CHAPTER 49

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The tears fell from my eyes in trickles as I wallowed in regrets. Carried away, I was unaware when Derek reached me and crouched beside me, I only felt his presence when his fingers began combing through my hair.

"You don't have to be scared, just trust me. No one will hurt you as long as I'm here, even if it's the last thing I do on Earth, I will protect you."

His assurance did nothing to calm me, I wasn't scared of what these people were going to do to me. I was scared for Ace, scared that I might never get to see him again. Derek seemed to have come fully prepared this time, and I could only imagine what Ace was doing at the moment.

He must be blaming himself for my abduction, having regrets for not protecting me enough. My absence would have torn the stitch of his wounded heart, making him recall the last moments of his parents with fear.

My heart burned with guilt but the only thing I could do was cry. Ace did his best to protect me, it was me who didn't trust him enough. I