"James!"
His wife's gentle voice, filled with unmistakable concern, suddenly echoed through his mind.
At once, the entire vision of the past shattered like fractured glass.
The horrifying memories of the incident five years ago slowly faded away, forcing James's consciousness back into the present.
The emptiness in his eyes vanished.
His gaze sharpened once more.
Standing before him was Irene.
She was looking at him with worry she could no longer conceal.
James slowly sat up and raised his right hand.
With a gentle motion, he caressed Irene's cheek, as though reassuring himself that the woman before him was truly real.
"How long have I been asleep, Irene?" he asked, his voice slightly hoarse.
Irene lightly bit her lower lip.
She seemed to be struggling to calm the anxiety that had been weighing on her heart before finally answering.
"About three hours..."
Her gaze lowered briefly.
"I'm sorry, James. Did I disturb your sleep and wake you?"
James chuckled softly.
The sound was light, as though he were trying to erase every worry burdening his wife's heart.
"Not at all, Irene."
His fingers continued to stroke her cheek.
"Come here. Sit beside me. All of a sudden, I've missed you terribly."
Hearing that, Irene could not stop the small smile that blossomed on her lips.
She shifted closer and settled beside her husband.
Yet that smile failed to dispel the unease lingering within her heart.
Before James had fully awakened, Irene had been genuinely frightened.
Beneath the blankets, his body had trembled relentlessly.
His breathing had been ragged.
Cold sweat had covered his brow.
The signs were unmistakable.
James had been trapped within a nightmare so terrible that even sleep offered him no peace.
What troubled Irene even more was the fact that this was not the first time.
She had witnessed it again and again over the past several weeks.
And every time she tried to ask him about it, James always gave the same answer.
That everything was fine.
That there was nothing to worry about.
That he was merely tired.
The excuses had become so predictable that Irene could almost recite them before he spoke.
And that was precisely what made her heart ache even more.
She knew James was hiding something.
She knew he was carrying a burden far too heavy.
Yet the man she loved most insisted on bearing it alone.
Without sharing it.
Without asking for help.
Without allowing her to shoulder even a fraction of it.
Irene still remembered the promise James had made years ago.
A promise that they would never again keep important secrets from one another.
But now...
Was the burden truly that heavy?
So heavy that her husband could not bring himself to be honest with her?
As a wife who had stood beside him for so many years, Irene did not want to remain a mere spectator in her husband's life.
She wanted to be someone he could confide in.
She wanted to be someone capable of carrying half the weight resting upon his shoulders.
Even though James had hurt her several times.
Without realizing it, Irene wrapped both arms around her husband and pulled him into a tight embrace.
Very tight.
As though she were using every ounce of strength she possessed to keep him by her side.
As though she were trying to drive away the fear that had quietly taken root within her heart.
The fear that one day James would leave her behind.
James was slightly startled by the sudden embrace.
Yet a moment later, he returned it calmly.
Their warmth mingled together upon the quiet bed.
And little by little, the anxiety that had gripped Irene's heart began to melt away.
Even so, it did not disappear completely.
What remained was a complicated tangle of emotions.
Love.
Worry.
And a fear so deep that she still could not find the words to express it.
Irene rested her head against James's shoulder and whispered near his ear, her sincerity impossible to conceal.
"I love you, James."
A gentle smile appeared on James's face.
Within his embrace, James could feel the faint tremor running through Irene's body.
He knew her worries had been building for far too long.
Yet there were certain secrets from the past that he had to bear alone in order to preserve the peace of their family.
In the silence of his heart, James offered an apology that would never be spoken aloud as he tightened his embrace around the woman he loved most.
"I love you, Irene," he whispered with emphasis. "You were the first, and you will always be the last."
Upon hearing those words, Irene closed her eyes for a moment, allowing herself to bask in the warmth that soothed her heart.
After spending several moments enjoying the intimate silence of one another's embrace, they gradually loosened their hold and looked into each other's eyes.
A tender kiss followed, carrying years of affection, longing, and a profound sense of belonging.
For a brief moment, James fell silent as the memory of Charlotte's condition resurfaced in his thoughts.
But he quickly pushed it aside.
The precautions surrounding his daughter were already extensive.
As long as his hidden clone remains near Charlotte, no major problem would escape his notice.
Once he had steadied himself, James returned his full attention to the present, savoring the comforting softness of his wife's cherry lips—the one remedy that had always eased his nightmares.
The kiss lingered for some time before the atmosphere between them gradually became more intimate atop the bedsheets.
"How much time do we have for this?" Irene asked between slightly hurried breaths.
A familiar mischievous smile curved James's lips.
"Until sunset."
Irene immediately pinched his arm lightly.
A rosy blush spread across her cheeks.
"You are absolutely hopeless."
"I'm only being honest."
"Don't forget that Karina could pound on our bedroom door again like she did before."
James chuckled, recalling their youngest daughter's sharp expression and merciless criticism earlier that day, which had turned the atmosphere at the training grounds painfully awkward and mortifying.
If they were caught a second time, James was certain Karina's remarks would wound his adult pride even more deeply.
