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 still the one shaking? It's

said mischievously. There was a hint of allure in his voice. Under normal circumstances, Cassandra might even think he

situation now, however, was far from normal. Cassandra trembled and her legs grew weak. With all her strength, she

don't you go back to bed and let me warm

as he scooped Cassandra up and tossed her into

me warm you up since you feel so cold," he said as

endless. He trampled her dignity until it

It was as if her body and

the air, staring blankly at the

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

the trust she once had for him was all

Rays of sunlight peeked into the room and

the brightness and warmth

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

man that stood in his place

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

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

She retrieved her wrists from the sunlight and curled up into the quilt.

up with you,

to cry but her

Neither motivation nor strength was available to her.

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

Then we both

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

his work as quickly as possible to make sure he was home the soonest that he could manage.

bruises on her wrists made him regret his actions a

tie. The more she struggled, the more furious he became. She said nothing but

and she didn't talk to him in the

clothes to make sure she would not be able to

down, he began to reflect on whether he overdid

anger. Why did he take her too seriously? Why did he abuse her

her. The thought of how much she feared him that morning horrified him. She could not

sky was already dark. She slept the whole