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

humiliated as she stood in the wake of her sister's insults.

getting started, Joel tried to slowly remove himself from

who got you out of

always seemed to find himself in the middle of trouble wherever he

to dodge around Rufus to get to the door. Tiny beads of sweat were forming on his forehead and his shirt was starting to cling to him.

question before you

wouldn't let him go so easily and he stepped in front of Joel, blocking his way yet

in front of him had planned to rape Cassandra before, and besides, he stole her design and sold it to someone else later. Thus, he needed to get things straightened before Joel would do

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

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

you've never done anything to offend

amused him that this man stood before him pretending to be innocent, one eye constantly darting to the door, trying to find a way

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

drip off from his forehead. His chest was

left. She didn't want any part of whatever situation that was unfolding. Joel was left

ever 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

with Ivy seeing Clark recently, these siblings were causing trouble

shot past Rufus