Rhianna woke up from hunger, finding the room in complete darkness.
She groped her way to the living room, not even noticing she had come from the master bedroom.
Rylee seemed to be out, and Rhianna peeked around the living room.
She then headed to the kitchen, opening the fridge and cabinets.
Even though Rylee didn't cook often, the kitchen was well-stocked.
Rhianna tore open a pack of instant noodles, boiled some water, and began to cook the spaghetti. She cracked an egg into the boiling soup.
The aroma made her mouth water.
Just as she was about to serve the spaghetti, the door opened.
Rylee was back.
He had changed into a casual dark green shirt with a small V-neck, accentuating his golden proportions figure.
Rhianna had never seen this side of Rylee. She reminded herself not to swoon.
"You're back." A polite greeting, as this was Rylee's home, and she was still a guest.
Rylee approached, and Rhianna caught a faint whiff of alcohol. Had he been drinking?
Rhianna felt embarrassed to ask if Rylee had eaten, as she had only cooked for herself.
She used to make enough for two, but since it was always just her eating, she eventually started preparing only her portion, tired of waiting for someone who never came home and loving someone who never had her in their heart.
She was tired, had given up, yet he kept appearing in her life.
Sometimes, Rylee felt he was teetering on the edge of losing control.
That's why he had gone out for a breather. It was better if he and Rhianna didn't see each other.
He had only had a little to drink, something he rarely did as a soldier, but tonight, he wanted to numb himself with alcohol.
Entering the house, the only light came from the kitchen where his little woman was busy cooking spaghtti.
Rylee suddenly felt this long-occupied house had gained a sense of home.
But seeing her, she greeted him with that same polite distance.
Rhianna, seeing Rylee silent, turned and went back to the kitchen.
Watching her turn, Rylee's feet moved forward involuntarily.
The next second, Rhianna felt someone hug her from behind.
"Don't move," he said with too much helplessness and restraint.
Rhianna's hand, reaching for the pot lid, froze. She didn't know why, but since her rebirth, the tension in their relationship had been unprecedentedly ease after marriage.
She could feel the strength in Rylee's arm around her waist. If he just lowered his head, he could kiss her hair.
Rhianna didn't dare move. Even through her clothes, she could feel the heat from behind.
Instinctively, she wondered what had happened. Rylee seemed off.
But she also knew she couldn't let herself care too much, just as she couldn't let her heart care.
It had taken her a lifetime to retrieve her heart from the quagmire.
She couldn't afford to waver now. The cost of finding her way back was too high.
"Rylee..."
He heard her call his name.
But he didn't want to let go.
Rhianna felt the arm around her waist loosen, and she sighed in relief.
She took a deep breath and, without turning to look at Rylee, focused on serving the spaghetti.
The sudden intimacy had thrown her off balance.
Rylee, what was going on with him...
Lost in thought, she didn't notice her hand hitting something. The hot soup, still steaming, splashed onto her body.
The kitchen erupted in a clatter.
Lately, her luck seemed terrible.
Caught off guard, Rhianna didn't react in time. Though her clothes shielded her, she still felt the burn.
Hearing the noise, Rylee rushed in, frowning at the sight of a disheveled Rhianna.
Her hand had just healed, and now it was red again from the burn.
Yet she stood there, motionless.
Rylee pulled her into the bathroom, roughly stripping her clothes. Her mind went blank.
"Rylee, let me go!" "stop!" Rhianna tried to stop him from pulling off her camisole but found her wrist caught. She can't move.
Rylee wouldn't listen. She didn't see the deep desire in his eyes.
