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 still

hint of allure in his voice. Under

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

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

up

he

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

was as if her body and

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

Rufus. He is nothing like the affectionate and thoughtful gentleman

her so much to find that the trust she once had for him was

risen. Rays of sunlight peeked into

brightness and

and gotten dressed.

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

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

he turned around to leave the room and slam the door behind

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

punishment for breaking up with you,

wanted to cry but her

frozen, unable to move. Neither motivation nor strength was available to

won't mind demons skinning and eating me

we both will

she closed 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

bruises on her wrists made him regret his actions a little.

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

and she didn't talk to him in

clothes to make sure she would not be able

as he cooled down, he began to reflect on whether he

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

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

sky was already dark. She slept the whole