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!'

but why are you still the

mischievously. There was a hint of allure in his voice. Under normal circumstances, Cassandra might even think he was flirting with her.

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

you go back to bed

he scooped Cassandra up

feel so cold," he

dignity until

was as if her body

the air, staring

thoughtful gentleman you once knew. Upsetting him would grant you

trust she

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

woke to the brightness and

taken a bath and gotten dressed. He was

stood in his place showed no trace

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

uttered frostily before he turned around to leave the room

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

punishment for breaking up with you,

her tears

to move. Neither motivation nor strength was

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

we both will owe

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

work as quickly as possible to make sure he was home the

back, seeing the bruises on her wrists made him regret

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

turned hoarse and she didn't talk to him in

make sure she would not

cooled down, he began to reflect on whether he overdid

Why did he abuse her like that? He must have hurt

how much she feared him that morning horrified him. She

woke, the sky was already