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

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

mischievously. There was a hint of allure 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 to keep

go back to bed

Cassandra up

he said as he pressed his body

was endless. He trampled her dignity until it was

feeling crept over her. It was as if her body and

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

what you get when you offend Rufus. He is nothing like the affectionate and thoughtful gentleman you once knew.

her so much to find that the trust she once had

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

woke to the brightness and

and

looked immaculate. The gorgeous man that stood in his place showed no trace of

anywhere else. If you are not here when I come

to leave

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

my punishment for breaking up with you, Rufus?'

her tears

Neither motivation nor strength was available to her.

sink into the darkness! Let me go to hell! I won't mind demons skinning

we both will owe nothing to each other,

her eyes. She 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

her wrists made him regret his actions a

more she struggled, the more furious he became. She said nothing but "I

turned hoarse and she didn't talk to him in the morning.

clothes to make sure she would not be

to reflect on whether he overdid it.

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

thought of how much she feared him

the sky was already dark. She slept the whole