For a long moment, Yue Yue could not breathe.
His words... his fear, his shame echoed inside her chest, heavy and hollow and painfully fragile.
She had never imagined that behind his cold arrogance and ruthless strength lived a man who doubted himself so deeply… who believed he was unworthy of even standing close to her.
All this time… he had been the one suffering.
Her heart twisted.
She was not afraid of him...not now, not ever.
After all… who knew him better than she did?
She had seen it all.
The man he would one day become... the merciless villain who would slaughter tens of thousands, who would lock women in gilded cages, who would chain the one he loved just to keep her from leaving.
Yes… that future existed.
But that future was not now.
Right now… His eyes were red-rimmed and trembling. His voice was hoarse. His body shook with guilt he didn't know how to carry.
He had not yet fallen into darkness.
He was still struggling.
Still trying.
Still hers.
