Chapter 9

POV: Amelie

The second-floor corridor felt so cold and deserted that night. I sat weakly in the corner of the hallway, hugging my knees tightly against my chest as my sobs finally broke free. My shoulders trembled violently. My face was drenched with tears that continued to stream down my cheeks.

A wave of disgust swept through my entire body. Not toward Reyvano, but toward myself. I felt so dirty, so humiliated. How could I have allowed a man who was not my husband to touch me so intimately, even treating me like a starving baby? The touch had been so unfamiliar, yet damn it, it had left behind a strange sensation that nearly made me lose my sanity.

I couldn't take it anymore.

The desire to escape surged powerfully in my chest once again. I wanted to pack my clothes, leave this luxurious house, and return to my peaceful little village. I would rather live there in poverty and loneliness, as long as my soul did not remain shattered and tormented like this. That man—Reyvano Zayden Blackthorne—was far too dangerous to get close to. He was too possessive, too perceptive, and his charm was far too deadly for a weak woman like me.

“Amora...”

A deep baritone voice filled with remorse suddenly broke the silence of the hallway.

I flinched in surprise. Before I could look up or move away, Reyvano had already stopped right in front of me. He knelt on the cold floor. The man was not wearing any outer layer, revealing his broad chest beneath his slightly disheveled pajama shirt.

His large, warm hand reached out and touched my chin, slowly lifting my face so I would look directly at him.

My heart pounded wildly when I saw the look in Reyvano's eyes. There was no anger or coldness there. There was only an overwhelming sense of guilt and a tenderness that pierced my heart. His thumb moved gently, carefully wiping the traces of tears from my cheeks.

“Forgive me...” Reyvano whispered hoarsely, his voice sounding so sincere. “I was too impulsive. I'm truly sorry, Darling.”

I stared at him, breathing unevenly as tears began to fall again. “W-why...” I whimpered softly, my throat tightening.

Reyvano let out a long sigh, one hand smoothing the strands of my disheveled hair that had fallen across my face.

“During your pregnancy... we never had any intimacy at all, did we?” Reyvano said honestly, explaining his reason in a low, trembling voice. “The doctor forbade it for the sake of our baby's safety, and I respected that. But more than nine months, plus the recovery period... it was agonizing to restrain myself around the woman I love so deeply. Earlier... I truly lost control.”

Huh?!

My eyes widened again, staring at him in utter shock. My mind suddenly began buzzing loudly.

They had never been intimate during the pregnancy?! That meant... Ardhana's pregnancy had happened during the early period of their contract marriage, before they eventually slept separately or kept their distance! And all this time, Reyvano had restrained his desires for months just to protect his wife? Good heavens, how foolish was Amora! My twin had truly wasted such a patient, devoted husband who loved her so deeply!

Reyvano mistook my shock for anger or fear, so he quickly reached for both of my hands and held them tightly between his warm palms.

“I promise, I won't do it again,” Reyvano said earnestly, staring deeply into my eyes. “I know you're still traumatized by the delivery and need time. I'll be patient, Amora. Next time, I won't force you if you're not ready.”

He gently stroked the back of my hand. “Come on, let's go back to the room. It's cold out here in the hallway. It's not good for your health.”

Reyvano was about to help me stand, but I immediately shook my head firmly. I slowly pulled my hand away from his grasp, causing the man's expression to tense instantly.

“No, Rey,” I said hoarsely, avoiding his gaze. “I... I don't want to go back to the master bedroom tonight.”

Reyvano's thick brows drew together tightly. “Then where do you want to sleep?”

“I want to sleep in the nursery,” I answered quickly, giving a reasonable excuse so he would not become suspicious. “I want to stay with Ardhana. I feel safer there tonight. Please... just let me be alone for a while.”

Reyvano remained silent for quite some time. He studied me intently, as though trying to read whatever was actually churning inside my mind. Tension briefly rose between us, making me hold my breath again. However, when he saw the tears still lingering in my eyes, the man finally gave in.

A heavy sigh escaped his lips. He rose from his kneeling position, then reached out and briefly stroked the top of my head.

“All right,” Reyvano said resignedly. “If that's what you want tonight. Rest there. Tomorrow morning, we'll talk about everything again.”

Without arguing any further, Reyvano turned around and walked away down the hallway, returning to the master bedroom alone.

I watched his broad back slowly disappear until he vanished behind the door. The breath I had been holding finally escaped freely. I leaned my back against the cold hallway wall, hugged my knees again, and cursed my own foolishness.

Tonight, I had managed to escape the master bedroom. But tomorrow... I had to contact Amora again. I had to force her to tell me every detail about her married life without hiding anything from me. If I continued staying here, there was no telling whether my true identity would be exposed, and complete destruction would soon come for me.