A Graduation Gift

Edith trotted to her daughters hurriedly and stopped right between, her eyes darting sternly between the two of them silently.

"Okay! The two of you need to sit down and work things out! Sit down, now! I am not allowing any of you to leave this house until we get to the bottom of this!"

She had just gotten the whole story and was shocked to find the truth of what was happening between her daughters. Her expression clearly stated that she had realized she had been a bad mother and that none of them had bothered to talk to her about it.

Cloris had had a problem with Cassandra ever since she came back from abroad, and Edith used to think Cloris hated Cassandra because of her relationship with Rufus, but only now did she understand the case. She had never imagined that the sisters had gotten into such a mess.

Cloris sighed, giving a disgruntled, sharp look in Cassandra's direction.

"Mother, I have nothing to say. It happened so long ago and I had no evidence whatsoever. It's not like she would simply admit it," she said with an impatient snort. One could sense how she just wanted to get this over with.

Seeing the halfhearted look on Cloris's face, Edith glowered at her.

"I said sit down! Don't you dare leave!" she spoke in a low voice through her teeth.

Edith seldom talked to Cloris in this way, so the shock was evident on her face. Reluctantly, Cloris sat down on the sofa.

"Cassandra, sit down. You too, Rufus, but don't say anything. This is strictly a family matter, and I want both my daughters to give me an explanation for this mess!"

Edith wore a tough look. Frankly, she couldn't believe she didn't try to figure out the reason for the tension between them earlier.

Under their mother's strict order, Cassandra and Cloris sat down, but as far away from each other as possible. Edith sat in the middle. She looked from one to the other, her eyebrows pressed together.

"Cloris, you go first! Tell me what exactly happened that night, spare no detail."

She decided to listen to Cloris's side of the story first.

Cloris hesitated for a while and cast a glance at Rufus. What she was about to say required courage and could cause a glitch in her reputation. She couldn't utter a single word in his presence.

Rufus immediately got what was on her mind.

"I'm gonna go for a smoke," he said, trying to sound casual.

He then left the room without any hesitation.

night from the beginning to the end, occasionally glaring at Cassandra furiously. Although, it had been a while since it happened, she still felt terrified at its memory.

said, even though he didn't say

her eyes fixed on Cassandra, as

again later?" Cassandra

thoughts, wondering why Arthur was involved

Why would I take the trouble and see him

the stupidest question Cassandra could

the police station to give your statement as a victim. Isn't that common sense?" Cassandra explained.

new thought struck her like a silver dagger. She let out a sneer. The whole matter was suddenly as clear to her as water. This had to be another scheme made by Arthur.

on an important detail, but she remembered the rest

wanted to protect me, he refused to take me to the station..." Cloris said

him in trouble and ruin his reputation

Cassandra were about to start fighting again. To control

ask him to look into it. But Cloris,

herself had been a bad mother to them. Her own daughter didn't come to her for help even when she was at the verge of

you? Truth of the matter is that she also is

The resentment she had carried within herself

made to take hold of the entire company by herself when you went to study abroad? She had to scrimp and save to pay

to make a point. Cloris was spoiled since her childhood days but it surprised her that she still couldn't distinguish between good and bad.

from middle-class families were working

one of Cloris's hands while she spoke. Her fingers were long and

recall doing any menial work with your own hands? All you cared about was getting manicures! Did you ever give a thought about who is

Cassandra had been through these past months and continued going through even now. It broke her heart to learn how much Cloris hated Cassandra despite the sacrifices she

Edith now, even though she had been partial in the past. She loved and cherished them equally, especially now after learning the reason of the dispute between them.

that she was sent away by her own parents resolutely

only because we are your family? Nobody else will tolerate that and be all nice and rosy to you. I know you and Arthur have already broken up once. If he really cared about you, why would he break up with you? Have you ever given a thought to

it at the time although she did feel unpleasant about it. But things were different now.

was certain Cassandra would never hire anyone to hurt her sister. She knew her elder daughter well enough, but Arthur, not long enough. It

to me, Mother!" Cloris shouted.

actually touched by her mother's words but she refused to suspect