Dear Immortal Tyrant

Once they pulled apart, Kaden began to cook her breakfast. He knew she hadn't eaten anything the entire day. The fact that she was still standing was a miracle. He rarely ate food, but he knew humans were weak. It had been centuries since he last experienced humanity, but he recalled her fragile stature. She looked like the wind would blow her out of the room.

As Kaden took out the pans and ingredients, Lina glanced at the pill bottle. It was large and had a six-month supply. There was a clear protective plastic coating on it. She ran her finger over the plastic whilst being lost in thought.

"How is your progress for Yang Enterprise's Race of Heirs?" Kaden asked from behind.

Lina placed the bottle down and turned to him.. She admired this man in front of her. He had rolled up his black sleeves, revealing his toned arms. His skin was unmarked and smooth, but lightly tanned from the sun.

"I'm thinking of collaborating with Krystal Elit and Atlantis," Lina mumbled.

Suddenly, Lina was beginning to question everything. Her gaze swept over to the bottle. 

If she was to become a chairwoman, would she be an attentive mother? Would her time be plagued by the company? Would she care for the child or arrange nannies? Her stomach twisted uncomfortably. 

Lina didn't want her child to be raised by strangers. If not strangers, then who? Herself? But how? With a job she didn't want in the first place?

The more Lina thought about it, the faster her heart began to plummet. Her breath was caught in her throat. She touched her stomach, an overwhelming realization setting in. 

Lina wanted to raise the children as a hands-on mother. She wanted the child to hug only her and no other woman. At this, she knew things must be sacrificed. Things like her career.

"Yeah?" Kaden muttered as if he didn't believe her.

Lina's heart stopped. She realized Kaden was staring at her the entire time. His gaze flickered to her palm, resting on her stomach. His grip tightened on the knife. His skin went white with anger. She felt the knife twist deep into her chest, until it bled out.

Guilt. It was guilt.

Lina dropped her hand and touched the bottle again. 

"Medeor Corporation produces this…" Lina realized, turning the bottle around and peering at the label.

Lina stared at the directions. "They're one of Ritan's best medical suppliers. There's a larger company in the west, Claymore Conglomerate, but their pharmaceutical section has only just begun," she said to him.

"You sure know your facts," Kaden responded.

Lina pressed her lips together. This kind of information came easy to her. She memorized things easily. Unable to look at the bottle that she requested, she pushed it away.

"Let me help," Lina said to him.

Lina turned around and approached him. Kaden didn't even look at her. He continued slicing the vegetables. She watched his expert fingers get to work. 

"Kaden…" Lina mumbled, wrapping her arms around his waist. She buried her face into his back.

Kaden's entire body went rigid. The knife loudly clattered onto the kitchen counter. She felt every muscle in his body clench.

Lina tightened her grip on him. She rubbed her face into his shirt, adoring his warmth. For a Pure-Blood, he sure was warm. She heard humans that were turned into Pure-Bloods retained qualities of humanity like warm-blood. Those who were born Pure-Bloods didn't have such qualities, for their skin was cold as ice. 

Kaden let out a sigh. He shook his head in disapproval and grabbed her wrists. He attempted to pry her off of him. Her pulse raced with fear.

"Kaden…" Lina attempted, suddenly feeling as if he lost hope for her.

Kaden said nothing. The silence was deafening. All she could hear was her quickening heartbeats. Thump. Thump. Thump.

Lina pressed a kiss to his back. She could feel the hardening of his muscles. His body was stiff as a rock. She loved how comforting he felt. There was no other protection in the world than him. 

"People always claimed to love me," Lina suddenly said to him. "My grandparents said they cherished me and then tried to marry me off. My Uncles claimed to adore me and then used me. My parents swear they loved me and neglected me."

Through her fingertips, Lina felt the clench of his abdomen. She softly stroked the spot.

"I don't know how to show love, for I was never given it," Lina admitted. "I do not know how to love."

Kaden let out a harsh breath. His grip tightened on her wrist. He yanked her off of him. Her shoulders lifted with fear. She could feel tears prick her eyes. Suddenly, he embraced her tightly.

"I know, dove, I know." Kaden's voice was like a soft lullaby to her trembling heart. She was terrified she had lost him for good. She was too attached to him. Too addicted to his adoration. She couldn't bear the thought of his departure. It'd rip her soul in half, for he possessed half of it.

"I'm sorry for being difficult to love," Lina whispered. "I don't know how to express it."

Kaden's grip only tightened. He remembered. He remembered her love clearly. In their first lifetime, where he took it for granted.

"You were naive and a hopeless romantic in your first life," Kaden rasped like it hurt him. "And I took advantage of it. I didn't show you the same love you showed me. Perhaps your inability this lifetime was because your heart closed itself. It's payback for how I treated you. For how horribly I abused your love."

Lina's eyes watered. Indeed, she remembered it. The pain carved into her chest from the unchangeable past. She recalled loving him so much, her heart could burst. But did he love her? He claimed he did. Then, he flirted with Priscilla and neglected her.

Lina knew. She knew her reaction in the present was from fear. Her heart had learned to not love so easily. To not trust so easily. She had raised walls around herself and he was trying to scale them, even though he used to have easy access.

"I will show you," Kaden promised. "I will show you the love you previously gave to me, but I returned too late."

Kaden suddenly kissed her neck. Then, her throat. She could feel her heart beating back to life. Beating back for him. Only him.

"You loved me too much and I loved you too late," Kaden hoarsely said against her skin.

Lina could feel the regret. She could feel it in the way he tightly held onto her, for he had lost her before. She hated to dwell on the past. She hated the memories from it.

Now that they had addressed the final part of it, Lina was relieved. 

"Let's put the past behind us," Lina offered. "No more mentioning it. No more memories."

"No more," Kaden agreed. "Let us focus on the present and nothing more."

Lina smiled into his chest. She felt warm and giddy on the inside. It was a pleasant feeling.