The air in the room grew still. Jade's hand closed around Ausse's wrist, not with violence, but with a firm, unyielding pressure. His voice was low and cool, a simple statement of fact. "You can sleep here." A flutter of panic rose in Ausse's chest. She pulled back, but her feet got tangled and she lost her balance. With a small gasp, she fell backward onto the bed, her grip on his arm pulling him down with her. He landed softly on top of her, the warmth of his bare skin a surprise against hers. A soft pink blush spread across her cheeks. His dark hair brushed her forehead, a light, tickling feeling. Jade pushed himself up slightly, looking down at her. His face was calm, his thoughts hidden. "You really are clumsy," he said, his voice flat. Ausse's face grew warmer under his gaze. Their eyes met, and Jade began to speak— "Ah!" he cried out, his voice tight with pain. Ausse had brought her knee up quickly, hitting him squarely between legs(balls). A shock of pain made him crumple onto the bed beside her. His eyes were shut tight, his lips pressed together in a thin line. His neat hair was now messy against the pillow. A small, surprised laugh escaped Ausse. "You look cute like that!" she said. Jade opened one eye, looking at her with pained confusion. Cute? How could anyone think that right now? he wondered. Seeing her moment, Ausse took a pillow from the bed and moved to the sofa. She lay down and was soon asleep. Jade remained on the bed, one arm out to the side, the other resting on his forehead. He stared at the ceiling until the pain faded to a dull ache. Later, thirsty from the night's events, he went to the kitchen for water. As he drank, he saw Ausse on the sofa, shivering in her sleep. She was curled up, looking small and cold. The sight stirred something in him. Finding a warm blanket, he laid it gently over her. As he turned to go, her hand reached out and caught his wrist. "Please," she whispered, still asleep, "don't go." Jade's expression didn't change. He carefully loosened her fingers and placed her hand back on the sofa. Without a word, he walked away. --- The next morning, Ausse woke early. Jade was still asleep when the doorbell rang. She opened the door to find a woman in an elegant dress and high heels—the same unpleasant woman from the restaurant. Ausse gave a small nod of greeting, but the woman pushed past her. "Where is Jade? Tell me now!" she demanded. "He's sleeping," Ausse replied, her voice steady. The woman marched into Jade's room and sat on the edge of his bed. "Wake up!" she said, shaking his shoulder. When he didn't respond, she saw the empty pill bottle in his hand. A smug smile touched her lips. She bent down and kissed him. "My poor dear, you must be exhausted," she said. Then she left. At the door, she turned back to Ausse. "So you're the maid? Know your place. Stay away from my Jade." Ausse said nothing and returned to her work, though a slow anger began to burn inside her. Suddenly, the woman took a glass and threw it to the floor. It shattered loudly. "Clean this up, you useless girl!" she shouted. Ausse's patience broke. She picked up a large piece of glass and stepped forward, holding it near the woman's face. Her voice was cold and clear. "Break another thing, and I will not be gentle." The woman's face went pale. She stepped back, her hands trembling. "You'll be sorry for this!" she said, before turning and hurrying away. Ausse let out a slow breath, trying to calm her racing heart. Then she turned and saw Jade standing in the hallway. He was watching her, his face unreadable. After a moment, he turned and walked away without a word. --- That night, Ausse lay in bed, regret weighing on her. A sharp pain in her head made her sit up. She reached for her medicine and, as she searched the drawer, found an old photo. It was damaged—a picture of a woman, a man, and a small child between them. The man's face was scratched out, and a mark like an arrow was cut into the glass. She pushed aside the uneasy feeling, took her medicine, and slept. Sometime in the night, she woke feeling a warmth beside her. She turned and saw Jade lying next to her, his head wrapped in a bandage stained with blood. Her heart beat fast. She thought of waking him but decided against it. Quietly, she slipped out of bed and returned to the sofa. --- The next morning, she entered his room quietly and placed a cup of coffee on his table. As she turned to leave, Jade sat up slowly against the headboard. "You're awake," she said softly. He didn't answer. "Are you okay? You were hurt," she tried again. Silence. Is he okay? she worried. "What happened to your head?" she asked. Jade ignored her. He stood and began to unbutton his shirt. Ausse's face grew warm. "What are you doing?" she asked. He walked past her into the bathroom without a word. She was left feeling annoyed and ignored. She went to the kitchen to cook. Jade followed and stood watching her. Then, with a calm movement, he knocked a glass from the counter. It broke on the floor. Ausse paused, then quietly cleaned up the pieces. He knocked another glass to the floor. She clenched her jaw but swept up the broken glass without speaking. A third glass fell and shattered. Her control snapped. She grabbed the remaining glasses and threw them to the floor. They exploded into pieces, one sharp fragment cutting Jade's arm. Horrified, she rushed to him, but he was already wrapping the cut with a strip of cloth from his shirt. Then he moved quickly, pinning her against the wall. He held her wrists, his face close to hers. "Aren't you the one," he said, his voice quiet but intense, "who used to take your parents' beatings without a word?" She looked away, guilt and old pain rising in her chest. Jade took her chin, turning her face to his. "When did you learn to fight back?" he asked, his eyes searching hers. Her voice shook. "It's not your business! I won't be silent anymore." A faint smile touched his lips. "Aren't you afraid of me?" he asked. She stayed quiet. "You should be," he whispered. "If you let your guard down… I could do anything."
