A Graduation Gift

Arthur pulled over his car and got off. With a bright smile, he walked up to Edith and took the suitcase from her hand, then
proceeded to put it in the trunk of his car.
"Mrs. Qin, I will be driving you back!"
Arthur told her, his smile never leaving his face. Edith just couldn't help but be fond of this handsome young man.
To her mind, men like Clark and Arthur were by far much better than Rufus. They were always cordial and polite, and they
always had sunny dispositions. Rufus, however, was nothing like them. He constantly kept a straight face, distancing himself
from others. That included Edith. She did not like him one bit.
Returning Arthur's smile, she entered his car and they drove all the way back to the Qin family villa. Cassandra had already
made preparations and sent someone to handle the housekeeping. Everything was all set. The floors gleamed and the windows
let in the a fresh breeze, as if to welcome its occupants.
Arthur helped them carry their suitcases into the house. With wary eyes, he looked around. Finding the room empty with no sign
of anyone coming, he quickly put a bug under the tea table in the big living room with an inconspicuous flick of his hand.
After having done that, he crossed one end of the living room to the other, planting more bugs at hidden places that nobody
would ever notice. No conversation in the room would be made secret to him.
The reasoning behind his action was simple: Clark had told him to do it, and he obliged. Driving the Qins back home was the
perfect opportunity to carry out the plan. Originally, Clark planned to do it himself, but Cassandra had been adamant on refusing
his assistance, making up whatever ridiculous excuse she could to keep her distance from him.
This was where Arthur stepped in. He had promised to Clark that he would make sure to bug the house of the Qin family so he
could keep an ear out for Edith and her daughters.
'Oh my precious Cassandra. Did you really think that moving out of my villa would let you escape me? You are simply too naive!'
Clark thought darkly to himself, summoning Cassandra's lovely face in his mind. 'No one leaves me until I say so.'
He lurked around her like a shadow, waiting with an evil smirk in the darkness for the best time to strike. Clark always got what
he wanted, and destroying Cassandra and all the people close to her would not be an exception. She could run and hide, but he
would always find her. He closed his eyes, savoring the image of her struggling in his grasp, the life slowly draining from her
face.

Cassandra had no inkling that there was big danger awaiting her, watching her every move. She walked out of her mother's room
to the living room and found that Arthur seemingly looking around. She slowly walked up to him and greeted him with a smile.
"Thank you for helping us move,"
Cassandra said politely. After all, Arthur was Cloris's boyfriend. The conflict between the two of them was a thing of the past. If
things went well, they might even become a family in the future.
"You're welcome. I was glad to do it,"
Arthur calmly replied. His hand moved from underneath the table to his pocket discreetly as he answered her.
"You know, sometimes Cloris can be a bit childish. I don't know if you have seen it before, but her tantrums are quite something. I
hope you can be patient with her. She's used to getting what she wants. She was spoiled by our parents, even me. But she is
really a sweet girl. Please treat her well."
Cassandra had a lot of things she wanted to say. She had endless worries as Cloris's older sister and as the eldest daughter of
the family. But in the end, she only told Arthur to be good to her little sister. If Cloris could be happy, then that was all that
mattered.
She wanted nothing but the best for her sister.
Before Arthur could reply, Cloris's voice rang through the room. "Arthur, why are you still in the living room? Come up here and
help me," she called out, walking downstairs to stand beside Arthur. Without even the slightest greeting to Cassandra, she
grabbed Arthur's arm in hers and dragged him away to her room.
Arthur turned back and smiled at Cassandra, then left with Cloris.
As soon as they were inside Cloris's room, she closed the door and pouted in annoyance.
"Arthur, why did you smile like that to Cassandra? I don't like you looking at her that way!"
Of course, Cassandra was right about Cloris. She was spoiled, and acted like a brat, as what was happening now. Childish
jealousy flared up inside her when she saw Arthur and her sister alone talking in the living room. Seeing them like that did not sit
well with her. She wanted Arthur to never look at any other woman than herself.

The first time she liked someone, Cassandra got in the way and stole him. She got what she deserved when Rufus left her, but
now, it seemed that her sister was once again standing in the way of her happiness. 'I won't let her take Arthur from me this time!'
Cloris seethed inwardly.
Cassandra was nothing but a dirty bitch. All she knew was snatching up other women's men instead of getting her own. It was a
ridiculous thing. Clark, who was rich and handsome, liked her so much and even went out of his way to win her over, but
Cassandra just kept on pushing him away. Did she want to see men run after her that much? It was infuriating.
Vicious words filled Cloris's head as she thought about her own sister, but with a practiced expression, she remained sweet and
innocent in front of her boyfriend.
"You're so silly," Arthur shook his head fondly at Cloris. "What are you talking about? I was only being polite to your sister."
He reached out and gently pinched Cloris's cheek. The affection she saw in his eyes put her at ease. But still, she didn't like
Cassandra getting too close.
"I don't care! You can't smile at her, and you can't be in a room with her alone!"
Childishly, Cloris put out her pinky to Arthur in the manner of making a promise.
Arthur chuckled at her, but relented. He held out his little finger and hooked it with Cloris's with a smile on his face. After that, he
started to unpack Cloris's things from suitcase in the room.
Seeing Arthur move around her room to help her sort her things made Cloris feel warm and cherished. Here he was, taking his
own time to help and stay with her. Affection flooded her heart as she watched him put her things on the shelves.
'Arthur, you are mine. I will never let you be taken away by anyone, especially that woman!' she swore to herself.
Arthur, who had his back turned to Cloris, was going through the mindless task of arranging her things. Cloris could not see the
thoughtful look on his face as he tried to arrive to his own conclusions. His eyes were cold and calculating as he thought of the
earlier conversation between the sisters.