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 jeered

naked and you're fully dressed but why are you

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

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

back to bed and let me

as he scooped Cassandra up and tossed her into the bed.

you feel so cold," he said as

endless. He trampled her dignity until it was reduced to dust.

as if her body

as if her soul were floating in the air,

the affectionate and thoughtful gentleman you once knew. Upsetting him would

that the trust she once had for him was all

into the

the brightness and warmth

bath and gotten dressed. He was

stood in

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

he turned around to leave the room and

She retrieved her wrists from

this my punishment for breaking up

to cry but her tears had been drained.

move. Neither motivation

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

Then we both will owe nothing

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

quickly as possible to make

bruises on her wrists

more she struggled, the more furious he became. She said

hoarse and she didn't

dumped all her clothes to make sure she would not be able

cooled down, he began to reflect on

her. She possibly said what 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,

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

Cassandra woke, the sky was already