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 tight balls, her lips trembling slightly as she tried to hold

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

Joel tried to slowly remove himself from the situation but Rufus reached out his arm to stop him.

who got you out of

coldly. He'd never trusted Joel, and the guy always seemed to

beads of sweat

my question before you

let him go so easily and he stepped in front of Joel, blocking his way

it to someone else later. Thus, he needed to get things straightened before Joel would do something to

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

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

sure that you've never

raised his eyebrows at 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 a way

he didn't offend Rufus

to drip off from his forehead. His chest was constricted

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

better watch where you're going. If I see you out in public ever again, I'll send you right back to prison without so much as blinking my eyes. Look into my

brother and with Ivy seeing Clark recently, these siblings were causing trouble wherever they went.

seeing his opening, shot past Rufus