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!'

fully dressed but why are you still the one shaking?

in his voice. Under normal circumstances, Cassandra might even think

however, was far from normal. Cassandra trembled and her legs grew

go back to

he scooped Cassandra up and tossed her

so cold," he

trampled her dignity until it was reduced to

feeling crept over her. It was as if

soul were floating in the air, staring blankly at the

when you offend Rufus. He is nothing like the affectionate and thoughtful gentleman you once knew. Upsetting him would grant you a revenge

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

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

brightness and warmth of sunlight.

bath and gotten dressed. He was wearing a

fine suit, he looked immaculate. The gorgeous man that stood in his place showed no trace of the tyrant from

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

turned around to leave the room and slam the

her wrists from the

this my punishment for breaking up with you,

cry but her tears

stayed frozen, unable to move. Neither motivation nor strength was available to her.

demons skinning and eating me alive! Let me be axed or fried in

both will owe nothing to each other,

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

with his work as quickly as possible to make sure he was home the soonest that he could manage.

seeing the bruises on her wrists made him regret his

tie. The more she struggled,

didn't talk

clothes to make sure she would not be able to leave

down, he began to reflect

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

how much she feared him that morning

was already dark. She slept