"The earliest memory of my childhood is the horrified faces of my grandfather and uncles," Lina murmured.

  Lina's heart shuddered with the memory. For a little girl to be met with such disgust, she recalled the pain. At that time, she had pouted and lowered her head in obedience.

  "It happened when I told them I had memories of my previous life. I announced it at a private gathering of elites who were equally disturbed by my words," Lina muttered.

  Lina shakily tucked her fingers together. Now, she understood why her brain desperately tried to forget this memory. It was one that altered her life forever. A betrayal too painful from someone she loved too much.

  "My grandfather and father had a private discussion where they took me to a mental institution to get my head checked," Lina continued.

  Lina could picture the entire thing happening before her very eyes. She saw images of the cold white walls and patients walking around in a daze. She remembered the large and fake smiles of the doctors.

  "The asylum deemed me too unstable for high society and the memories would hinder my growth," Lina said.

  Lina could never forgive her grandfather or father for this. It was no wonder they looked so guilty whenever she'd peer at them. Their crimes against her could not be forgotten.

  "The asylum offered a treatment to cure me, but didn't disclose what it was," Lina said.

  Lina inhaled in a deep breath. Even now, she shivered at the horrific incident taking place, for a child no less.

  "It was electric shock therapy on a little girl," Lina admitted. "The electricity must've done something to my head."

  Lina slowly blinked. A taunting realization settled into her system. She had touched Kaden, but nothing happened. Blood drained from her face. Did her clairvoyance go away?

  "It gave me clairvoyance," Lina confessed. "The first person I touch each day, I see their future, whether it's a few hours or a few weeks from now."

  Lina raised her gaze to Kaden who had been silent the entire time. His brows were pulled together at her words. He was digesting the information, but he didn't jump to any conclusions.

  "B-but it's weird," Lina stammered out. "When I woke up from my coma and touched you, I no longer saw the future. I don't know what's going on."

  Kaden narrowed his eyes. So his initial predictions were true. She was never home-schooled. But clairvoyant? That was no child's play. It was not an ability given by electric shock treatment. It was a special ability that only she could be born with. He'd know.

  Kaden knew of their past, far before the first life they shared in the mortal realm. He knew of the incidents that took place and her true identity.

  "Would you like revenge on your grandfather and father?" Kaden finally asked. His voice was controlled and quelled. He would not act unless she wanted him too.

  "No," Lina instantly said. "They've paid for what they've done. The guilt of ruining their granddaughter and daughter still weighs on their mind. I've seen the remorse in their eyes and the regret on their faces."

  As a consequence of their actions, Lina never told them anything anymore. She never told them how her grades were doing. How she felt. What she wanted. She kept her mouth shut on everything important. She'd only tell them what they wanted to hear.

  "Then, what shall be done with this information?" Kaden asked.

  "Leverage," Lina said.

  Lina knew there was nothing she could do to change the past. But she could change the present. Maybe her clairvoyance ability didn't trigger because he had been holding her hand for a while now. Maybe it did activate but she wasn't awake to process the future.

  "Is that why you refuse a wedding ceremony?" Kaden asked.

  "I was reluctant to hold a wedding ceremony because—" Lina cut herself off.

  Lina remembered the consequences of discussing the future. It was a butterfly effect. If she disclosed it, then someone would try to prevent it, and in doing so, would set off a domino of problems.

  "I can't tell you," Lina reluctantly said. "Or else the small conflict will turn into a larger catastrophe."

  Kaden narrowed his eyes. "You're asking me to trust you."

  "I am."

  Kaden breathed hard through his nose. "You'll have to place your trust in me as well then."

  Lina's lips parted. Could she trust him? She turned her head. She was a paranoid woman, for she didn't have many close friends. She was selective of the people she let into her life. She was worried a slip of her tongue would lead to another calamity like the asylum. It was why she couldn't trust many people. How could she when the people closest to her betrayed her like that?

  How could she when they subjected her to such abuse?

  "I'll try," Lina finally told him. "I'll do my best."

  Kaden was not satisfied with her answer. He placed his full trust into her hands and she gave him half.

  "It's unfair," Kaden pointed out.

  "It is…" Lina agreed. "But I've been betrayed before, I—"

  "So have I."

  "I'm sorry." Lina did not know what happened in the years following her death.

  Lina only knew of what she learned in her history classes. She learned how Kade had dedicated an enormous temple of worship to her. She knew he wiped out the entirety of Teran. She knew Ritan's large territory was because of him.

  "Why did you destroy my kingdom?" Lina suddenly asked him.

  Kaden's expression darkened. His jaws tightened. He curled his fingers into fists and leaned back in his chair. He crossed his arms, staring pointedly at her.

  "They were greedy enough to want you back alive, but then they wanted your corpse to be buried in their land. I conquered Teran to have the right to let your body rest in peace in Ritan, in the largest temple dedicated to a woman," Kaden said.

  Centuries had passed since this incident. Lina was loyal to Teran in her first life, but now, it was just the name of a Kingdom. The present-day Lina did not feel the same obligations to Teran.

  Lina simply nodded her head to this news. "And why did you decide to be the Second King of Ritan, instead of the Second Emperor? The Third ruler of Ritan is often referred to as Emperor, but also accepts the title of a King…"

  "Because a usurper can never be the Emperor, not unless he was shameless enough. Also because I did not need a harem," Kaden spoke.

  Lina's lips parted. Did that mean he did not remarry? She glanced at his ring finger. It was normal for married men to take off their wedding ring when cheating, but nothing could ever hide the tan lines.

  Nothing. Not even a marking on his ring finger.

  It was almost as if Kaden could read her innermost thoughts as he half surprised her with what he spoke next.

  "In the millennium that I've waited for you, I never remarried. Never sired any children. Never allowed anyone into my heart," Kaden promised her.

  "But you," Kaden mused.

  Kaden cynically tilted his head. "You always seem to be a magnet for men."

  Kaden supposed that beautiful face of hers had something to do with it. Her sharp eyes terrified men, but her soft features captivated them. Her lovely body was a temptation none could avoid.

  "First it was Atlan, then it was…" Kaden stopped himself there.

  Speak of the devil and he shall appear.

  "And lastly, it's Everett," Kaden stated.

  Kaden stared at her with longing…… "Obtaining you is never easy, dove of mine, but I do it anyway because I love you."