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!' he jeered

are you still the one shaking? It's like you have a cold,"

Under normal circumstances, Cassandra might even think he was flirting

grew weak. With all her

back to bed

Cassandra up and

he said as he pressed his body on

dignity until it was reduced to

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

the air, staring blankly at the woman and the man beneath.

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 than hell.' Right now,

that the trust she once had for him

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

woke to the brightness and

up, taken a bath and gotten dressed. He was wearing a tie.

that stood in his place showed

are not here when I

turned around to leave the room and

wrists from the sunlight and

is this my punishment for breaking up with you, Rufus?' she

but her tears had been

motivation nor strength was available

I won't mind demons skinning and eating me alive! Let me be

Hold on, Cassandra! Then we both will owe nothing to each other,

allowed relief to take over her the moment

dealt with his work as quickly as possible to make sure

the bruises on her wrists

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

turned hoarse and she didn't talk to him in the morning.

sure she would not be able

began to reflect on

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

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

sky was already dark. She slept the whole