Thought It Was 'The End', Only to Return to a Changed Genre - Chapter 87
The Perpetrator, Quick to Forget
Ever since the day Adeline heard the news that Genevieve had been attacked, she hadn’t been herself. She roamed restlessly, searching for someone or anxiously acting as if she were being chased.
In the past, Adeline had been similar to how she was now. Although there was suspicion that she might be trying to run away again, there was no sign of it. On the contrary, her demeanor had become much more compliant. It was as if she had resigned herself to being watched and even seemed not to mind it.
Shane pretended not to notice, but he remained vigilant. Why was she being so docile? Did she genuinely feel pity for him?
Sometimes he would wake up in the middle of the night, holding her tightly, fearing she might disappear while he slept. Whenever that happened, Adeline, half-asleep, would reach out and gently pat his head.
Damn it.
Shane was utterly defeated by that feather-light touch.
He felt so powerless against such a fragile being, someone he could easily kill with a mere squeeze. Yet, he loved her so much that he spent every night tossing and turning, hoping that one day a sleeping Adeline would embrace him first.
He had given up on being loved.
But every time Adeline closed her eyes as if she had no choice but to accept his embrace, every time she leaned into him… like relentless weeds, his hope grew.
Maybe, if enough time passed, she would pity him enough to like him a little.
“Hic, hic.”
When Adeline started crying, swallowing her sobs, her wet eyes rubbed against his shoulder, and with each breath she took, Shane found it hard to breathe.
You don’t know yourself when you cry like this.
When they were still children, Adeline would cry loudly as if she had taken his emotions, expressing herself vividly. She didn’t bite her lip until it nearly burst, as if she couldn’t bear the pain of a festering wound.
Seeing this for the first time, Shane’s heart ached, and he didn’t know what to do. He could only hold her tight.
He couldn’t even bring himself to tell her to stop crying.
What on earth happened to you? What’s driving you to such pain?
My color, my emotions, my soul.
If she would just tell him, if she would just ask for help, Shane would do anything.
But Adeline never asked for help.
Even five years ago, it was the same. Despite clearly struggling, she never complained.
And yet, if a man she didn’t even like clung to her pathetically, she would readily extend a hand.
Even with a face as pale as death, if he cried and clung to her, she couldn’t bring herself to be cold.
Not knowing that a single act of sympathy would give that man hope.
Did you cry like this alone back then too?
Shane gently patted Adeline’s back, hoping to bring her some comfort.
***
Exhausted from crying, Adeline fell into a deep sleep.
Shane laid her on the bed, and Lloyd, with practiced ease, prepared her for sleep. Lowering the pillow and covering her with a blanket, Lloyd looked directly at Shane.
His expressionless face seemed ordinary at first glance, but upon closer inspection, his features were quite neat. He studied Shane’s face for a moment and then let out a sigh that sounded almost like a laugh.
“Quite the murderous look on your face.”
“…….”
“Master should really see this.”
Shane didn’t respond to the cheeky remark and instead ran a hand through his hair. He didn’t need a mirror to know what his expression looked like.
“If she had seen this side of you, she would have believed me when I said you were insane.”
“I’m still sane.”
“Maybe your standards for sanity are different.”
“Really, you never lose in an argument. Did you learn that from Adeline?”
“Probably. She’s the only one I have to learn from.”
For better or worse, Adeline was Lloyd’s everything.
