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.

Cassandra was still standing in the same spot. Her hands were clenched into tight balls,

of her sister's insults. She felt like she might die right at

to slowly remove himself from the situation

Lionel who got you out

asked coldly. He'd never trusted Joel, and the guy always seemed to find himself in the middle

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

he stepped in front of

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

but would you please let me go. I have to

had caught him for stealing Cassandra's design. But since he was long gone from the

sure that you've never done anything

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 a way to

course, Joel knew exactly what Rufus was talking about. While he didn't offend Rufus directly, the same could

forehead. His chest was constricted

girl 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.

right back to prison without so much as blinking

Joel was Ivy's younger brother and with Ivy seeing Clark recently,

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