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

you're fully dressed but why are you still the one

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

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

you go back to bed and

scooped Cassandra up and tossed her

so cold," he said as he pressed his

was endless. He trampled her dignity until it

over her. It was as if her body and soul

as if her soul were floating in the air, staring blankly at

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

pained her so much to find that the trust she once had for him was all a

sun had risen. Rays of sunlight peeked into the room and fell on

the brightness and warmth of sunlight.

a bath and gotten dressed. He was

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

else. If you are not here when I

he turned around to leave the room and slam the

shut. She retrieved her wrists from the

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

her

to move. Neither motivation nor strength was

won't mind demons

Hold on, Cassandra! Then we both will owe nothing to

to take over her the moment Rufus left and drifted into a deep,

day. He dealt with his work as quickly as possible to make sure he

on her wrists made him regret

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

didn't talk to

dumped all her clothes to make sure she would not

cooled down, he began to reflect

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, but emotionally as well. He scolded himself,

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

sky was already dark. She