Chapter 134: No More Fear

The bedroom was still wrapped in darkness. Only the faint glow of the moon and the first hint of dawn filtered through the curtains.

Chris hadn’t slept much. Instead, he lay on his side, quietly watching Liliana. Her breathing was steady now. Peaceful.

After days of restless nights, she wasn’t trembling in her sleep.

He gently brushed a loose strand of brown hair away from her face.

"You really came back to me..." he whispered.

After everything that had happened and ten endless days of fear, he still found himself checking every few minutes to make sure she was truly beside him.

He was afraid to close his eyes. Afraid that if he did, he would wake up to another nightmare. Afraid she would disappear again.

Liliana stirred softly. Her eyelashes fluttered before emerald-green eyes slowly opened. The first thing she saw was Chris looking at her.

"...Good morning."

His smile immediately softened.

"Good morning."

She smiled sleepily before nestling a little closer.

"Last night was amazing."

Chris chuckled.

"Really?"

He raised an eyebrow playfully.

"Did I satisfy you?"

Liliana’s sleepy expression vanished instantly.

Her cheeks turned bright red.

"Oh no..."

She buried half her face beneath the blanket.

"I think I said it out loud."

Chris laughed quietly.

"You did."

She let out a tiny groan.

"I’m becoming vulgar."

"No."

He gently poked the tip of her nose.

"You’re just honest. And I like seeing this side of you."

She peeked at him from beneath the blanket.

"What side?"

"The one who actually tells me what she’s thinking."

She laughed despite her embarrassment.

"I still can’t believe I said that."

"I’m never letting you forget it."

"Chris!"

He laughed again.

"There she is."

"My adorable wife."

She lightly swatted his shoulder.

"You enjoy teasing me too much."

"I do."

"And you make it very easy."

She shook her head, smiling despite herself.

After a comfortable silence, she looked toward the curtains.

"What time is it?"

Chris reached for his phone on the bedside table.

"Just four in the morning."

"So it’s still early."

"Very."

"You should sleep a little longer."

Liliana nodded thoughtfully.

Then, she bit her lower lip.

Chris noticed immediately.

"Hm?"

She slowly lifted one finger.

He frowned.

"One?"

She nodded shyly.

Chris blinked. It took him a second to understand. Then his eyes widened. His ears turned slightly red.

A slow grin spread across his face.

"You really missed me."

Liliana hid her face against his shoulder before quietly admitting,

"I missed you so much."

There was no teasing in her voice now. Only honesty and relief.

"I kept wishing I’d come home."

"I kept wishing I’d wake up beside you."

Chris wrapped both arms around her.

"So did I."

He kissed the top of her head.

"I don’t want to waste another day apart if I can help it."

She looked up at him.

"Promise?"

"I promise."

They stayed like that for a while, simply holding one another. No words. No expectations.

Just the comfort of knowing they were together.

Finally, Chris smiled warmly. Then he rolled on top of her.

Her eyes widened when she suddenly felt something between her thighs.

"You’re hard!" She exclaimed, making her embarrassed.

Chris chuckled. "I think I can do this all day."

"Chris!"

Chris laughed.

Liliana’s face grew even warmer.

"You’re impossible," she whispered.

"And yet you married me."

"I was young and foolish."

He placed a hand over his heart, pretending to be wounded.

"Young and foolish?"

She giggled.

"Very."

Chris leaned closer, his teasing expression slowly fading into something softer. He brushed his thumb across her cheek, studying her face as though he still couldn’t believe she was really there.

"I missed this."

"What?"

"This."

He gently touched her forehead with his.

"Your smile. Your voice. The way you get embarrassed whenever I tease you."

Liliana’s smile faded into something tender.

"I missed you too."

The words were barely above a whisper, but Chris heard them. His expression softened.

They had been separated for ten days by circumstances neither of them could control. Ten days of fear, unanswered questions, sleepless nights, and imagining the worst.

Now she was here. Warm, breathing and safe in his arms.

He kissed her forehead. Then her cheek. Then the corner of her lips.

Liliana closed her eyes, wrapping her arms around his neck. The teasing disappeared between them, replaced by something quieter and deeper.

They kissed again, slowly at first, as though they were relearning the comfort of being together. Every touch carried the weight of everything they had been denied during those terrible days.

Chris pulled her closer.

Liliana rested her head against his chest for a moment, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.

"I thought I would never get to do this again," she whispered.

Chris tightened his arms around her.

"Don’t think about that anymore."

"But—"

"I’m here."

She looked up.

"So am I."

He smiled.

"Then that’s all that matters."

They stayed wrapped around each other, allowing the quiet room to swallow the rest of the world.

Outside, the sky was slowly beginning to change. The darkness beyond the curtains had softened into a faint blue-gray, signaling that morning was approaching.

Neither of them cared. For once, there was nowhere they needed to be.

Chris kissed her once more, and Liliana smiled against his lips.

The night had started with fear. But it ended with peace.

They eventually settled beneath the blankets, still holding one another. Liliana rested her head against his shoulder while Chris traced lazy circles along her back.

"You know," she murmured sleepily, "you promised me you wouldn’t waste another day apart."

"I remember."

"You better keep that promise."

"I will."

She yawned.

Chris smiled.

"Sleep, sweetheart."

"Only if you sleep too."

"I will."

She narrowed her eyes suspiciously.

"Promise?"

He kissed the top of her head.

"Promise."

Satisfied, Liliana closed her eyes. This time, there was no trembling. No nightmares or fear waiting for her in the darkness. Only Chris’s arms around her and the steady warmth of his presence.

A few minutes later, his breathing grew slower as exhaustion finally caught up with him too.

The last thing Chris felt before sleep claimed him was Liliana’s fingers gently curling around his.

Neither of them was afraid to close their eyes. They had each other.

And for tonight, that was enough.