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!' he jeered within.

are you still the one shaking? It's like you have a cold,"

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

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

go back to bed

Cassandra up

since you feel so cold," he said as he pressed

trampled her dignity until it was reduced to dust.

as if her body and soul

if her soul were floating in the air, staring blankly at

is nothing like the affectionate and thoughtful gentleman you once knew. Upsetting him would grant you a revenge worse than hell.' Right now, that

find that the trust

sunlight peeked into the room and fell on her bruised

the brightness

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

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

else. If you are not here when

to leave

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

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

but her tears had

move. Neither motivation nor strength

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

we both will

relief to take over her the moment Rufus left and drifted into a deep,

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

her wrists made him

more she struggled, the more furious he became. She said

hoarse and she didn't talk to him in the

all her clothes to make sure she would not be able to leave the villa.

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

her. She possibly said what she did in a fit of anger. Why did he take her too seriously? Why did he abuse her like

thought of how much she feared him that morning horrified him. She

woke, the sky was already