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!' he

you're fully dressed but why are you still the one

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

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

back to bed and let me warm

he scooped Cassandra up and

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

trampled her dignity

crept over her. It was as if her body and soul were

were floating in the air, staring blankly at the woman

He is nothing like the affectionate and thoughtful gentleman you once knew. Upsetting him would grant you a revenge worse

the trust she once had for him was all a

sun had risen. Rays of sunlight peeked into

brightness and

up, taken a bath and gotten dressed. He was

in his place showed no trace of the tyrant from

are not

around to leave the room and slam the door behind him.

wrists from the sunlight and curled

for breaking up with you, Rufus?' she

cry but her tears had been drained.

unable to move. Neither motivation

me go to hell! I won't mind demons skinning

on! Hold on, Cassandra! Then we both will owe

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

quickly as possible to make sure he

her wrists made him regret his actions

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

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

make sure she

he began to reflect on whether he

he take her too seriously? Why did he abuse her like that? He must have hurt her, not

so badly to make it up to her. The thought of how much she feared him that morning

Cassandra woke, the sky was already dark. She slept the whole day.