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?

you are so naive!'

naked and you're fully dressed but why are you still the one shaking? It's like you

Under normal circumstances,

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

you go back to

said as he scooped Cassandra up and

feel so cold," he said

trampled her dignity until it was

It was as if

the air, staring blankly at the woman and

gentleman you once knew. Upsetting

that the trust she once had for him

sunlight peeked into the room and fell

the brightness

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

man that stood in his place showed no trace of the tyrant from the

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

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

slammed shut. She retrieved her wrists from the sunlight

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

but her tears had

move. Neither motivation nor strength

won't mind demons skinning and eating me alive!

we both will owe

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

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

on her wrists made him

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

and she didn't

clothes to make sure she would not be able

he cooled down, he began to reflect

anger. Why did he take her too seriously? Why did he abuse her like that? He must have

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

already dark. She slept