A Graduation Gift

Cassandra was frozen inside and out, as though a bucket of icy water had been poured right over her head and chilled her to the bone.

Cloris's cutting words were like daggers to her heart, the pain spreading all through her body.

Rufus had been standing aside trying not to interfere in the sisterly fight. But as he saw Cloris get more and more defensive, he decided to step in.

"What do you mean, Cloris? What did Cassandra do to make you hate her so badly?" he asked, astonished at how quickly their argument had escalated.

Rufus had sensed that Cloris had been skirting around the real issue and he was curious to know what she was hiding.

But this was neither the time nor the place for Cloris to dive into it. After all, she wasn't about to destroy her reputation in front of so many strangers.

"You have no right to know!"

Cloris rolled her eyes, dismissing Rufus's incredulous questions.

"Then, who does have the right to know?"

Rufus persisted, his eyes fixed upon Cloris's stone-cold face.

"It doesn't matter. Not you, anyways," Cloris retorted.

She pushed him aside, dashing towards the door to the restaurant. Arthur hurried to pay the bill and rushed out after her.

same spot. Her hands were clenched into tight balls, her lips trembling slightly as she tried to hold back the

in the wake of her sister's insults. She felt like she might

tried to slowly remove himself from the situation but Rufus reached

Lionel who got you

He'd never trusted Joel, and the guy always seemed

as he tried to dodge around Rufus to get to the door. Tiny beads of sweat were forming on his forehead and

question before you

let him go so easily and he stepped in front

Cassandra before, and besides, he stole her design and sold it to someone else later.

Luo, I don't know what I might have done to offend you but would you please let me go. I have to

long gone from the Tang Group, Joel thought

you've never done anything to offend

his eyebrows at Joel, his face otherwise expressionless. It amused him that this man stood before him pretending to be innocent,

was talking about. While he didn't offend Rufus directly, the same could not be said

to drip off from his forehead. His

he'd come to the restaurant had already left. She didn't want any part of whatever situation that was unfolding. Joel

where you're going. If I see you out in public ever again, I'll send you right back to prison

was Ivy's younger brother and with Ivy seeing Clark recently, these siblings

and, seeing his opening, shot past Rufus with a speed as quick as lightening and