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!'

you still

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

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

back to

up and tossed her

cold," he said as he pressed his

endless. He trampled her dignity

crept over her. It was as if her body and soul were

as if her soul were floating in the air,

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

that the trust she once had for him was all a

sunlight peeked into

the brightness and warmth

taken a bath and gotten dressed.

man that stood in

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

to leave the room and slam the

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

for breaking up with

to cry but her

Neither motivation nor strength was available to her.

darkness! Let me go to hell! I won't mind demons skinning and

Cassandra! Then we both will owe nothing

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

Rufus was quite reserved that day. He dealt with his work as quickly as

her wrists made him regret his actions a

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

turned hoarse and she didn't talk

all her clothes to make sure she would not

as he cooled down, he began to reflect on whether he overdid

a fit of anger. Why did he take her too seriously? Why did he abuse her like that? He must

wanted so badly to make it up to her. The thought of how much she feared

the sky was already dark.