.
This woman tried to kill herself! He thought that it was best he did something to scare her so she will
not try to do it again.
"Now, do you still want to put an end to your life?" he asked.
The warmth of his breath passed from her ear to her neck. No matter how close he was to her body,
she felt no warmth within her.
"Didn't you say... I cannot leave you until I die?"
Cassandra stuttered, opening her shaking lips, in a voice too hoarse to bear.
Rufus knitted his eyebrows, suddenly wondering if she was dehydrated throughout the day.
"No, I changed my mind. Even when you die, I'll make sure I still have you. I will dig your body out and
put it in my future grave. Then, we would be together again after we die,"
he said as his lip curled up into a menacingly dazzling smile. The look on his face made the hair on her
arms stand.
Cassandra felt despair sweep all over her. It seemed that she had no way to escape Rufus. He would
go after her no matter what. 'Am I going to be his prisoner for the rest of my life, ' she wondered.
Rufus scooped her up and put her on the bed. He picked up all the glass shards by hand and dumped
them. Then, he turned on the sweeping robot to let it finish the job.
While he cleaned up, Cassandra sat leaning her head on her legs, motionless.
Grimacing with pain, there was a look of confusion and desolation in her eyes.
Rufus took out a tube of ointment from the first aid kit. Then, he grabbed Cassandra's wrist and applied
the solution to her wounds.
"Think again before pulling a stunt like this next time! I said I would never let you go! Don't waste your
effort and energy!"
Rufus warned her sternly. Still, physically, he stayed gentle.
He also applied the ointment on her bruises and smoothed it evenly.
The burning pain around her wrists earlier was soon replaced by a soothing cool feeling.
After applying the ointment, Rufus held a glass of water and stuffed it into her hand roughly.
"Drink up,"
he commanded. Still, Cassandra remained motionless, looking at the glass blankly.
Her head was light and she felt dizzy with the thought of being his prisoner for the rest of her life. There
were so many things she still wanted to do.
Seeing her stare mindlessly made Rufus lose his temper again. He felt as if Cassandra was defying
him on purpose.
But he had plenty of ways to make her drink.
With a cold smile, he took a swig of the water, cupped Cassandra's chin and pressed her lips to his.
Before she realized to resist, her dry throat subconsciously accepted the mouthful of water. Her burning
throat felt better instantly.
"So do you want to me to continue or are you going to drink yourself?" he asked.
In haste, Cassandra took the glass from him and downed the water.
Rufus smiled smugly and watched her drinking up the water.
"Go downstairs to eat something," he said.
His voice remained harsh and menacing, making Cassandra fail to notice the gleam of concern in his
eyes.
She got up submissively and put on one of his white shirts Rufus flung at her, then followed him
downstairs.
Rufus brought back delectable dishes from a restaurant. The crispy and inviting delicacies gave her an
appetite.
Cassandra was really hungry. She ate enthusiastically with her face buried in the plate of her food. She
didn't put down the chopsticks until her dizziness caused by low blood sugar faded away.
"Are you full?"
Rufus asked in his husky voice.
Cassandra nodded. Now, she had the strength and energy to think clearly.
She told herself that a negotiation with Rufus was imperative. She couldn't stay here while the Qin
Group needed her. Her company would be in a tumult if she still wouldn't show up in her office.
"I have to go to work tomorrow, I cannot stay here all the time!"
Cassandra finally said. Her tone about this was tough and firm.
"All right. Tomorrow morning, you and I will go to get the marriage license in the Civil Affairs Bureau,
and then you can do whatever you like," he replied.
His reply shocked Cassandra.
'What the hell is going on in his mind? How can he raise this kind of idea?
Does he know what marriage means?' she thought.
"What if I say no?"
Cassandra replied.
"This is only with the condition that you give me a child. Once you bear a child, I will let you do
whatever you want,"
Rufus said with a serious look on the face as he looked into Cassandra's eyes which widened in
disbelief.
"You talk about having a baby as if it were as simple as asking me to drink water. Do they look the
same to you? Look, Rufus, I am going to split up with you. Why on earth will I choose to give you a
baby?" she said.
She initially thought he was joking. 'Bear him a child? Is today April Fool's day?' she sneered within her.
"Two choices: First, get the license with me to be my legal wife. The other one, bear me a child before I
give you freedom! Otherwise, like I said, I won't let you go,"
Rufus said, maintaining an intense gaze.
He knew Cassandra would have no heart to leave him if they have a child. Rufus suppressed the
elation inside him for his ideas.
No matter which choice Cassandra made, she would be kept with him tightly, of course. Even if she
chose the first alternative, marrying him was the wiser choice, he gloated sneakily.
Cassandra took a deep breath before she uttered something that would drop his jaw, "Okay, we should
make an agreement. After one year, we will not owe each other after I give birth to a child," she
counteroffered.
Determination emanated from her eyes. She knew Rufus well. She knew his slyness so she decided
that the best course of action for this moment was to play along.
Now, it was Rufus's turn to be stunned.
He did not expect Cassandra to agree to his mad request. His originall plan was to force her to marry
him.
"You would rather bear an illegitimate child than marry me?" he asked.
He felt a spasm of anger surging inside him. As far as he knew, Cassandra always cherished her
reputation. It perplexed him thinking what drove her to choose to be an unwed mother? That was crazy!
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