She doesnât recognize me?
Can she remember me? Am I losing my mind?
Sebastian steadied himself and approached her cautiously. âSasha?â
Sasha gazed back at him unblinkingly, through wide and tear-streaked eyes.
However, he saw the recognition in her gaze. It almost seemed as if she was waiting for something.
Sebastian was unable to restrain himself any longer. He took another step towards her. Sasha shrank
away from him immediately.
âWhat are you doing? You are still hurt! Donât move!â He grabbed hold of her.
His touch seemed to agitate Sasha. Distrust became horror as she screamed and twisted herself free
from him.
âLet go! Let go of me!â
Distraught and afraid of hurting her, Sebastian let her go.
He watched as Sasha cower on her bed like a cornered deer. She buried her head under the blanket
and began chastising herself.
Has she really lost her mind?
Sebastian stood by the bed. His limbs and face felt unnaturally cold. He did not know what or how to
feel.
Thump.
Under the cover of her quilt, Sashaâs thin wrist appeared stealthily.
She was like a thief, feeling her way around the cabinet by her bed, and knocked over a glass bottle.
What is she doing?
Sebastian went towards it, intending on cleaning up the shattered glass.
Sasha watched him through a crack in her quilt and waited for her chance. He was kneeling over the
broken glass and caught sight of her staring at him through the bottom of the bed.
âArgh! Why wonât you leave me alone? Are you an evil spirit or something? Why am I always dreaming
about a scum like you?â Sasha yelled in frustration.
She remained huddled under her quilt, exposing only her angry eyes to glare at Sebastian.
He froze, still on the floor.
In her dreams? Scum?
âAm I missing my son so much that Iâm dreaming of the scum?â Sasha furrowed her brows in confusion
as she continued to mumble to herself out loud.
It was true that she did not think of Sebastian much or dreamed of him for the past five years.
During her time in Moranta, she had worked incessantly to set up a new life. Besides, she had to sever
all ties with her past connections when she faked her death.
Now he stood before Sasha, as clear as day. Just like the same old domineering and stubborn
Sebastian that she remembered.
I must be dreaming. Sasha concluded.
She decided to go back to sleep, but before she could, her bare arm outside of the blanket was met
with a sudden warmth. It surprised her to see a muscular hand closing over hers.
âIs it true?â
âWhat?â
âCan you feel me touching you?â The man kneeling before her sounded hoarse. He could wrap her thin
wrists in one palm.
All she could feel was her hand being caressed with a gentleness that was shocking to her. Sashaâs
eyes widened.
How could this be?
Am I still dreaming? He feels so real.
It scared her. Sasha felt overwhelmed by emotions and her throbbing temple. She moaned quietly.
âWhatâs wrong? Are you in pain?â Sebastian asked, panicking slightly.
Several memories surfaced in Sashaâs mind. She pictured the man holding her and struggled to form
the words from her quivering lips.
âMatteo is missing. Please⦠find him.â
With that, she passed out.
At this moment, the doctors burst in upon the immediate cessation of noise.
After order had been restored, Sebastian heard the doctorâs verdict.
âThereâs nothing wrong with her,â he said. âYou mentioned she was confused. That may just be a
lingering side effect of trauma. Thankfully, Mr. Hayes, she did not lose her sight, or her mind. She is a
superb doctor.â
The doctor could not help but marvel at Sashaâs medical skills.
Sebastian was beyond relieved. His twenty-eight years of life had not been as torturous as the ten
minutes it took to wait for the doctorâs examination. The suffering was akin to a visit to hell.
He was unwilling to admit it, but it had been the darkest point in his life.