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!' he jeered

fully dressed but why are you

said mischievously. There was a hint of allure in his voice. Under normal circumstances, Cassandra might even think

however, was far from normal. Cassandra trembled and her legs grew weak. With all her strength, she worked hard to keep it together.

go back to bed

scooped Cassandra up and tossed

warm you up since you feel so cold," he said as he pressed his body

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

as if

in the air, staring blankly

gentleman you once knew. Upsetting him would grant you a revenge worse than hell.'

find that the trust

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

woke to the brightness

taken a bath and gotten dressed. He was

fine suit, he looked immaculate. The gorgeous man that stood in his place showed no

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

before he turned around to leave the room and

wrists from the sunlight and curled up into the

for breaking up with you, Rufus?'

her tears had been drained.

move. Neither motivation nor

hell! I won't mind demons skinning and eating

we both will owe nothing to each

over her the moment Rufus

that day. He dealt with his work as quickly as possible to make sure he was home the soonest that he could manage.

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

his tie. The more she struggled, the more furious he became. She said nothing but "I hate you".

and she didn't

she would not be able to leave the

began to reflect on whether

did he abuse her like that? He must have hurt her, not just physically, but emotionally as well.

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

sky was already