****
"He's still busy with his phone, talking seriously. After a while, he finally ended his call and approached me with light steps. Gently, he hugged me from behind, surprising me a bit before I turned around with a warm smile.
"How are you doing, honey?" he asked softly, his eyes full of concern.
"I'm fine," I replied, hugging him back. "You got the best doctor. How about Moranda?" I asked, looking at him anxiously.
"She's also got the best doctor, honey. Don't worry too much about yourself, it's not a big deal. She'll recover soon," he said, gently pinching my nose. We stared at each other, then without hesitation, we kissed briefly while still holding each other tight. Accidentally, my fingers touched the lines on his back, although unintentionally.
"Evan, you make me so happy," I said gratefully after we released our hug.
He smiled warmly, softly kissing the top of my head. "I always want you to be happy, Lucia. I'm sorry about yesterday, I didn't take good care of you. I'm really sorry," he said, gently stroking my forehead.
After releasing his hug, he sat next to me on the couch. His loving gaze made me feel warm inside. With care, he took something from his pants pocket.
"I have something for you," he said, taking out a small pink box from his jacket pocket. I opened it carefully and found a beautiful pearl bracelet inside.
"Evan, this is so beautiful," I said, smiling with happiness. "Thank you so much."
He smiled happily, taking the bracelet from the box and gently putting it on my right wrist. "I hope you like it," he said softly.
"Of course I do," I said, looking at the bracelet with love. "It's perfect."
We sat side by side for a moment, enjoying each other's presence. But my attention was distracted when I felt my index finger touch the scar on my face.
Evan noticed my concern and looked at me attentively. "How about that scar, honey?" he asked softly.
I felt warm hearing his caring voice. "It's just Emily's scratch marks," I said somewhat sadly. "Seems like she didn't like seeing me with you."
Evan nodded understandingly, his hand gently touching the scar on my face. "Forgive me, Lucia. I didn't mean to hurt you," he said softly.
I held his hand gently, looking into his eyes with love. "You're not to blame, Evan. I know you're always there for me," I said sincerely.
He smiled in relief, softly kissing my forehead. "I'll always be here for you, Lucia. You mean everything to me," he said sincerely.
Something bothered me after realizing that there were blood stains on my palms. What is this?"
"What's going on, Lucia?" he asked with a voice full of concern, fully dressed. "Is everything okay?"
I shook my head slowly, trying to overcome my surprise, hiding my palms. "I'm still a bit surprised by your sudden return, Evan. Is this because of the incident with Emily or is there something else?"
Evan took a deep breath before answering. "Actually, there are a few things I need to sort out. There's a possibility that Emily might still cause trouble. So, I want to make sure you're safe."
I felt warm hearing his concern and care. "Evan, I don't want you to feel burdened by this," I said gently. "I know you just want to protect me, but I want us to live without worries." I hoped he'd also be open with me.
He looked at me decisively. "I understand, Lucia. But I can't stop thinking about your safety," he said firmly. "Maybe we should consider having temporary security until everything settles down."
I nodded slowly, touched by his consideration. "Alright, Evan. If that's what you think is necessary, I agree."
He smiled in relief, softly kissing the top of my head. "Thank you, Lucia. I just want the best for you," he said sincerely. "You know, I miss your scent too," his voice teased my ears.
"My scent?" I teased, lightly poking his nose and resting my hand gently on his firm jaw. "I miss you too, darling. I miss you so much."
With longing, our lips met softly at first, then hungrily. My hands hung on his shoulders, and once again, I felt a line on his back, hearing Evan's suppressed groan—was he in pain?
He performed well, making me sigh with immense satisfaction. I couldn't ascertain his body fully—he hadn't undressed completely, only removing his pants. I could have been disappointed, but his passion was incredible. I couldn't utter a protest, only moans of pleasure calling out to him, "Evan..."
******
It was late at night when Evan received a phone call and stepped out onto the balcony. I caught a brief glimpse of his tense back. His low, serious voice faintly echoed through the slightly ajar door.
"I have to handle this now," he said urgently.
I sighed softly, feeling drowsiness creeping in. My body still felt tired, the effect of the medication I had just taken. I knew I should rest, but the image of Evan speaking seriously kept my mind restless.
That's when my phone vibrated. I reached for it with half-closed eyes. There was a message. Adrian.
"Lucia, there's something I need to tell you. It's important."
My eyes grew heavier, but curiosity kept me reading. Yet, Adrian's words became blurrier, and in a moment, I fell asleep with the phone still in my grasp.
I don't remember what happened after that. All I knew was that I woke up the next morning feeling strange. Something was missing, something important, but I couldn't remember. My phone was still in my hand, Adrian's message still open, but I couldn't recall what I had discovered in his message last night.
"Evan," I called out hoarsely. He was still on the balcony, his gaze smiling distantly at me. Oh, I was so sleepy, drained of energy from the bed. "I love you," I said, then drifted off and forgot—
"Ugh, this scum! What does he expect? Lucia belongs only to me, for me!"