Chapter 43: Chapter 43: A Promise of Love

Lila’s POV

“And then I rejected him, of course!” I added quickly. “I asked him what happened over the past fifteen years, that if he knew the truth, he should just tell me instead of asking me to pretend nothing happened. But he didn’t say anything. He just stood there saying he was sorry.”

I looked up at Jasper’s still-clouded face and reached out to smooth the furrows between his brows. “You see? He didn’t give me any useful information. I even think he might not know anything at all and was just trying to exploit my sympathy.”

After hearing me out, Jasper was silent for a long time.

He took my hand, raised it to his lips, and kissed it. His gaze grew deep and complex. “Lila, promise me you’ll stay away from him from now on. No matter what he says to you, don’t believe him. Okay?”

Seeing the lingering worry deep in his eyes, I nodded solemnly. “Okay. I promise you.”

With my promise, he finally seemed to relax. He swept me up into his arms, walked over to the newly replaced leather sofa, and sat down, settling me onto his lap. His body heat seeped through the thin fabric of my clothes and into my skin like a cluster of dark embers, burning silently. The flames in the fireplace danced, casting a warm golden glow on his silhouette, yet his eyes remained as bottomless as ever, as if holding an entire winter’s night.

“Lila, I know you desperately want to uncover the truth,” he said, his voice low and tinged with the relief I’d given him. His fingertips gently caressed the back of my hand. “But you don’t have to bear it all alone. Remember, you have me. I’ll be with you, and together, we’ll dig up everything hidden in the darkness.”

I gazed at him, my heart searing.

’So, he was always there. Not as a savior, but as a co-conspirator, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with me at the edge of the abyss. He never promised me peace, but he was willing to tear apart the lies with me.’

“Jasper…” I called softly, my eyes growing warm.

“Hm?”

“Thank you.”

He lowered his head, his nose brushing against my temple. His voice was low and husky. “For what? You’re my wife. Isn’t it only natural that I do these things for you?”

Before he’d even finished speaking, his lips descended on mine, but they were no longer as fierce as before. This time, his lips moved over mine with a gentle pressure, a near-reverent exploration. His hand slid slowly down my spine, as if to confirm my existence, or perhaps to soothe a frightened cat.

“However…” He pulled away from my lips, his breathing slightly heavy, his voice as rough as a whetstone. “If you really want to thank me, why not show it with some more… practical actions?”

“What kind of actions?” My heart hammered like a drum as my fingers unconsciously tightened on the lapels of his shirt.

He didn’t answer with words, but with action.

His lips met mine again, but this time it was slower, deeper. He was no longer in a rush to conquer, but instead savored me like a fine, aged wine, stealing my breath bit by bit. His kisses trailed from the corner of my mouth to my earlobe, which he nibbled gently, sending a shiver through my entire body and drawing a soft moan from my lips.

“Jasper…” I leaned limply against him, my consciousness starting to fog.

“I’m here,” he whispered, his palm slowly sliding under the hem of my shirt. The heat of his hand seared my skin. “Don’t be afraid, Lila. I’m here.”

Just as I was about to drown in this scalding tenderness, he suddenly stopped.

All movement came to an abrupt halt. He just held me, his chin resting on the crown of my head, his breathing heavy, his chest rising and falling sharply. The firelight flickered across his face, illuminating his tense jawline.

“What’s wrong?” I opened my eyes and looked up at him, my voice soft with arousal.

He didn’t look at me. His gaze was fixed on the dancing flames. After a long silence, he finally spoke, his voice as hoarse as if it had been scraped with sandpaper. “Lila, did you know? I’m a very selfish person.”

My heart jolted.

He never said such vulnerable things, much less disparaged himself. But right now, those words were like a dull knife, slowly slicing through his tough exterior.

“I knew it would be dangerous for you to investigate the truth. I knew the Goodrich family is a bottomless swamp, but I still allowed it,” he said, tightening his arms around me, his grip so strong it almost hurt. “Because… I also wanted you to know that no one but me can give you true peace. No one but me can make you feel safe while also making you thrill to your very soul.”

I closed my eyes, a heat spreading through my chest.

’So, he had been fighting my past in his own way all along. He wasn’t afraid of me investigating, nor was he afraid of my hatred. He was only afraid that I would ultimately choose that seemingly “harmless” illusion over him—the bloody and dangerous reality.’

“Jasper…” I cupped his face in my hands, my thumb gently stroking the frown from between his brows. “Don’t overthink things. I’m not going back to the hypocritical Goodrich family, and I’m not leaving you…”

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, as if trying to etch my very scent into his lungs.

“Lila…” he said my name again, his voice holding a barely perceptible tremor—the kind of raw vulnerability that only appears when all defenses are down. “Did you know? Sometimes I really wish I could be like Caleb, even if it meant being a little hypocritical, even if I had to use any means necessary to keep you trapped by my side. But I’m afraid… I’m afraid you would hate me. Afraid you would avoid me like the plague.”

My heart clenched violently, aching terribly.

’This omnipotent, cold, and ruthless Wolf King, as seen by the world, was as vulnerable as a child afraid of losing his candy in front of me.’

“How could I ever hate you?” I couldn’t stop my eyes from reddening. I leaned in on my own and gently kissed the corner of his eye. “You’ve given me so much… so much warmth and respect that I never dared to hope for. Jasper, I’m the one who’s been too stupid, always making you worry.”

He opened his eyes, and in their golden depths, my reflection stared back, as if I were his entire world.

“You’re not stupid,” he said, cupping my face and gently stroking my cheek with his thumb, his voice low and tender. “You’re just too kind, too soft-hearted. That’s why I have to be strong for you. Lila, promise me that no matter what happens from now on, you’ll trust me. Okay?”

“Okay,” I nodded emphatically, tears finally streaming from my eyes. “I promise you, Jasper. I won’t hide anymore. I won’t leave you to guess alone in the dark again.”

He smiled.

’It was the purest, most relieved smile I had ever seen on him. Like ice melting and spring blossoms blooming.’

He pulled me into a tight embrace, the force so great it felt as if he wanted to merge me into his very bones and blood, binding us together for life and death.

Just then, the sound of the front door opening and closing came from downstairs, followed by a set of light but slightly weary footsteps, accompanied by the crisp jingle of various accessories.

It was Zoe.

Jasper’s body tensed reflexively before he let out a low laugh, the vibration in his chest spreading through me.

“Looks like,” he whispered in my ear, his breath warm, “our ’special agent’ is back.”

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