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.

clenched into

felt humiliated as she stood in the wake of her sister's insults. She felt like she might die right at this spot.

were only getting started, Joel tried to slowly remove himself from the situation but

it Lionel who got you out

guy always seemed to find

dared not speak as he tried to dodge around Rufus to get to the door. Tiny beads of sweat were forming on his forehead and his shirt

my question before

go so easily and he stepped in front of Joel, blocking

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

might have done to offend you but would you please let me go. I have to be somewhere,"

caught him for stealing Cassandra's design. But since he was long gone from the Tang Group, Joel thought he would

you sure that you've never done anything

Joel, his face otherwise expressionless. It amused him that this man stood before him pretending to be innocent, one eye constantly darting to the door, trying to find

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

drip off from his forehead. His chest was constricted as he held his breath in fear.

didn't want any part of

I'll send you right back to prison

Joel was Ivy's younger brother and with

Rufus with a speed as quick as