Lillie shot up from her bed with a gasp followed by heavy breathing. Wide eyes frantically wanders around the room aimlessly, pupils shaking as they did.

She placed a hand over to her chest and gripped tightly onto her shirt, heavy breathing and heartbeats rang through her ears conspicuously loud. ​​

Her heart pounds like war drums; a stethoscope wouldn't be necessary to hear it.

Intaking deep breaths, she gradually coax herself to calm down. She told herself that everything was alright, she's in a safe place, no one can hurt her...not anymore.

Lillie pulled her legs close until they touched her chest, her arms wrapping around them with her forehead settled on her knees.

Her breath shudders as she inhaled and exhaled through her mouth.

She thought the nightmares are over, she thought it wouldn't affect her anymore

"Stop trembling," She commands herself with her shaky voice, but her body didn't listened as it continued to quiver. "You have nothing to fear...they're dead."

Those b*stards who attempted to trample and ruin her are dead...right?

Then, Lillie remembered.

But...Wei Fang wouldn't have told Ethan that he knew who were the real perpetrators behind her assault if he didn't know anything. Heck, no one but a handful was suppose to know about that incident!

Long nails harshly dug onto her arms, blemishing the flesh underneath it. Lillie was angry at herself, angered that she's still affected by that dark past.

They're still out there, watching her, plotting another attack to destroy her.

If Lillie hadn't dreamt of this nightmarish memory, she would've forgotten that there's a possibility that whoever planned for her downfall, was still out for her neck.

She didn't want to go back to her dark past. Her brain involuntarily place and lock whatever it was that talks about it at the far back of her mind.

The nightmare must've been the trigger for it to resurface to her consciousness.

Lillie assumed it was over, that she made those b*stards payed with their life, so she tried her best to forget.

But it wasn't. Wei Fang is up to something. He knows something she doesn't.

Blood dripped down her mouth from the punctured wound she inflicted on the inside of her cheek. "Damn it..." Not even the pain can allure her away from the nightmare.

Lillie weakly shuffles towards the edge of her bed and let bare feet touch the cold ground. She didn't mind the cold, she's accustomed with it, it had been her companion ever since.

The cold water that nearly drowned her as a child...the avalanched that buried her alive when she and her family were skiing...that cold and wet night, and the ground where her naked and injured body was pinned against...

Lillie didn't realized where her feet had taken her. Squelching and splashing sounds reached her ears but not her consciousness.

Mind completely occupied that she failed to perceive that she's stepping on mud and wet pavement.

But, she couldn't care less as she only felt warmth afterwards.

"Lillie, what's wrong?" Ethan's soothing voice woke her from being drowned by despair. Her dull eyes gradually became alive again as they lock themselves into his worried face.

"I...don't want to be alone..." Her voice was barely audible, still hadn't recovered from the shock. But, Ethan's sensitive ears heard her clearly.

Ethan concluded that it would be much better to carry her inside his room instead than letting her walk with her bare feet—that's now covered in mud—any longer.

Lillie felt her body leave the ground and lifted by two, strong arms. Hers automatically rose to wrap themselves around his neck as she let Ethan carry her like a bride.

He brought her inside the bathroom first, sat her on top of the sink so that he could clean her feet.

Brows furrowed in an aggravated concern. His palms felt his wife's icy skin, her clothes and hair slightly wet from a few rain drops.

Ethan didn't let her be in this state for long.

Some people may find this unconcerning, but he didn't take any chances—especially since she and him had a fever not long ago.

Without wasting anymore seconds, he scurried back to the bedroom, put her down on the mattress, removed her slightly damp clothes and made her wear the warmest he could find in his set.

"I thought we've talked about being mindful of our health? It's still drizzling outside and the air is cold." Ethan gently rubbed the soft towel on her hair.

"I wasn't thinking..."

"I'm glad you're aware of that." Sighing, Ethan placed the towel on the nightstand and pulled Lillie closer to warm her up with his own heat.

He let the silence prevail for a few minutes before saying, "I'm here...I'll always be here for you."

After he said this, he felt Lillie tremble under him and let out the softest sob he ever heard.

His gentleness and serenity unclogged all of the emotions Lillie bottled up.

"Cry. It'll only hurt you more if you keep it all up." Ethan made a few comforting sounds as he gently cradled her in his arms. "Let your tears fall, I promise to catch them."

True to his words, Ethan cupped her cheeks and tilted her head up until he could see her tear stained face clearly. Leaning down, kissed her tears away.

His heart ached, as if someone was piercing needles into it for fun. He dread and hates seeing her in this state, seeing his wife so helpless and unarmed.

Ethan felt useless and powerless. The first time Lillie showed this state to him, he vowed to never let it happen again.

But it's happening right now...he failed.

Not quite done, he smothered her with more chaste, feathery kisses on her forehead, eyelids, nose, tear stained cheeks, and then lastly, her lips.

"Thank you..." His beloved's suppressed voice reached his ears like a passing breeze. It was dry from crying, yet it maintained the angelic tune.

"None of that," He squeezed her lightly. "It's my duty as your very soon-to-be husband."

Ethan smiled as he heard Lillie chuckle faintly. Both body and mind relaxed knowing that he successfully eased his wife's sorrow.