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

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

in his voice. Under normal circumstances, Cassandra

from normal. Cassandra trembled and her legs grew weak. With all her strength, she worked

cold. Why don't you go back

said as he scooped Cassandra up and tossed her into

since you feel so cold," he said as he

dignity until it

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

the air, staring blankly at

He is nothing like the affectionate and thoughtful gentleman you once

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

sunlight peeked into

woke to the brightness and warmth of sunlight.

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

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

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

uttered frostily before he turned around to leave the room and slam the door

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

punishment for breaking up with you, Rufus?' she murmured inwardly.

but her tears had been

to move. Neither motivation nor

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

Cassandra! Then we both

mused as she closed her eyes. She allowed relief to take over her the moment Rufus left

with his work as quickly as possible

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

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

voice had turned hoarse and she didn't talk to him

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

cooled down, he began to

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, but emotionally as well. He scolded himself, 'What have

to her. The thought of how much she feared him that

the sky was already dark. She slept