A Graduation Gift

Cassandra was humiliated. Tears of shame ran down her cheeks.

"I hate you, Rufus! I hate you so much as I have never hated anyone before!"

Cassandra roared. The throbbing pressure on her body and her temples almost made her collapse.

"Go ahead! Hate me all you want! I don't give a damn how you feel!" he shot back.

The night seemed long and distressing. Finally, Rufus lay asleep soundly beside her; his exhaustion was evident from the venting.

Cassandra's eyes widened at the sight of the man beside her.

He was fast asleep. Despite his unguarded disposition, tension shone visibly on his face.

His eyebrows were furrowed. 'What is he dreaming about?' she thought.

The tie around her wrists was loosened—a product of her unrelenting struggle. Cassandra gingerly moved her hands and freed them bit by bit

until they were finally fully hers again.

She cautiously pushed herself up and was mildly surprised that Rufus did not wake up to this. He must be exhausted, not just physically, but also mentally.

Every cell in her body hurt. Her wrists were bruised very badly.

She was not sure how she could face the tyrant on the bed. She quietly went to the closet to get some clothes.

It was better for her to leave before Rufus woke up.

She pulled on her clothing, turned around and found Rufus staring right at her. She was taken aback.

"Where are you going?"

His icy voice almost made her jump. She began to tremble.

The sound of the closet door woke him up but he waited until she got dressed to cover the bruises on her body.

'Does she think those clothes would be enough to cover the marks I left on her body? Does she really believe she could escape just like that?

are so naive!' he jeered within.

but why are you still

allure in his voice. Under

far from normal. Cassandra trembled and her legs grew weak.

back to

said as he scooped Cassandra up and tossed her into

feel so cold,"

was endless. He trampled her dignity until

if her body and

floating in the air, staring blankly

you see? This is what you get when you offend Rufus. He is nothing like the affectionate and thoughtful gentleman you once knew. Upsetting him would grant you a

trust she once had for him was all a lie.

sunlight peeked into the room and fell on her

the brightness

a bath and gotten dressed. He was wearing a

man that stood in his place showed

to go anywhere else. If you are not here when I come back, trust me

to leave the room and slam

shut. She retrieved her wrists from the sunlight and curled up into the quilt.

is this my punishment for breaking up with you, Rufus?' she murmured inwardly.

wanted to cry but her tears

Neither motivation nor strength was available

sink into the darkness! Let me go to hell! I won't mind demons skinning and

on! Hold on, Cassandra! Then we both will

allowed relief to take over

work as quickly as possible to make sure he was home the soonest

wrists made him regret his actions

his tie. The more she struggled,

voice had turned hoarse and she didn't

she would not be

cooled down, he began to reflect

did he take her too seriously? Why did he abuse her like that? He must have

how much she feared him that morning horrified him. She could not even

was already dark.