Chapter 51: Chapter 51: Is He Avoiding Me?

Lila’s POV

“Back then, right after my parents passed away, the smell of a hospital or the sight of medical equipment would trigger memories of that day.” I leaned against his chest, listening to his frantic heartbeat, my voice calm but laced with exhaustion. “I’d get dizzy, nauseous, and start shaking uncontrollably. Caleb was the one who took care of me during that time.”

I paused, my fingertips tightening on the hem of his shirt. “He’d take me to a bench outside the hospital and we’d sit there for a long time. He’d buy me my favorite hot cocoa and tell me silly jokes. Sometimes, he would even pretend to be a doctor and ’diagnose’ me with a stethoscope. His prescription was that I had to laugh at least once a day.”

The corner of Jasper’s mouth twitched. He looked like he wanted to smile, but he couldn’t quite manage it.

“He always knew how to cheer me up,” I said softly. “He was with me through my darkest days. So, when he said he was worried about me… I believe he was genuinely worried in that moment.”

Jasper closed his eyes, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “So, you do still care about him.”

“It’s not that I care about him,” I said, lifting my head to look him straight in the eye. “I’m trying to tell you that it wasn’t all a lie. Some of the kindness he showed me was real. But that doesn’t mean he didn’t deceive me, and it doesn’t mean his father’s scheme is forgivable.”

I reached out and cupped his face, my thumb gently stroking his furrowed brow. “He took care of me back then because you weren’t there. But you’re the one I want to rely on now. You’re the one I want to face the future with.”

He stared at me, and the frost in his golden eyes finally began to melt.

“This time was different.” My voice dropped, tinged with a lingering fear. “I’ve felt unwell before, but never like today… I felt like I was going to shatter. That terror didn’t come from a memory. It was… something deeper, erupting from inside my body, from the depths of my soul.”

Jasper suddenly pulled me into his arms, holding me so tightly I could barely breathe, yet it made me feel incredibly safe.

“I won’t let you face anything alone ever again,” he whispered, his voice hoarse and resolute. “I promise.”

He slowly released me and looked down at my pale face, his brow furrowed. “You still look terrible.”

Before I could respond, he scooped me up, one arm under my knees and the other around my back. I let out a small gasp and instinctively wrapped my arms around his neck. He walked steadily over to the bed and laid me down, carefully tucking the covers around me as if I were a fragile treasure.

“Get some sleep,” he said, sitting on the edge of the bed and gently stroking my hair. “I’ll stay here and watch over you.”

“Jasper,” I said, holding his hand, not wanting him to leave my sight. “You weren’t part of my past, and I understand how you feel. You don’t need to blame yourself, and you don’t need to let your jealousy get out of control. I know that what you give me is something he never could.”

His eyes softened slightly. He leaned down and placed a kiss on my forehead. “Sleep.”

I closed my eyes, my consciousness slowly fading. Just as I was about to drift off to sleep, his low voice sounded softly by my ear:

“Your reaction this time… it was too severe. I agree with you; this is more than just psychological trauma. I suspect it’s related to the seal inside you loosening.”

My eyes flew open, and my heart lurched.

“Related to the seal?”

“Don’t be afraid.” He squeezed my hand, his tone steady but carrying an undeniable gravity. “It’s just a guess for now. I’ll look into it.”

He paused, his gaze falling on my face, tinged with a suppressed ache. “Until I have answers, don’t think about anything. Just rest. Leave the rest to me.”

I looked at him. A million thoughts were racing through my mind, but seeing the resolute determination in his eyes, I finally gave a slow nod.

“Okay,” I said softly. “I’ll wait for you to come back.”

He gave a slight nod and turned off the bedside lamp, plunging the room into soft darkness. He didn’t leave. He just sat by the bed, quietly watching me until my breathing evened out and I fell into a deep sleep.

He stood up, pulled the covers up for me one last time, and turned toward the balcony.

Moonlight spilled in, silhouetting his tall figure. He stood at the railing, his gaze fixed on the distance as if he could pierce through the night and see the dangers lurking in the shadows.

After a moment, he took out his communicator. His finger hovered over the screen for an instant before pressing an encrypted number.

The call connected. His voice was low and solemn. “Elder, it’s me. I need to see you… There’s a new development regarding the seal. She’s starting to show signs of a mental collapse… Yes, faster than we anticipated.”

The night breeze swept past, rustling the hem of his clothes. He stood in the moonlight like a guardian statue, silent and resolute.

This was only the beginning.

————

From that day on, Jasper seemed to have vanished into thin air.

It wasn’t that I’d never seen him busy before, but this was the first time he was so completely out of reach. He always left before dawn and came back after I was already fast asleep.

I tried waiting for him in the living room, curled up on the sofa with a throw pillow, but I always woke up back in my own bed without any sign of him.

This feeling of being shut out of his world was like tiny needles pricking my heart, one by one.

I started to let my imagination run wild. ’Did what happened at the hospital make him think I’m too much trouble? Or does his theory about the “seal” make him see me as a difficult burden?’

This constant anxiety was making me feel unlike myself.

“Zoe, do you think Jasper… is he avoiding me?” I finally couldn’t stop myself from asking the only person in the house I could really talk to.

We were on the swing set in the garden. Zoe was eating strawberry shortcake while scrolling through party invitations on her phone. When she heard what I said, she nearly choked on her cake, quickly taking a sip of water and staring at me in disbelief.

“Lila, are you running a fever?” She put down her plate and touched my forehead. “Dad avoiding you? You’ve got to be kidding!”

“But he’s been ignoring me…” I muttered, unconsciously twisting the hem of my dress. “He doesn’t even ask if I’ve been taking my medicine on time anymore.”

Zoe burst out laughing, a sound filled with a teenager’s characteristic certainty. “Oh, Lila, you’re totally overthinking this! Dad’s just a workaholic!”

“Really?”

“Of course!” Zoe said, puffing out her chest confidently. “So, stop thinking about sad stuff! There’s an art salon today at the White Tower club on the east side of town. You should come with me!”

“An art salon?” I hesitated. “Is this part of that plan to get close to Lilith and make her your ’bestie’? Wouldn’t it be inconvenient if I came along?”

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