"I can feed myself," Lina grumbled.

  Despite her words, Lina opened her mouth. He poured the warm liquid in between her lips, watching as she swallowed it. The clear drink seeped from the side of her mouth. He caught the drops with his thumb and softly chuckled.

  "What a sight," Kaden murmured.

  "Hurry and feed me," Lina responded, ignoring his comment. She wondered what he meant.

  Kaden's lips twitched at her words. He scooped the soup again, blew into it, and helped it to her mouth. She ate like a needy fledgling. He had ordered a complete blend of healthy and nutritious soup for her. She had just woken up, so solid foods weren't recommended just yet.

  Instead, he ensured there were small bits of spinach and kale noodles in the soup, that way, he could slowly introduce her to regular food.

  "What happened to feeding yourself?" Kaden remarked.

  Despite his words, Kaden brought the spoon to her. She drank from it, greedily lapping up the creamy liquid. His gaze darkened. If she kept on teasing him like this, he was going to pull up her hospital gown.

  This bed was sturdy enough to hold them both. He was certain it'd withstand the rocking.

  "It flew out the window," Lina responded.

  Her stomach grumbled for more food. The soup was absolutely delicious. She loved the taste of the faint bone broth, but hated the slight bitterness from the ginseng.

  "Like your sanity at times," Kaden dryly commented.

  "Hm?"

  "Nothing, my darling wife," Kaden adjusted.

  Lina weakly smiled at his words. She didn't have the energy to argue with him. She was exhausted from trying to walk again on her weakened legs. Tiredly, she drank from his hand and allowed herself to be fed. Occasionally, he would break up sourdough bread, dip it in the soup and help her eat it.

  Lina was touched by his sincerity. She thought he'd never make a great husband. The betrayal in their past weighed heavily on her shoulders. Even now, she couldn't forget about it. Especially after having a dream where she relived her first life.

  Suddenly, a single word left her mouth. It happened without warning. She didn't mean it, truly. But it did.

  "Atlan."

  CLANG!

  The spoon loudly clattered onto the ground. Kaden shot out of his chair, his eyes as molten as lava. He nearly saw red just from the mere mention of the bastard. Did she remember him?

  "What did you just say?" Kaden demanded, his voice low and dangerous.

  Lina was startled. Kaden reminded her of a crouching beast, ready to pounce at her. He looked like he could tear her to shreds right then and there. He was nursing her back to health, and she had uttered another man's name.

  "Atlas is what I said," Lina mumbled, the lie leaving her mouth without a second thought. "Atlas, I get to see you again."

  Kaden's gaze turned into sharp slits. He was well-aware his looks could kill. Even so, this brave little wife of his. She stared at the monster head-on, not once breaking eye contact. No one dared to treat him like this. No one was blessed enough to receive this kind of treatment from him.

  No one but a little woman who took his heart, broke it, and stole the pieces he had barely mended together.

  "I could've sworn you mentioned a man who violated you," Kaden stated.

  Kaden set the soup down on the nightstand. It had been emptied and there was just a final sip left. Now, with the spoon discarded, she wouldn't be having another bite.

  "No one ever violated me," Lina mumbled. "I—"

  "He did."

  Lina's shoulders fell. She vaguely remembered he hadn't dragged her into bed, nor did he rip her clothes off. As a parting gift to him, she willingly went with him to the bed, then regretted her decision. She heard it was normal for women to regret their first.

  "I'm hungry," Lina said, tugging at Kaden's hand. "Feed me?"

  Lina searched his fierce features. His brows were taut, forming lines on his forehead. His eyes were as icy as the tip of a mountain. There was not an ounce of warmth on his face. His mouth had thinned. She was pretty sure Winter was at least two seasons away, but it was freezing in this room.

  "Feed yourself," Kaden snarled.

  His words were harsh. It stabbed her right in the chest. Lina softly frowned, but tightened her fingers over his hand. She wasn't going to let him go. He yanked his hand back, but she held on for life.

  "Lina—"

  "I like Dove better."

  Kaden sharply breathed in. He was aggravated by this spoiled brat that he cherished so dearly.

  "I'm sorry," Lina relented, her words catching him off-guard.

  "I was going to feed you anyway. Stop looking so pitiful," Kaden grumbled.

  Lina realized he resembled a large dog. Sometimes, his tail would wag for her. Sometimes, he'd refuse to let her show him love. She liked this side of him too. With a slight smile, she tried to change the topic of Atlan. It was a dangerous one.

  "Does my family know I have woken up?" Lina asked.

  Lina watched him get to work. Kaden turned to the table he had dragged to her bedside. On the surface was a large array of different soft foods she could stomach.

  Lina was touched by his actions. He always cared for her, in her previous life and this one. How could she not have noticed this?

  'Because both of you two were too busy hating each other for the betrayal,' a tiny voice whispered in her head.

  At the thought of this, Lina's smile disappeared.

  "Not yet," Kaden responded, unwrapping the fruit for her. He began to peel at the soft peach that even a toothless person could eat. It was especially soft, sweet, and juicy. The color and taste reminded him of her lips.

  "We wouldn't want them crowding you just yet, would we?" Kaden asked her, raising his head from the knife he pulled out.

  Lina was watching him, almost in-awe that he could peel fruits.

  "What?" Kaden remarked.

  "You know how to peel a peach, it's really cute," Lina teased.

  Kaden rolled his eyes at her words. He couldn't tell if she was taunting him. He responded by flicking her nose. She laughed and leaned back, touching the spot with a gentle expression.

  Kaden found himself falling incredibly hard for her. Much harder than he did in his first life. She was the physical representation of his happiness. He didn't have an ideal woman until he met her.

  "Wow, it's all in a single peel," Lina admired, picking up the long peach skin.

  Lina had never seen someone as skilled as her Grandmother in fruit peeling. Now, her Grandmother was going to have competition. At the thought of her Grandmother, Lina's joy was short-lived.

  Lina had stormed out of the Main Mansion, disobeyed them, and even joined the Race of Heirs. It wouldn't be long until Rina denounced her.

  "Just eat the damn peach," Kaden muttered, placing the deseeded, cut, and sliced fruit onto a porcelain platter for her.

  "Isn't this fine china worth ten thousand a piece?" Lina dryly asked.

  "It's a plate, behaving as a plate should, doing what a plate needs to. Its greatest pleasure is to have food eaten from it. Now, eat."

  Lina laughed in response. She did as she was told, picking up the fruit fork and eating the peach.

  Kaden watched her as she enjoyed the fruit he spent his hard work on. When she chewed, he felt a stir in his chest. A deep one that made him pause and observe her. He uncomfortably shifted in his seat.

  "I heard you went to Summer Camp," Kaden slowly began. "How was it?"

  Instantly, the fork slipped from Lina's fingers. She saw vivid images of a forest, the laughter of children, and felt the cold touch of a windowpane. In the far distance, she could see the kids having fun, swinging around, and racing with each other.

  "Patient Yang," Lina murmured under her breath like she was in a trance.

  Lina's ears popped and her vision went hazy. Without warning, the plate slipped from her lap.

  "Lina?" Kaden demanded, grabbing the plate with his reflexes. He was perplexed by her bizarre words.

  "Proceed… electric shock therapy."

  Kaden's gaze grew murderous. What did she just say? Suddenly, without warning, her body bucked forward. He quickly caught her, but it was too late.

  Lina was knocked out cold.