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?

so naive!' he

why are you still the one

allure in his voice. Under normal

from normal. Cassandra trembled and her legs grew weak. With all her strength, she worked hard to

back to bed and let me

Cassandra up and tossed her into the bed.

so cold," he said as he pressed his

torture was endless. He trampled her dignity until it

crept over her. It was as if her body

were floating in the air, staring blankly

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

pained her so much to find that the trust she once had for him

sunlight peeked into the room and fell

brightness and warmth of sunlight.

gotten up, taken a bath and gotten dressed. He was wearing a

in his place showed no trace of the tyrant from the night

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

uttered frostily before he turned around to leave the room and slam the door behind

her wrists from the sunlight and curled up

this my punishment for breaking up with you, Rufus?'

her tears had been

stayed frozen, unable to move. Neither motivation

go to hell! I won't mind demons skinning and eating me alive! Let me

Hold on, Cassandra! Then we both will

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

was quite reserved that day. He dealt with his work as quickly as possible to make sure

wrists made him regret his actions

that he bound her hands with his tie. The more she struggled, the more furious he became. She said

voice had turned hoarse and she didn't talk to him

sure she would not be able to

he began to

what she did in a fit of anger. Why did he take her too seriously? Why did he abuse her like that?

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

sky was already dark. She slept