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 jeered within.

are you

his voice. Under normal

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

back to bed and

said as he scooped Cassandra up and tossed her into the

he said as he pressed

He trampled her dignity until

crept over her. It was as if her body and soul were going

felt as if her soul were floating in the air, staring blankly at the woman and the man beneath.

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

find that the trust she once had

of sunlight peeked into the

woke to the brightness and

a bath and gotten

in his place showed no trace

not here when I come back, trust me you'll regret ever

before he turned around to leave the

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

up with

but her

stayed frozen, unable to move. Neither motivation

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

on, Cassandra! Then we both

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

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

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

his tie. The more she struggled,

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

dumped all her clothes to make sure she would not be able to leave

down, he began to reflect on whether

anger. Why did he take her too seriously? Why did he abuse

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

Cassandra woke, the sky was already dark. She slept the whole