Chapter 7

Pov Amelie

The nursery door was gently pushed open, breaking the silence of the early morning. I was sitting in the rocking chair, cradling Ardhana in my arms, when I immediately looked up and found a tall, broad-shouldered figure standing in the doorway.

Reyvano.

The man was still wearing his pajamas, his black hair slightly tousled from the pillow. However, his expression was not one of sleepiness but unmistakable panic. His eyes immediately swept wildly around the room as if searching for something. The moment his gaze caught sight of me sitting calmly in the corner of the room while nursing Ardhana, his broad shoulders suddenly relaxed. A heavy sigh of relief escaped his lips, clearly audible in the quiet room.

He immediately hurried toward me and knelt on the floor right in front of me. His warm hands instantly wrapped around my shoulders, pulling me tightly into his embrace.

“Amora...” he whispered hoarsely, his voice trembling intensely. “I woke up and found the bed empty. I... I thought you had run away because of what Mother said.”

My heartbeat suddenly raced. Guilt immediately struck my chest. Behind his cold and powerful exterior, this man was apparently terrified of losing the woman he loved—even though that woman was actually Amora, not me.

I raised my free hand and slowly patted his strong back to calm him. “I-I didn't run away, Rey...” I said softly, trying to keep my voice from trembling. “Earlier... Ardhana was crying so loudly. He refused the bottle, so I decided to nurse him.”

Reyvano slowly released me from his embrace before looking up at me. His thumb reached out and gently brushed my cheek, which was damp with the night's sweat. His lips lingered against my forehead, giving me a warmth that made my heart ache and feel warm at the same time.

“I was just so worried...” he whispered sincerely.

“I'm sorry for making you worry so much that you had to wake up in the middle of the night like this.”

“It's all right. Mother was out of line yesterday, but I've already reprimanded her. Never think about leaving me, Amora. No matter what happens, I will never let you walk away from this house.”

I could only swallow hard and nod stiffly in his embrace. “Yes...” I answered softly.

After making sure I was all right, Reyvano did not return to the master bedroom. Instead, he pulled over a small chair and sat right beside the rocking chair I was sitting in. He folded his arms over his knees, rested his chin on them, and focused all his attention on me.

More precisely, on my exposed chest where Ardhana was nursing.

My entire body immediately tensed. My face felt burning hot, the heat spreading all the way to my ears. Although he had been in the same position the previous night, the circumstances had been completely different. Back then, we had been in the master bedroom, surrounded by darkness and exhaustion. Now, beneath the relatively bright glow of the bedside lamp, Reyvano's gaze felt so fixed, exposed, and filled with barely concealed desire.

I tried shifting slightly in my seat, attempting to cover the side of my body with the baby's blanket. “Rey... can I ask you something? Please don't look at me like that,” I squeaked shyly, lowering my gaze deeply toward Ardhana's head.

Instead, Reyvano let out a quiet chuckle, his deep baritone voice resonating softly through the silent room.

“Why should you be embarrassed?” he asked teasingly. He reached out and gently touched my knee covered by my pajamas. “I'm your husband, Amora. That body belongs to me, and this sight...” His eyes briefly lowered before returning to mine. “...is the most beautiful thing I could never get tired of seeing.”

The heat in my cheeks intensified. My heart thundered violently, no longer because I was afraid of being discovered, but because of the strange sensation caused by his words and touch.

“But... it feels strange,” I muttered softly, biting my lower lip. “You keep looking at me as if I'm prey.”

Reyvano snorted softly, a faint smile appearing on his firm lips. He reached out and gently caressed my jaw with his thumb.

“Why? Is something wrong?” he asked softly yet possessively. “I'm your husband. And I've told you repeatedly, Amora... I will never end our marriage. I love you. Whatever doubts are in your mind, throw them away.”

Those words felt like a double-edged blade. On one hand, I felt deeply flattered and envious of Amora for receiving this much love from an extraordinary man like Reyvano. But on the other hand, my chest felt tight because I realized those words of love were not meant for me at all. Reyvano did not know Amelie. He was declaring his love for the selfish shadow of my twin.

I was utterly confused. My tongue felt numb, held back by the overwhelming guilt weighing heavily on me. I was afraid of saying the wrong thing, afraid that I might accidentally use a tone or form of address that Amora would never use.

So, instead of arguing or giving a lengthy explanation, I chose to remain silent. I slowly lifted my head, forcing a faint, sweet smile onto my lips to hide the trembling in my heart.

“Yes... I know,” I answered very softly, deliberately softening my voice to make it sound affectionate. “I'm just... still a little tired from the delivery, Rey.”

Hearing my answer, Reyvano's expression immediately softened with sympathy. He stood from his chair and crouched beside me. His hand firmly clasped mine.

“Then finish nursing him quickly, all right?” Reyvano said with concern.

I could only nod helplessly. In my heart, I cursed my own fate for becoming even more deeply trapped in this web of lies. Every kindness Reyvano showed me, every loving gaze he gave me, and every warm touch felt like sharp nails slowly piercing my heart.

Yet when I saw Ardhana beginning to grow sleepy, releasing his latch with his little mouth wet and his breathing steady, I knew I could not leave that night. I was trapped in another man's embrace, enjoying warmth that did not belong to me, all for the sake of a baby who had stolen every last bit of my sanity.