All Chapters of Her Shield in the Shadows: Chapter 31 - Chapter 37

"We met back in high school. She was a very friendly girl. Intelligent, beautiful, kind, always smiling, and she was incredibly good at playing volleyball," he began, letting the memories guide his voice. "During those times, I was really into playing volleyball too. When I found out she was trying out for the team, I was so happy. That was how we really started getting to know each other," he said. I firmly pushed down the brief sting of bitterness in my chest, burying it deep in my mind. I told myself not to think negatively. Dominic was opening up his heart to me, and the last thing I wanted to do was interrupt. "That was our ultimate bonding activity, playing volleyball. Whenever her team had a game, I’d be in the stands cheering my lungs out, and she did the exact same for me. We spent so much time together, especially when her team and mine both made it to the Provincial Meet. That brought us even closer. She fell for me, and I fell for her. I courted her, and it took six month

With every single day that passed, Dominic and I did absolutely nothing but lose ourselves in happiness. In the quiet warmth of the mornings, we would lounge together on the shoreline and simply watch the sun climb into the sky. By noon, I would fondly watch him move around the kitchen, cooking our lunch before we ate side-by-side. When the afternoon rolled in, we would plunge into the cool waves of the ocean, and when night finally fell, we slept peacefully right next to each other. He was courting me with every fiber of his being, proving it not with luxurious gifts or expensive dinners, but through his constant, devoted efforts to protect my peace and make me smile. He insisted on cooking for me and serving me from sunrise to sunset. Whenever I so much as attempted to do any chores around the rest house, he would playfully intercept me, refusing to lose."I am perfectly capable of sweeping the floor, Dom. Let me have the broom! You’ve already done so much today," I argued playfully

​"Raegan? Are you awake yet?" ​I didn't bother replying, nor did I even open my eyes, even as the soft creak of the door announced the arrival of my sister, Ate Raine. I simply turned my back to the door, pulling the pillow tightly against my chest. ​I had absolutely no desire to get out of bed, let alone move. My body refused to cooperate, leaving me trapped in a state of gloomy, hollow suspension. I felt like a human shell stripped of its soul and heart, completely unable to decipher the tangled mess of emotions weighing me down. ​I heard my sister's quiet footsteps approach, followed by the familiar dip of the mattress beside me. I closed my eyes tighter and let out a heavy sigh. Her touch on my shoulder was incredibly gentle, but I couldn't bring my heavy heart to react to it. ​I wanted him here, right beside me. I needed him to tell me himself that we were going to spend the rest of our lives together. ​"Raegan, please eat something, hmm? Matthew cooked your favorite,"