Reclaiming Her Heart

In the darkness, Christopher did not respond.

Half an hour later, he slowly stood up and opened the door to the room. When the light from outside spilled in, he took a step back, as if startled by it. Christopher's alter ego let out a mocking laugh, but Christopher ignored him.

He went downstairs and saw Selena still lying on the couch.

She wasn't asleep; she was just staring at the ceiling with her eyes open.

Christopher, enduring his physical discomfort, put the IV bottle and needle into the trash can and took the garbage outside.

When he came back, his back was drenched in cold sweat.

He walked to the kitchen and skillfully started making porridge.

He rolled up his sleeves and simply prepared a few dishes.

He worked for a long time, and when the porridge was ready and had cooled a bit, he brought it to Selena.

Selena couldn't get up; the pain in her stomach had eased, but she still felt weak.

"Selena, let me help you up." Christopher walked over and helped her sit up.

Selena wasn't sure if it was her imagination, but she felt that Mario's fingers were trembling slightly. His fingers were also wrapped in band-aids. Did he get distracted while cutting ingredients? Christopher didn't say anything; he just pushed the porridge and side dishes closer.

He lowered his head, scooped some porridge with a spoon, and brought it to her mouth.

But his hand was visibly shaking, and the porridge spilled onto the floor.

He blinked in confusion, quickly put the spoon back into the bowl, wiped the spilled porridge off the floor with a tissue, and threw it into the trash can.

After doing all this, he scooped another spoonful of porridge, but his hand was still shaking badly.

Selena frowned. Was he in this state while cooking?

Christopher tried four or five times, finally giving up and putting down the spoon, his voice hoarse. "Selena, I'm sorry. I'm not in good shape today. I'll get someone else to feed you." Selena didn't say anything, watching him leave and call in a maid.

Selena didn't neglect her stomach. If she didn't eat some bland food soon, she might pass out from the pain.

She took a couple of bites and looked towards the stairs.

Christopher was slowly walking upstairs, each step taken with great effort, a stark contrast to the once vibrant and energetic man he used to be.

Selena noticed a pallor of deathly aura surrounding him.

Yet, even in this moment, he was still apologizing, still speaking to her gently.Content from NôvelDr(a)ma.Org.

A profound sadness washed over Selena.

Anyone would feel a pang of regret seeing the man they once admired in their youth reduced to this state.

It seemed he wasn't climbing the stairs but walking towards death.

Christopher's alter ego kept talking in his head. "If it's so painful, why fight for control of the body? Just give it to me completely. I won't disappoint you. You're afraid I'll harm Selena, right? I promise, if you give me full control, I'll send Selena away and never bother her again."

It took Christopher a full ten minutes to reach the last step of the stairs.

His palms were sweaty, and he forced a smile. "You don't know how to love, so you only hurt her. I won't give you the body."

Christopher's alter ego was silent for a moment, then suddenly became furious. "What good is your refusal? Haven't you noticed you're getting weaker? Because you've seen the person you love, your painful side is more exposed. Outsiders say Selena isn't worthy of the Montague family, let alone you, but deep down, you think you're not worthy of Selena, right? So even after escaping the research facility, you never intended to fulfill that promise with her. You're scared; you think you've become tainted."

His body, repeatedly experimented on and observed like livestock, had lost all dignity, admiration, and youthful impulses.

The once high and mighty genius, upon realizing he was no longer worthy of the person he loved, could only protect her from afar.

But now he was too weak. Even pretending to be fine in front of her was impossible.

Those trembling hands mirrored his fragile dignity.

He couldn't even maintain the last shred of his dignity.

Christopher closed his eyes, sweat sliding down his cheeks, his whole being extremely fragile.