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

sister's insults. She

remove himself from the situation

it Lionel who got

guy always seemed to find himself in the middle

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

he stepped in front of Joel, blocking his way yet again.

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

have done to offend you but would you please let me go. I have

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. And yet, by some horrible luck that was plaguing

that you've never done anything to

stood before him pretending to be innocent, one eye constantly darting to the door, trying

he didn't

his forehead. His chest was constricted as

to the restaurant had already left. She didn't want any part of whatever

you're going. If I see you out in public ever again, I'll send you right back to prison without so much as

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

of his breath and, seeing his opening, shot past Rufus