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!'

naked and you're fully dressed but why are you still the one shaking? It's like you have a cold,"

allure in his voice. Under normal circumstances, Cassandra

grew weak. With all her strength, she worked hard to keep it together.

go back to

scooped Cassandra up and tossed her

up since you feel so cold," he said as he pressed his

her dignity until it was reduced to

It was as if her body

air, staring blankly at the woman and the man beneath.

like the affectionate and thoughtful gentleman you once knew. Upsetting him would grant you a revenge worse than

find that the trust she once had for

peeked into the room and fell

to the brightness

and gotten dressed.

gorgeous man that stood in his place showed no trace of the tyrant from the night

If you are not here when I come back, trust me

to leave the room and slam the door

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

up with you, Rufus?'

but her tears had been

stayed frozen, unable to move. Neither motivation nor strength

go to hell! I won't mind demons skinning and eating me alive! Let me be axed or fried in oil!

Cassandra! Then we both will owe

closed her eyes. She allowed relief to take over her

reserved that day. He dealt with his work as quickly as possible

bruises on her wrists made him regret

her hands with his tie. The more she struggled, the

had turned hoarse and she didn't talk to

her clothes to make sure she would not be able to leave the

down, he began to reflect on whether he overdid

a fit of anger. Why did he take her too seriously? Why did he abuse her like that? He must have hurt her, not just physically, but emotionally as

so badly to make it up to her. The thought of how much she feared him that morning horrified him. She could not even

was already