CHAPTER 7.

 Marchen stepped into the kitchen to have breakfast. AnniBerry hissed in annoyance as she walked back to the room to take a bath and change into something else.

 She opened the wardrobe and took out the blue dress that had been neatly placed inside. Holding it up, she frowned.

 "This isn't my style. I don't like clothes like this."

 She was about to return it to the wardrobe when she remembered it supposedly belonged to Merrilyn. However, the dress carried no trace of perfume, even though Merrilyn loved wearing sweet, expensive fragrances.

 She examined the gown more carefully.

 "Hmm... I've never seen Merrilyn wear anything like this, and it looks brand new."

 She bit her lower lip as a smile slowly crept onto her face.

 "The things women do for men," she murmured under her breath.

 A few minutes later, she put on the dress and headed to the dining room. She was starving. AnniBerry walked calmly toward the dining table, paying little attention to the dress. All she wanted was to eat before going out once again to search for Merrilyn. Marchen was already seated at the table when he heard footsteps approaching. He turned around.

His eyes immediately fell on her.

 The blue dress hugged her hourglass figure perfectly. Her graceful neck, delicate features, and effortless elegance left him speechless. For a brief moment, memories of seeing her unclothed flashed through his mind, and he quickly looked away, trying to regain his composure.

 "I wonder why you'd let me wear your girlfriend's dress," AnniBerry said with a teasing smirk.

 Marchen looked at her in confusion. What girlfriend is she talking about? he wondered.

 "I don't have a girlfriend," he replied quietly, avoiding her gaze.

AnniBerry burst into laughter.

"She told me everything," she said mockingly.

 "Besides my name... and maybe showing you my picture," he replied seriously.

 The smile on AnniBerry's face slowly disappeared as she realized she had mistaken him for someone else. Without saying another word, she picked up her fork and began eating the eggs and pancakes Marchen had prepared. She savored every bite, her eyes filled with gratitude. She could barely remember the last time she had enjoyed a proper meal. But the comfort didn't last.

 The thought of Merrilyn returned, and the joy on her face faded. She slowed down, her appetite disappearing. Nothing that had happened made any sense to her. Who wanted to kill her? Why was she being hunted?

 Maybe it was all a case of mistaken identity.

 She struggled to keep herself together. Tears welled up in her eyes, but she quickly wiped them away with the back of her hand.

 Marchen noticed the sadness on her face. Quietly, he picked up a clean napkin from the table and handed it to her.

 "Wipe your tears," he said softly.

 "Thank you," she replied, her voice trembling with emotion as she accepted the napkin.

 Marchen watched her silently. She wasn't as fragile as she appeared, but she certainly didn't deserve everything that had happened—or everything that was yet to come, even though she didn't know it.

 He wanted to comfort her. He wanted to hold her close and tell her to trust him.

 But how could he?

Marchen slowly stood from his chair.

 "Come," he said, extending his left hand toward her. AnniBerry gently placed her hand in his, and he helped her to her feet. He drew her closer until they stood face to face. Resting both hands gently on her waist, he looked into her eyes.

 "Everything is going to be okay, AnniBerry," he said softly.

 Without hesitation, she wrapped her arms around him. Marchen smelled incredible. His cologne carried a rich, comforting scent that surrounded her. Resting her head against his chest, she closed her eyes, while his chin settled lightly on top of her head. She didn't realize how badly she had needed a hug until that moment. Since the incident with Merrilyn, she had longed for someone to hold her and reassure her that everything would be alright. Marchen had given her exactly that.

 For the first time in days, she felt safe.

 She felt small in his embrace, protected by the warmth of his arms. His chest felt like the safest place in the world, and she found herself breathing in the comforting scent of his cologne.

 As Marchen held her, he became aware of how close they were. His thoughts wandered for a brief moment, and he tightened his arms instinctively before quickly reminding himself to stay in control.

 Lost in the moment, they stumbled backward and fell onto the sofa together. For a heartbeat, neither of them moved. They simply looked into each other's eyes. Marchen was about to lose control of himself. He kissed her so deeply that he almost gave in to the urge to have her right there in the living room. But he forced himself to stop.

 No. I shouldn't see her this way, he thought.

 AnniBerry noticed him looking away from her. She immediately let out a fake, dry cough and quickly got off his chest.

 "I'm sorry," she said shyly before running to her bedroom.

 Marchen stood there, watching her disappear down the hallway like a shy little princess. A soft chuckle escaped his lips as he turned to sit on the sofa.

 That was when he spotted Linx standing by the entrance.

He froze in surprise.

 "Mar, are you sure you want to keep the girl here?" Linx asked. "You could send her to Cindy instead."

 "Why?" Marchen replied coldly.

 "Do you really think anyone can be trusted in a situation like this?" Linx asked, his expression turning serious.

 Linx let out a lopsided smile.

 "Well, from the look of things, you either trust Cindy... or you keep your emotions in check around her."

 Marchen fell silent.

  Linx was right. He needed to control himself. He couldn't afford to develop feelings or worse, entertain lustful thoughts toward AnniBerry. Not her.

 Looking slightly tense, he turned to Linx.

"Why are you here? I thought you had already left."

 "The Boss sent for you," Linx replied. "He said you should come with me."

Marchen froze.

It felt as though his heart had stopped beating. Slowly, he turned his gaze toward AnniBerry's bedroom door.

 "He knows," he muttered, his eyes turning bloodshot.

 "Linx, I need security around this house." Linx frowned in confusion.

 "I'm not sure he knows," he said cautiously. "Posting guards around your house will only make him suspicious."

 Marchen's eyes burned with anger.

 "Linx, you never cease to amaze me," he snapped before brushing past him and walking out.

 Linx remained rooted to the spot, wondering what he had said wrong. After a long moment, he sighed and absentmindedly adjusted the collar of his shirt.