A Graduation Gift

Lionel's words echoed through the large bedroom, ringing in Cassandra's ears. Cassandra looked around, irritated. 'Doesn't Lionel dislike me? Why would he come to my bedroom at such a time?' she wondered.

'Unless…Unless he saw me in Rufus' bedroom just now!' The thought made Cassandra nervous.

"Cassandra, you haven't answered my question! Where were you just now? It's late." Lionel's question broke through Cassandra's thoughts and snapped her back to attention.

Lionel gripped Cassandra's chin harder, forcing her to look into his eyes and answer him. Cassandra shifted uncomfortably, trying not to whimper from the pain. She returned Lionel's gaze, raising her chin in angry defiance, then took a deep breath.

"I had a meeting with my friend tonight,"

she spoke slowly, trying to calm herself down.

Cassandra knew that she couldn't tell Lionel the truth right now. After all, she knew that what she had done was wrong.

"Your friend? Funny...After all those years you spent in Rome, I'm surprised that you still have friends in G City."

Lionel raised his eyebrows and snorted sarcastically. Clearly, he didn't believe Cassandra. The calmer she stood before him, never breaking his gaze, the more she could see his anger rising.

Cassandra had always been good at hiding her feelings. And cunning women angered him the most.

"Can you please let go of me? You're hurting me!"

truth was that she was actually overwhelmed by the pain in her chin. This infuriated her. How dare he treated her, or any woman, in this aggressive manner! She was determined to show him that she wasn't just a puppet in his

and released her face. Breaking free from his grip, Cassandra breathed a sigh of relief. She turned immediately and headed

still going to stay in

to the bedroom. Once again she could tell that her indifference made

two long strides he caught up

struck fear into Cassandra. She turned to

a word, Lionel had lifted her roughly into the air and thrown her onto the

are you

thought of being touched by this man filled her

There had never been any physical contact between

sardonic smile crept across Lionel's face. He

why you married me? Huh?

like blades, carving patterns of pain into her skin. Cassandra instinctively bit her lips. Then she gathered

you like that when he had first come back to the family? Could it be something to do with the time he spent in Rome? Did the two of you perhaps...know each

causing Lionel to become angrier and angrier. Lionel had been asking around, and it turned out

Rufus and Cassandra had towards each other when they first

me the truth, Cassandra. Why would that man care about you so much? Could

Cassandra jump up from the bed. Pale and silent, she regarded her husband