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

fully dressed but why are you still the one

in his voice. Under normal circumstances, Cassandra might even think he was flirting with

Cassandra trembled and her legs grew weak. With all her strength, she worked hard to keep it together.

cold. Why don't you go back to bed and let me

said as he scooped Cassandra up and tossed her into

cold,"

endless. He trampled her dignity until it

over her. It was as if her body

as if her soul were floating in the air, staring blankly at the woman and the

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 revenge worse than hell.' Right now, that was exactly how she

to find that the trust she once had for him was all a lie.

peeked into the

the brightness and warmth of sunlight.

taken a bath and gotten dressed. He

looked immaculate. The gorgeous man that stood in his place showed no trace of the tyrant from

are not allowed to go anywhere else. If you are not here when I come

to leave the room and slam

the door slammed shut. She retrieved her wrists

up with you,

but her

stayed frozen, unable to move. Neither motivation nor

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

both will owe nothing to each other,

she closed her eyes. She allowed relief to take over her the moment Rufus left

with his work as quickly as possible to

back, seeing the bruises on her wrists made him regret his actions

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

had turned hoarse and she didn't talk to him in the

sure she would not be

cooled down, he began to reflect on whether he overdid it.

she did in 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

make it up to her. The thought of how much she feared

was already dark. She slept