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.

beginning to the end, occasionally glaring at Cassandra furiously. Although, it had been a while since it happened, she

he said, even though he didn't say

her eyes fixed on Cassandra, as if she could swallow her alive.

see him again later?"

wondering why Arthur was involved

would I take the trouble and

it was the stupidest question Cassandra could have

go to the police station to give your statement

a sneer. The whole matter was suddenly as clear to her as water. This had to be another scheme made by Arthur. But why

missed out on an important detail, but she remembered the rest of it

refused to take me to the station..." Cloris said rightfully, defending Arthur.

would get him in trouble and ruin his reputation in front of

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

be 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 tell me about this? I'm your mother and it's my duty to

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

is that she also is your daughter and I didn't have

talked bitterly. The resentment she had carried within herself could be heard

the entire company by herself when you went to study abroad? She

a point. Cloris was spoiled since her childhood days but it

your classmates. Most of the students from middle-class families were working

Her fingers were long and thin. They looked delicate and

own hands? All you cared about was getting manicures! Did you ever give a thought about who is

voice started to shake at this point. She recalled the things Cassandra had been through these past months and continued going through even now. It broke her heart to learn how much Cloris hated Cassandra

past. She loved and cherished them equally, especially now after learning the reason of the

her parents' care like a little princess the way Cloris 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 a small town. That was the reason she evolved into an introverted person when she finally came back. She wasn't as

endlessly making concessions for you. Your father and I indulged your tantrums all the time. But has it ever occurred to you that that's only because we are your family?

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.

well enough, but Arthur, not long enough. It was hard to understand a man,

would never do that to me, Mother!" Cloris shouted.

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