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?

naive!' he jeered

and you're fully dressed but why are you still the one shaking? It's like you have a

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

far from normal. Cassandra trembled and her legs grew weak. With all

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

said as he scooped Cassandra up and tossed her into

cold," he said as he pressed his body

dignity

It was as if her body and soul were going two

soul were floating in the air, staring blankly at the woman and

offend Rufus. He is nothing like the affectionate and thoughtful gentleman you once knew. Upsetting him

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

sunlight peeked into the room

brightness and

and gotten dressed. He was wearing a tie.

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

not here when I come back, trust me you'll regret ever trying to leave,"

to leave the room and slam the door behind him.

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

is this my punishment for breaking up with you,

cry but her

to move. Neither motivation nor strength was available to

hell! I won't mind demons skinning and eating me alive! Let me be axed or fried

both will owe nothing to each

mused as she closed her eyes. She allowed relief to take over her

quickly as possible to make sure

on her wrists made him regret his

hands with his tie. The more she struggled, the more furious he became. She said

didn't talk to

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

he began to reflect on whether

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 himself, 'What have I

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

the sky was already dark. She slept