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.

but why are you still the one shaking? It's like

voice. Under normal circumstances, Cassandra might even think he was flirting with

and her legs grew weak. With all her strength, she worked hard

cold. Why don't you go back to bed

up

warm you up since you feel so cold," he said as he

torture was endless. He trampled her dignity until it was

as if her body and soul were going

felt as if her soul were floating in the air, staring

like the affectionate and thoughtful gentleman you once knew. Upsetting him would

to find that the trust

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

brightness and

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

that stood in his place

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

he turned around to leave the room and

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

breaking up with you, Rufus?' she

her tears

move. Neither motivation nor strength was available to her.

mind demons skinning and eating

Cassandra! Then we both will

take over her the moment Rufus left and drifted into a deep, sound slumber.

reserved that day. He dealt with his work as quickly as

her wrists made him regret his

bound her hands with his tie. The more she struggled, the more furious

she didn't talk to him in the

dumped all her clothes to make sure she would

cooled down, he began to reflect on whether he overdid it.

he abuse her like that? He must have hurt her, not just physically, but emotionally

wanted so badly to make it up to her. The thought of how much she feared him that morning horrified him. She could

was already dark. She slept