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.

that 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

after what he said, even though he didn't say

on Cassandra, as if she could swallow her alive.

again later?" Cassandra

thoughts, wondering why Arthur was involved here at all. It

was taken away by the police. Why would I take the trouble

if it was the

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

as clear to her as water. This had to be

She felt like she had missed out on an important detail, but she remembered the rest of

because the captain knew Arthur and wanted to protect me, he refused

something would get him in trouble and ruin

to start fighting again. To control the situation, Edith banged the table

a record. I have an acquaintance at the police station too, and I can ask him to look into it. But Cloris, what were you thinking when you decided not to

about how she herself had been a bad mother to them. Her own daughter didn't come

it would've made a difference had I told you? Truth of the matter is that she also is your daughter

had carried within

hold of the entire company by herself when you went to study abroad? She had to scrimp and save to pay your bills. She even sold her car.

gently as she tried to make a point. Cloris was spoiled since her childhood days but it surprised her that she still couldn't

of the students from middle-class families were working to support themselves and then

Cloris's hands while she spoke. Her fingers were

All you cared about was getting manicures! Did you ever give a thought about who is providing you with these privileges and a life of luxury?

at this point. She recalled the things Cassandra had been through these past months and continued going through even now. It broke

had been partial in the past. She loved and cherished them equally, especially now after learning the reason of the dispute between them. Until now, she had simply been regretting sending Cassandra to a small town

had, without a care of the world. But it was due to the disputes between Cloris and her that she was sent away by her own parents resolutely and left to grow up all alone in

it ever occurred to you that that's 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,

She hadn't paid much attention to it at the time although she did feel unpleasant about it. But things were different now. After hearing what Cloris had said about that night,

certain Cassandra would never hire anyone to hurt her sister. She knew her elder daughter well enough, but Arthur, not long enough. It was hard to understand a man, especially a businessman. She wasn't sure

do that to me, Mother!" Cloris shouted.

by her mother's words but she refused