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!' he jeered within.

you still the one shaking? It's like you have a cold,"

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

trembled and her legs grew weak. With all her strength, she worked hard to

go back to bed and let me

said as he scooped Cassandra up and

up since you feel so cold,"

was endless. He trampled her dignity until it was

over her. It was as if

the air, staring blankly at the woman and the man beneath.

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

to find that the trust she once

of sunlight peeked into the room and fell on her bruised wrists.

brightness

bath and gotten dressed. He was wearing

fine suit, he looked immaculate. The gorgeous man that stood in his place showed no trace of the tyrant from the night before.

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

to leave

shut. She retrieved her wrists from the sunlight and curled

is this my punishment for breaking up

wanted to cry but her

to move. Neither motivation nor strength

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

on, Cassandra! Then we both will owe nothing to each other,

She allowed relief to take over her the moment Rufus left and

quickly as possible to make sure he was home

bruises on her wrists made him regret his actions a little.

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

turned hoarse and she didn't talk to him in

dumped all her clothes to make sure she would not

cooled down, he began to reflect on

he abuse her like that? He must have hurt her,

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

the sky was already