Lu Ming sat beside the medical bed, his golden eyes drowned in the details of Ari's pale face. Three days had passed with him in this exact state—a frozen body and a cold mask—but inside him, an unyielding storm raged. His mind completely surrendered to the past, replaying the reel of their story step by step, from the very first moment until that final, fiery second.
(Lu Ming internally: "I loved you".. the word still echoes in this basement like a mad echo. How did we get here?
I remember the first day perfectly.. the exact moment you mistakenly sneaked onto my ship. You looked so foolish, terrified, trying to concoct lies just to save yourself, and yet.. your innocent features captivated me from those very first seconds. My pride and caution made my thoughts dark; I was determined to destroy you and get rid of you because I trust no one, and because my genes as a monster know no mercy.
But you weren't an ordinary girl. I remember the first time your little heart tried to escape.. I pursued you and almost took your life, but my hand froze. Then came your second attempt to flee.. I planned once again to dispose of you permanently, but I found myself paralyzed before your clumsy, genuine nature; I was utterly helpless to hurt you. Every single time, I backed down, absolutely furious—my incomprehensible grief over the thought of you escaping made me rage for no reason.
And the third time.. everything changed. You didn't run away. You chose to stay by my side, and even more than that; in the middle of the fiery siege and the missile hell, you threw your fragile body to protect me, and you uttered that word which shattered my icy throne before you collapsed unconscious into my arms.)
Lu Ming's fingers trembled as he extended them very slowly, brushing away a strand of her black hair. He leaned in, whispering beside her ear:
"You captivated me at the very beginning, and you tried to flee twice, so I almost destroyed you with my suspicions.. but on the third time, you surrendered and stayed to speak of love amidst the ashes. And now, after everything has replayed in my mind, I realize that from the very first moment, you didn't steal my blood.. you stole a monster entirely. You stole the beast's heart. And you must bear the full responsibility for your words, for saying that you love me. I tried to build a barrier between us, but after you said that, the barrier was demolished. So.. please, wake up, for I have nearly gone mad with fear for you."