"You already finished everything in the kitchen before coming here, didn't you? Then there shouldn't be any major problems as long as the children have enough food outside," James replied casually.
Irene shook her head, trying not to smile.
"You always have an excuse."
"I admit it."
"At least you're honest enough to admit your faults."
"Not every fault is worth regretting."
"James."
"What?"
"You truly have no shame."
James laughed again.
This time, the sound was far lighter than before.
Hearing it, Irene found herself smiling as well.
For a brief moment, the burden weighing on her chest seemed a little lighter.
"My husband has changed so much," Irene whispered softly while gazing into James's obsidian eyes.
James returned her gaze with the same quiet calm.
Taking her hand, he intertwined his fingers with hers.
"That change means nothing to me, so long as you continue choosing to stand by my side, Irene."
Irene tightened her grip around his hand.
"Yes. I will always remain by your side."
There was not the slightest trace of hesitation in her voice.
James looked at her for several moments before a faint smile returned to his face.
They exchanged warm smiles filled with unspoken meaning.
Then, wrapped in the comfort of each other's presence, they allowed themselves to disappear once more into the quiet romance of their private sanctuary.
However, only a short while after their warmth and intimacy had begun to return, a loud knock on the bedroom door suddenly shattered the moment they had been enjoying.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
Silence filled the room for a brief second.
Then the voice of a very familiar young girl sounded from the other side of the door.
It was Karina.
"Father! Mother! What are you two doing in there? I'm going to force this door open if you don't come out immediately!"
Irene's expression instantly darkened.
Not out of anger, but confusion.
Why now?
This situation was clearly different from what had happened two days ago.
What reason could their youngest daughter possibly have this time?
After all, Irene had prepared far more food than usual for luncheon.
Had a guest arrived unexpectedly?
Or perhaps something unforeseen had happened?
It never crossed Irene's mind that this was merely one of Karina's pranks.
She knew her daughter far too well.
Karina was not the sort of child who created disturbances without reason.
The little girl was also very different from her elder sister, who was far more extroverted and expressive.
Besides, how could Irene possibly bring herself to be angry with her beloved youngest daughter?
Even if Karina had truly interrupted her private time, resentment was not something that came easily to a mother's heart.
On the other hand, James merely chuckled softly.
His thoughts drifted back to what had happened two days earlier, when Karina had nearly broken down their bedroom door because she could no longer endure her hunger.
At the time, he and Irene had spent nearly the entire day inside their room and completely lost track of time.
As a result, Ryan and Karina had been forced to wait much longer than usual for their meal.
Realizing her husband was suppressing laughter, Irene immediately shot him a sharp look.
"You're laughing?"
James quickly covered his mouth, attempting to hide the amusement still lingering on his face.
"No. I'm not laughing."
Irene narrowed her eyes.
The man was obviously lying.
"Stay here," Irene said as she rose from the bed. "Do not go anywhere. Remain exactly where you are."
"Yes, as you command."
After receiving that answer, Irene stepped down from the bed.
James's gaze followed her immediately.
His eyes lingered upon every step she took as she walked away.
Slowly, his attention drifted downward, settling upon the graceful curve of Irene's hips beneath her slightly loosened attire.
His eyes narrowed for a brief moment before a meaningful smile spread across his lips.
We still have plenty of time.
James drew a slow breath and attempted to calm his thoughts.
The worries that had occupied his mind earlier began resurfacing.
Especially those concerning their eldest daughter.
Yet the chain of thoughts did not last long.
A few moments later, the bedroom door opened once more and Irene stepped back inside.
The moment he saw her return, James greeted her with a warm smile.
Even so, judging by her expression, Irene seemed to be in a rather unpleasant mood.
"What did Karina say?" James asked.
Irene did not answer immediately.
Instead, she sat down on the edge of the bed before finally turning toward her husband.
A faint trace of annoyance lingered in her eyes.
"There was nothing urgent."
"Hm?"
"She only wanted to know where I put the sweets I made yesterday afternoon."
James nodded slowly.
"Then why do you look so irritated?"
"That..."
Irene left the sentence unfinished.
In an instant, a rosy blush spread across her cheeks.
James chuckled again.
This time, he needed no further explanation.
The answer was already obvious.
With a gentle motion, he reached for Irene's wrist and slowly pulled her back into his embrace.
Irene released a long sigh.
Meanwhile, James leaned closer and whispered near her ear.
His voice carried an unmistakable note of teasing.
"You weren't satisfied, were you? Karina's interruption annoyed you because you were right on the verge of enjoying yourself."
Irene immediately turned toward him.
"That isn't what I meant."
"Isn't it?"
"Of course not."
A faint smile tugged at James's lips.
"Karina's interruption ruined the moment, didn't it?"
The blush on Irene's face deepened.
She attempted to free herself from his embrace, though her effort lacked any real determination.
"James..."
"You're lying, my dear."
"No, James. Let me go this instant."
Despite her protest, James merely smiled.
He maintained his embrace, though gently.
After a few moments, Irene surrendered and stopped resisting.
She relaxed once more beside her husband.
With her hair slightly disheveled, Irene lay upon the bed with an effortless elegance that was impossible to ignore.