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

why are you still the one shaking? It's like you have a

Under normal circumstances, Cassandra might even think

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

don't you go back to bed

as he scooped Cassandra up and tossed her into the

you up since you feel so cold," he

torture was endless. He trampled her dignity until

if her

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

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

find that the trust she once

sun had risen. Rays of sunlight peeked into the

brightness and warmth of sunlight.

and gotten dressed. He

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

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

frostily before he turned around to leave the room and

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

up

wanted to cry but her tears had been

to move. Neither motivation nor strength

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

both will owe nothing to each

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

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

wrists made him

her hands with his tie. The more she struggled, the more furious he became. She said nothing but

hoarse and she didn't talk to him in the morning.

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

began to reflect on whether he overdid

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

wanted so badly to make it up to her. The thought of how much she feared him that morning horrified him. She could not

was already dark. She slept the whole day.