Everything was just water under the bridge. Kaden was furious when he first discovered she had left and he was still angered, but he kept it at bay. Right now, Lina was too traumatized and tortured to be met with his wrath. He didn't think he could explode on her either, not when she behaved as she did.

  Lina ate slowly and deliberated. Her shoulders were hunched, but her actions were still elegant, for dinner etiquette? had been instilled in her since birth. She ate with shaky hands and on occasions, he sliced things for her. Finally, when she had her fill, did he take the wooden tray and place it back on the vanity. Next, he drew her a warm and scented bath where he helped wash her hair.

  "Are you certain?" Kaden reinforced.

  Kaden helped zip the dress he bought for her. She quietly nodded her head, her hair tickling his fingertips. It had been three hours since she had woken up, but she already wanted fresh air.

  Kaden was initially reluctant, but finally agreed. She revealed the truth to him, that the reason she never contacted him was due to her house arrest. Kaden thought that she had deliberately left him, that was why he never searched for her. He took what he wanted from her and he was worried she knew the truth.

  Kaden didn't dare to be greedy enough to force her to see him again, since she was the one that willingly left him. The note she left him made it clear that she never wanted to see him again. How could he go against her wishes?

  Now, Kaden knew he should've pursued her.

  "Yes… I want to feel sunlight on my skin again," Lina whispered, unable to speak any louder than her cowardly tone.

  Kaden's gaze softened. He saw the depression loom out of her tiny body. She wore a desolate expression. There was no joy in her life. No laughter in her eyes. No confidence. Where was the charming woman from Belle Night?

  Lina's family had broken her spirit for good.

  "Alright," Kaden agreed, embracing her from behind. He kissed her neck, leaning his head against hers.

  Lina rested her hand over his. He hugged her waist. Lina wondered if she was pregnant. They did it all night. Lina hoped she wasn't, for she would've miscarried by now and that was an emotion she wasn't ready for. Lina leaned against his grasp, closing her eyes to cherish this moment.

  "How did you find me?" Lina asked after a soft silence.

  "I tried to track you down the day my subordinates told me doctors rushed to the Yang estate," Kaden said. "Then, I read your records in the hospital."

  "I…"

  "They say you see faces of those in Heaven, hallucinations beyond your imagination, and you try to pull your hair out, screaming down the house and hospital rooms. Is it true?"

  "I-it… I-I don't remember," Lina admitted, the horror dawning on her.

  Lina didn't remember the things he said. Suddenly, her head began to ache. She clutched her forehead, her brows taunt from the sharp pain.

  "I-I—"

  "Nevermind," Kaden decided. "The second I heard you were imprisoned in the hospital, I mobilized my men. The hospital employees are all captured in prison right now, awaiting military interrogations."

  "What…?"

  "You don't have to worry about it. Leave the punishment up to me," Kaden said in a chilly voice colder than an icy night. She couldn't even speak. She could only mutely nod her head.

  "I didn't search for you earlier, dove of mine, because of your note. Never write something like that again. Ever."

  Surprisingly, Lina remembered what she had written on the paper. Her memories were foggy and she could barely remember what she ate this morning. She knew the experiments messed with her mind far too much.

  Lina wrote to him: 'Do not look for me. I will be well. Take care, my dear Commander.' Now, looking back, she realized what a fool she was to believe her family wouldn't hurt her. She thought they'd understand where she was coming from, but it seemed not. Her punishment was a testament to their feelings about her.

  "Alright," Lina decided with a slight nod of her head. Then, she grabbed his wrist, gave it a tug, and began to head for the door.

  "To our walk?" Lina encouraged, staring eagerly up at him.

  "We'll ride by car," Kaden informed her, placing a hand on her lower back, his fingers sprawled in dominance. He bent and kissed the tip of her head, earning a hesitant smile from her.

  Lina nodded and grabbed the white hat from the table. She slipped it on and the two were on their merry way out of his house. The entire time, she couldn't help, but look around. The estate was enormous. She was amazed by the polished mahogany with a mixture of modern tiles, decoration, and high crystal chandeliers.

  Lina was even more surprised by the fancy black car parked outside. The driver instantly came out, took off his cap, and bowed to their presence.

  "Commander," the chauffeur greeted in a humble voice.

  "Soldier," Kaden nodded.

  Kaden opened the car door for Lina, covering her vision from the driver. She slid into the car with grace which relieved him. Seeing as she was able to do her regular tasks, it meant she was slowly but surely healing. He entered the car and shut the doors behind him. Soon, they drove out of his gated estate and towards a public garden for everyone to see. The sun was high in the sky, his soldiers had reported to him earlier that the prisoners refused to speak, and the Yangs were searching for Lina.

  Kaden was going to ask the Yangs for her hand in marriage. He would threaten their blessing out of them if he must. There was an impending battle coming to Ritan soon, the streets would be riddled with gunshots and fire. The foreign intrusion was coming soon. When that happened, Kaden knew the Yangs would not dare to deny it.

  Marriage to a military Commander was everything that a family could ever ask for in a time of war.

  "You will like it there," Kaden said to Lina in the car. "It's an outdoor garden with a variety of flowers from and outside of this country."

  Lina perked up. "The newly opened one?"

  Seeing her excitement, Kaden's lips curled. He nodded and adjusted her white hat to reveal her eyes better. There was a ribbon tied across it, fluttering softly everytime she tilted her head.

  "Yes, dove."

  Lina was excited. She wanted to smell the flowers and feel sunlight on her skin all over again. Not caring about the dangers, since she was with him, Lina could only imagine what she would see in the garden. Leaning back in her seat, she wasn't aware of the eyes that followed the shiny black vehicle, admiring and curious of who was inside.

  "But if you feel uncomfortable or need to rest, you must tell me," Kaden instructed, grabbing her hand and giving it a squeeze.

  Lina wondered what would make her unnerved. She hoped she wouldn't run into anyone she knew there. What if they tried to capture her back? She knew Kaden wouldn't allow it and she was wiser than to walk somewhere without him.

  "I'll tell you the second I feel it," Lina told him with a reassured smile, hoping that nothing would go wrong later in the day.