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?

naive!'

why are you still the one shaking? It's

his voice. Under normal

now, however, was far from normal. Cassandra trembled and her legs grew

don't you go back to

scooped Cassandra up and tossed her into

cold," he said as he pressed his

trampled her dignity until it was reduced

as if her body and soul were going two

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

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

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

peeked into the room and fell on her bruised

brightness and warmth of sunlight.

gotten up, taken a bath and gotten

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

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

to leave the room

the door slammed shut. She retrieved her wrists from the

punishment for breaking up with you, Rufus?' she murmured

cry but her tears

Neither motivation nor strength was available

go to hell! I won't mind demons skinning

we both will owe

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

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

on her wrists made him regret his actions a

with his tie. The more she struggled, the more furious he became.

and she didn't talk to

her clothes to make sure she would not be able to

began to reflect

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 well. He scolded himself,

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

woke, the sky was already dark. She slept