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!'

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

voice. Under normal circumstances, Cassandra might even think he

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

Why don't you go back to bed and let

he scooped Cassandra up and tossed her into

feel so cold,"

torture was endless. He trampled her dignity until it

as if her

in the air, staring blankly at the woman

see? This is what 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

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

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

the brightness and warmth of

bath and gotten dressed. He

stood in his place showed no trace of the tyrant from

to go anywhere else. If you are not here when I come back, trust me you'll regret

to leave the room and

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

is this my punishment for breaking up

but her

motivation

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

Then we both will owe nothing to each other,

closed her eyes. She allowed relief to take over her the moment Rufus left and drifted into a deep, sound slumber.

was quite reserved that day. He dealt with his work as quickly as possible to make

wrists made him regret his actions

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

didn't talk to him in

dumped all her clothes to make sure she would not be able

as he cooled down, he began to reflect

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 himself, 'What

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

sky was already dark. She