Jade grabbed Ausse's wrist, his voice cold. "You can sleep here."
Ausse struggled to free her hand, but in her haste, she lost her balance and fell backward onto the bed, pulling Jade down with her. He landed on top of her, his bare skin brushing against hers, making her cheeks flush. His hair tickled her face as he hovered over her.
Jade pushed himself up slightly, his expression unreadable. "You really are clumsy," he remarked.
Ausse's face burned hotter under his gaze. Their eyes locked, and Jade opened his mouth to speak—
"Ah!" he suddenly cried out as Ausse kicked him between the legs. A sharp jolt of pain shot through him, and he collapsed onto the bed, his usually composed face twisted in agony. His eyes squeezed shut, his lips trembled, and his neatly combed hair was now disheveled against the sheets.
Ausse couldn't help but chuckle. "You look cute like that!"
Jade frowned, bewildered. *How can a man who just got hit there look cute? Is she out of her mind?*
Seizing the opportunity, Ausse snatched a pillow from the bed and retreated to the sofa, where she fell asleep almost instantly. Jade, however, lay motionless, staring at the ceiling, one arm stretched across the bed and the other resting on his forehead.
After a while, thirst drove him to the kitchen. As he drank water, he noticed Ausse shivering in her sleep, curled up on the sofa. She seemed used to the cold, yet it bothered him. Grabbing a blanket, he draped it over her gently.
Just as he turned to leave, her hand shot out, gripping his wrist tightly. "Please… don't leave me alone," she mumbled in her sleep.
Jade's expression remained indifferent as he pried her fingers off and walked away without a word.
---
The next morning, Ausse woke early, as usual. Jade was still asleep when the doorbell rang.
Opening the door, she was met with an elegantly dressed woman in a party gown and high heels—the same rude lady from the restaurant incident (*refer to Chapter 7*).
Ausse bowed slightly in greeting, but the woman shoved past her. "Where is Jade? I said, where is he?" she demanded.
Ausse blinked in surprise but answered calmly, "He's still asleep in his room."
The woman stormed inside and perched herself on Jade's sleeping form. "Wake up!" she snapped, shaking him. When he didn't stir, she noticed the empty sleeping pill bottle in his hand. She smirked and leaned down, pressing a kiss to his lips. "My poor baby must be so stressed," she cooed before strutting out.
Pausing at the door, she turned to Ausse with a sneer. "So, you're just a maid? Remember your place—don't you dare touch *my* Jade."
Ausse ignored her and returned to her chores, though her temper simmered.
Suddenly, the woman grabbed a glass and smashed it on the floor. "Clean this up, *bitch*!"
Ausse's patience snapped. She picked up a shard and lunged forward, pressing it dangerously close to the woman's eyes. Her voice was icy. "Do that again, and I won't hold back."
The woman paled, trembling as she stumbled back. "Y-You'll regret this!" she spat before fleeing.
Ausse exhaled sharply, trying to calm herself—until she turned and saw Jade standing silently in the hallway. He said nothing, simply watching before walking away.
---
That night, Ausse lay in bed, regretting her outburst. A sharp pain in her stomach made her sit up, reaching for painkillers. As she rummaged through the drawer, her eyes fell on a damaged photograph—a young woman and a man, their faces obscured, with a child standing between them. The man's face had been scratched out, an arrow piercing the glass.
Shaking off the unease, she took her pills and slept.
Sometime past midnight, she stirred, sensing warmth beside her. Turning, she gasped—Jade was lying next to her, his head wrapped in bloodied bandages.
Heart pounding, she debated waking him but decided against it. Instead, she slipped out and slept on the sofa again.
---
The next morning, she tiptoed into his room, placing coffee on the nightstand. Just as she turned to leave, Jade sat up, leaning against the headboard.
"You're awake," she said softly.
No response.
"Are you alright? You were badly hurt..."
Silence.
(*Is he dead?! No, that can't be!*)
"What happened to your head?" she pressed.
Ignoring her, Jade stood and began unbuttoning his shirt.
Ausse's face flamed. "W-What are you—?"
He walked past her into the bathroom, leaving her flustered and annoyed.
(*Completely ignored again!*)
She busied herself with cooking, but Jade lingered in the kitchen, watching. Then, deliberately, he knocked a glass to the floor.
Ausse stiffened but cleaned it up without a word.
He dropped another.
She clenched her jaw, sweeping up the shards.
A third glass shattered.
Her control snapped. Grabbing the remaining glasses, she hurled them down—shards flying, one slicing Jade's arm.
Horrified, she rushed to him, but he bandaged the wound himself with torn fabric from his shirt. Then, in one swift motion, he pinned her against the wall, trapping her wrists.
Ausse's breath hitched as his face loomed close.
"Aren't you the one who used to quietly endure your parents' beatings?" His voice was dangerously soft.
She looked away, guilt twisting inside her.
Jade gripped her chin, forcing her to meet his eyes. "When did you learn to fight back?"
Her voice trembled. "It's none of your business! I'm done suffering in silence!"
A smirk curled his lips. "Aren't you afraid of me?"
She held her tongue.
"You *should* be afraid," he whispered. "If you let your guard down… I could do anything to you."he said.