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?

so naive!' he

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

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

grew

Why don't you go back to bed and let me warm

up and tossed her

feel so cold," he said as he

He trampled her dignity until it was reduced to dust.

crept over her. It was as if her body

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

you get when you offend Rufus. He is nothing like the affectionate and thoughtful gentleman you once knew. Upsetting him would grant you a revenge worse

much to find that the trust she once had for him was all a

risen. Rays of sunlight peeked into the room and fell on

to the brightness and

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

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

If you are not here when I come back,

turned around to leave the room and slam the door behind

slammed shut. She retrieved her wrists from

punishment for breaking up with you, Rufus?'

to cry but her

unable to move. Neither motivation nor strength was available

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

both

She allowed relief to take over her the moment Rufus left and drifted into a

his work as quickly as possible to make

the bruises on her wrists made him regret his

that he bound her hands with his tie. The more she struggled, the

turned hoarse and she didn't talk

her clothes to make sure she

he cooled down, he began to reflect on whether

anger. Why did he take her too seriously? Why did he abuse her like that? He must have hurt her, not

to make it up to her. The thought of how much she feared him that morning horrified him. She could not

Cassandra woke, the sky was already dark. She slept