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?

are so naive!' he

fully dressed but why are you still the one

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

her legs grew weak. With

back to bed and

scooped Cassandra up and tossed her into the

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

was endless. He trampled her dignity until it was reduced to

as if her body and soul

the air, staring blankly at the woman and

you see? This is what you get when you offend Rufus. He is nothing like the affectionate and thoughtful gentleman you once knew. Upsetting him would grant you a revenge worse than hell.' Right

much to find that the trust she once had for

into the room and

the brightness and warmth of sunlight.

and

that stood in his

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

to leave the room and slam the

She retrieved her wrists from the sunlight

up

her tears had been

move. Neither motivation nor strength

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

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

over

quickly as

back, seeing the bruises on her wrists made him regret his actions

more she struggled, the more furious he became.

didn't talk to him in the morning.

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

to reflect on

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

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

already dark. She slept the whole