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!'

you're fully dressed but why are you still the

in his voice. Under

her legs grew weak. With all her strength, she worked hard to keep it

clearly cold. Why don't you go back to bed and

as he scooped Cassandra up and tossed her

feel so cold," he said

her dignity until it was reduced to

was as if her body and soul were

floating in the air, staring

affectionate and thoughtful gentleman you once

trust she once had for him was all a lie.

of sunlight peeked into the room

the brightness and warmth of sunlight.

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

man that stood in his place showed no trace of the

not allowed to go anywhere else. If you are not here when I

before he turned around to leave the room

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

breaking up with you, Rufus?' she

wanted to cry but her

move. Neither motivation nor strength was available

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

we both will owe nothing to each other,

She allowed relief to take over her

as possible to

on her wrists made

tie. The more she struggled, the more furious he became. She said nothing

didn't talk to him

to make sure she would not be able to leave

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

loved 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 that? He must

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

sky was already