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!'

and you're fully dressed but why are you still

Under normal circumstances, Cassandra might even think he

situation now, however, was far from normal. Cassandra trembled and her legs grew weak. With all her strength,

you go back to bed and

scooped Cassandra up and

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

dignity until it was reduced to dust.

as if her body and soul were going two opposite ways.

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

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

that the trust she once had for him

peeked into the room and

brightness and warmth of sunlight.

a bath and gotten

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

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

he turned around to leave the room and slam

slammed shut. She retrieved her wrists from the sunlight

this my punishment for breaking up

cry but her tears had

stayed frozen, unable to move. Neither motivation

demons skinning

Then we both will owe nothing

she closed her eyes. She allowed relief to take over her the moment

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

the bruises on her wrists made him

his tie. The more she struggled, the more furious he became. She

turned hoarse and she didn't talk to

make sure she would not be able to leave

began to reflect on whether he overdid

seriously? Why did he abuse her like that? He must have hurt her, not just physically, but

to her. The thought of how much she feared him that morning horrified him. She could not even look

sky was already dark. She