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.

spot. Her hands were clenched into tight

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

Joel tried to slowly remove himself from the situation but Rufus reached out his arm to

it Lionel who got you

guy always seemed

the door. Tiny beads of sweat were forming on his forehead and his

answer my question

and he stepped in front of Joel, blocking his way

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

would you please let me go. I have to be somewhere," Joel asked politely.

hide the fear in his eyes. It was Rufus who had caught him for stealing Cassandra's design. But since he was long gone from the Tang Group, Joel thought he would never see him again.

you've never done anything to

him pretending to be innocent, one eye constantly darting

was talking about. While he didn't offend Rufus directly, the same

forehead. His

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

see you out in public ever again, I'll send you right back to prison without so much as blinking my eyes. Look into

too well that Joel was Ivy's younger brother and with Ivy seeing Clark recently, these siblings were causing trouble wherever

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