A Graduation Gift

Cassandra took a few steps back, clutching the clothes on her chest.

The sudden memory sent a shiver down her spine. Everything made sense now. All the questions she had no answer to were finally clicking into place.

Now she knew why her father didn't like her from her childhood, and why he seemed so distant. He must have thought wrongly of her all along.

She had been sent to the small town because her family was afraid that she would hurt her sister again.

She had deliberately forgotten it, but today, there was no escape from the onslaught of memories that came back to her.

Cassandra stood shaking; next to her, her mother Edith was paled.

"Children can say whatever they like. Don't take their words seriously," Edith said, her voice cracking despite its low tone.

She still wanted to defend Cloris, but Cloris burst out, "I won't apologize. That accident happened years ago! It's not my fault that Courtney chose not to let it go. It has nothing to do with me!"

With those words, Cloris stormed out, bumping into Cassandra on the way. Cassandra lost her balance from the sudden impact and fell to the ground, her eyes absent.

Cloris pushed the door open and rushed out, leaving Cassandra and Edith behind.

"Cassandra, why didn't you stop Cloris?"

Edith stood up and anxiously ran after her younger daughter, while Cassandra lay on the floor unmoving, a bitter smile plastered across her face.

Whitney sighed at the scene that unfolded and walked up to Cassandra. She took her arm and helped her stand on her feet, leading her like a child to sit down on the sofa.

matter with you? Are you

at Cassandra in bafflement. She didn't know that Cassandra had lost

reality. "I'm all right, Auntie. I just need to rest

legs felt like lead and could not move; her entire body was cold and heavy with the things she had found out today. She had no idea where to begin

then, I'll go back first. I have to take care of Courtney,"

with the noise of her thoughts.

had changed in just a day.

but it was like a trap door opened from under her, plunging her into a deep cellar.

the back of her mind that she had done something wrong. She had to live swallowing the unfair treatment she had received. She couldn't even retaliate. But it turned out that

nowhere in sight.

have gone out. You're still unwell,"

back as early as he could, looking forward to spending some time with her. But he came back to an

back

exhaustion in her voice made Rufus

You don't sound

asked, his voice laced thick with concern.

if she was talking more to herself than him. "Wait for me

legs to move. She went outside where the driver

the way home. There was too much space, too much darkness, and too much silence. She felt as if her heart was a flimsy spider web swaying in the wind, just waiting to break. When they reached the villa, she walked on staggering limbs, devoid of any energy. But at the sight of Rufus, she felt herself calming down. Here, at their home, was a man who was waiting for her. Someone she could rely on. She walked

at home alone," he said

reached out a hand and removed a small flower petal that had fallen

small smile. "Yeah. It's boring to be alone every day," she

see that there was something on her mind. At any rate, she was not yet ready to confront all of these