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 jeered

dressed but why are you still the one shaking? It's like you have a cold,"

mischievously. There was a hint of allure in his voice. Under normal circumstances, Cassandra

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

clearly cold. Why don't you go back to bed and let

he scooped Cassandra up and tossed

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

was endless. He trampled her dignity until it

her. It was as if her body and soul were going two

the air, staring blankly at the woman

when you offend Rufus. He is nothing like the affectionate and thoughtful gentleman you once knew. Upsetting him

pained her so much to find that the trust she once had

Rays of sunlight peeked into the room and

the brightness and warmth

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

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

not here when I

frostily before he turned around to leave

wrists from the sunlight and curled

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

her tears had been

move. Neither motivation nor strength

to hell! I won't mind demons skinning

both

relief to take over her the moment Rufus left and drifted into a deep, sound slumber.

quickly as

on her wrists made

with his tie. The more she struggled, the more furious he

didn't talk to him in the

clothes to make sure she would not be able to leave the

to reflect on whether he

loved 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, not just physically,

how much

sky was already dark. She