Chapter 32: Chapter 32

Sky wongravee

The office was suffocating.

I kept pacing back and forth, my mind replaying every word, every moment of our argument. Did I go too far? The question gnawed at me, relentless and unforgiving.

“Damn it, this is ridiculous.” I muttered under my breath, slamming a hand onto the desk. Win insisted we had to make it believable, to push Nani and myself to our limits so Hong’s mole would buy it. And it had worked—it felt real because it was real. Deep down, I knew every word I said had carried a fragment of the old me, the controlling man I was before Nani came into my life.

The thought of who I used to be made my stomach churn. Back then, I would have meant every word I said. I would have sent him away without the second thought, locked him up in some fortress to keep him safe. But now? Now, he wasn’t just a piece of my life—he was my life. That makes me more paranoid.

I exhaled sharply, dragging my hand through my hair. Did he notice this was just an act or did he misunderstand me? How do I fix this?

A knock at the door startled me, Win stepping in, his face carefully neutral.

“All the preparations are complete,” he said, his tone clipped. “The safe house is ready, and Dew’s team is on standby.”

I shot him a glare, my anger simmering just beneath the surface. “It better work, Win,” I said coldly. “Because if it doesn’t, and anything happens to—”

“It’ll work,” Win cut in, his voice steady but softer now. “The doctor’s stronger than you think, Boss. He’ll understand why we had to do it this way.”

I didn’t respond. Instead, I turned away, staring out the window into the darkness. He better understand, I thought bitterly. Because if he doesn’t, I’ve already lost him.

---

It was late by the time I finally worked up to his room. The mansion was quiet, the weight of the day hanging heavy in the air. I didn’t knock. Instead, I pushed the door open quietly, stepping inside.

He was standing by the window, his silhouette bathed in the faint glow of the moonlight. He didn’t turn around, but I knew he sensed me there. He always did.

I closed the door softly behind me and approached him, my footsteps deliberate and slow. He didn’t move, his gaze fixed on the garden outside. The tension in his posture was obvious—his shoulders stiff, his hands clenched loosely at his sides.

When I reached him, I hesitated for a moment before wrapping my arms around him from behind. I pulled him against me, burying my face in the curve of his neck. He smelled like the faint remnants of soap and something uniquely him. For a moment, I just held him, letting the silence settle between us.

I felt his body tighten, going rigid beneath my touch. Then, after a long pause, his voice broke the stillness.

“You don’t really mean what you said, do you?” His voice was quiet, almost a whisper, but the hurt in his tone cut through me like a blade. He still didn’t look at me, his eyes focused on the darkness outside.

I held my breath for a moment, my chest tightening. Finally, I spoke, my voice low and raw.

“If this were the old me…” I began slowly, choosing my words carefully. “If this were me from before I met you, I would have meant every word. I would have done everything I said—I would’ve sent you away, locked you up, controlled every part of your life just to keep you safe.”

I felt him stiffen even more, his shoulders trembling slightly.

“But I’m not that man anymore,” I said, my voice softening as I tightened my hold on him. “Not with you. I couldn’t be, even if I tried.”

I turned him gently, guiding him to face me. His eyes finally met mine, and the pain there made my heart ache. He was holding back tears, his lips trembling as he searched my face for answers.

“I meant it when I said your safety is my priority, Nani,” I continued, my hands moving to cup his face. “It always will be. But your happiness? Your freedom? Those matter too. I want you to live your life to the fullest. Not in fear, not hidden away, but out there in the world—with me.”

For a moment, he didn’t say anything. Then, slowly, he rested his forehead against my chest, his hands gripping the front of my shirt tightly. His voice came out muffled against me, filled with a vulnerability I hadn’t heard in a long time.

“You really scared me then. I thought I lost hope to get my life back and a new life with you.” he whispered.

His shoulders started to shake, and it took me a moment to realize he was crying. My chest ached as I tilted his face up, wiping the tears from his cheeks with my thumbs. “Hey,” I murmured, leaning down to kiss his forehead softly. “Why are you crying?.”

His lips quirked into a faint, watery smile. “I’m not crying,” he mumbled weakly, even as fresh tears slid down his face.

I couldn’t help but chuckle softly, pressing another kiss to his temple. “Liar.”

He laughed shakily, his tears slowing as he leaned into my touch. Then, look at me with a mixture of love and frustration, he said, “You better love me for the rest of your life. Because I’m not going through all of this for nothing.”

I smiled, brushing a strand of hair from his face. “I do love you,” I said softly, the words carrying more weight than they ever had. “And I’ll spend the rest of my life proving it to you.”

He stared at me for a moment, his eyes searching for mine, before he nodded. “Good. Because if you ever pull something like this again, I swear I’ll—”

I cut him off with a kiss, slow and tender, my hands sliding to the back of his neck to pull him closer. His hands rested on my chest, gripping lightly as he melted into me. When we finally pulled apart, his forehead rested against mine, our breaths mingling in the quiet of the room.

“Let’s take our rest for today,” I murmured, my voice low and steady.

He nodded, his fingers curling into the fabric of my shirt. “Okay,” he whispered. “But no more secrets, Sky. No more keeping me in the dark.”

I kissed him again, this time pressing my lips softly against his temple. “No more secrets,” I promised.

Together, we climbed into bed, the tension of the day slowly fading away. As I held him in my arms, his body warm and solid against mine, I felt something I hadn’t felt in weeks: peace.

For now, he was here. He was safe. And I would do whatever it took to keep it that way.