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?

naive!' he

are you still the one shaking? It's like

his voice. Under normal circumstances,

and her legs grew

back to bed and let me warm

Cassandra up and tossed her

cold,"

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

It was as if her

floating in the air, staring blankly at the woman and the man beneath.

like the affectionate and thoughtful gentleman you once knew. Upsetting him would grant you a revenge worse than hell.' Right now,

her so much to find that the trust she once had for him was all a lie.

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

to the brightness and warmth

taken a bath and gotten dressed. He was wearing a tie.

he looked immaculate. The gorgeous man that stood in

If you are not here when I come back, trust me

leave the room and slam the door behind

shut. She retrieved her wrists from the sunlight and curled

punishment for breaking up with you, Rufus?' she murmured

to cry but her tears had

frozen, unable to move. Neither motivation nor

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

on! Hold on, Cassandra! Then we both

mused as she closed her eyes. She allowed relief to 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 possible to make sure he was home the

wrists

with his tie. The more she struggled, the more furious he became. She said nothing but "I

didn't talk to him in

her clothes to make sure she would

as he cooled down, he began to

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 well. He scolded himself, 'What have I

badly to make it up to her. The thought of how much she feared him that morning

Cassandra woke, the sky was already dark. She slept