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.

was still standing in the same spot. Her hands were clenched into tight balls, her lips trembling slightly as she tried

of her sister's insults. She felt like she

getting started, Joel tried to slowly remove himself from the situation but Rufus reached out his

it Lionel who got you

and the guy always seemed to find himself in the middle of trouble wherever

door. Tiny beads of sweat were forming

answer my question

wouldn't let him go so easily and he stepped in front

besides, he stole her design and sold it to someone else later. Thus, he needed to get things straightened

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

Cassandra's design. But since he was long gone from the Tang Group, Joel thought he would never see him again. And yet, by some horrible luck that was plaguing him tonight, he'd run into

sure that you've never

this man stood before him pretending to be innocent, one eye

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

to drip off from his forehead. His chest

want any part of whatever situation

again, I'll send you right back to prison without so much as blinking my eyes. Look into my eyes and know that I'm serious. You don't want

with

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