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.

told them what had happened that night from the beginning to the end, occasionally glaring at Cassandra furiously. Although, it

was her after what he said,

resentfully with her eyes fixed on Cassandra, as if she could swallow her

you see him again

was involved

police. Why would I

it was the

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

thought struck her like a silver dagger. She let out a sneer. The whole matter was suddenly as clear to her as water.

she had missed out on an important detail, but

knew Arthur and wanted to protect me, he refused to take me to the station..." Cloris said rightfully, defending Arthur.

in trouble and ruin his reputation in front of

about to start fighting again. To control the situation, Edith

But Cloris, what were you thinking when you decided not to tell me about this? I'm your mother and it's my duty to look after you and protect you. You

been a bad mother to them. Her own daughter didn't come to her for

made a difference had I told you? Truth of the matter is that she also is your daughter and I didn't have any evidence

she had carried within herself could

abroad? She had to scrimp and save to pay your bills. She even

gently as she tried to make a point. Cloris was spoiled since her childhood days but it surprised her

middle-class families were working to support themselves and then take a look

while she spoke. Her fingers were long and thin. They

your own hands? 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? It was your father before and it's

Cassandra had been through these past months and continued going through even now. It broke her

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

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

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

just learned about their breakup a few days ago. 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, she suspected

not long enough. It was hard to understand a man, especially a businessman. She wasn't sure whether he was cheating on them or

to me, Mother!" Cloris

mother's words but she refused to suspect her boyfriend.