The thing about trauma is, they never go away even if it's supposedly over. Hence the moment Natalie heard about Daniel's message, a tremor went through her and she almost began to hyperventilate.
"Hey…." Eric cupped her cheeks and kept her focus on him. This was why he never wanted to tell her about it, but it was better safe than sorry.
"Daniel is not going to get to you, I promise you, that." He told her with a serious voice, "You didn't fight the battles all these years only to lose at the slightest fear. Daniel is nothing but a paper tiger now. He knows that he is losing and the only way to feel in control is to make his enemies dread him. He controls through fear and you are not going to let him do that to you, again. You hear me?"
Natalie nodded her head, her breath evening out and he was able to relax.
"He was only taunting me, " Eric assured her.
