I beg you... Please get well...

After I gave him the pill, Kyle calmed down a little bit but his fever is still high.

He keeps trembling while his body is burning hot.

What should I do to help him?

I can only pray.

Why does his condition make me sad and worried? Maybe it's because it's my job to protect him.

I took a towel and a bowl of cold water to wipe his sweat. I wetted the towel and carefully patted his face, forehead and cheeks. Then I saw some sweat running down his throat and sliding to his chest.

I immediately remembered his hard chest that was pressed against my boobs earlier. I gulped down my saliva and pulled out the blanket. Under the blankets, Kyle was wearing a t-shirt and sweatpants. What do I do now?

I am determined to help him. I have to put aside my feelings!

I took off his t-shirt and revealed his naked upper body. He was sweating profusely. I diffidently soaked the towel and patted his neck. I went lower to his chest and carefully patted everywhere.

Then I reached to his abdomen. His six pack was hard and sweaty. I cleaned everything.

Kyle was calmer now but I was uneasy at the sound of his heavy breathing. I covered him with the blanket and went to the kitchen to prepare ginger soup.

I did my best and made him my family's secret ginger soup.

I served it on a bowl and went to his room.

Kyle was awake.

I helped him sit comfortably. He seemed tired but confused.

"Kira?... What happened?"

"Shhh! Don't talk!"

"..." Kyle stayed quiet obediently like a little kid.

"You are sick... You should take better care of yourself."

"I'm fine!"

"No! You're not!"

I held his jaw and forcibly shoved a spoonful of the ginger soup on his mouth.

He was surprised when he tasted the liquid that had just slided down his esophagus.

His eyes lit up and he excitedly asked.

"Kira what is this? Did you steal it from the paradise?"

"That's just ginger soup... And I am not Eve!"

Kyle was looking ate expectantly.
"I want more~"

He said disappointed when he emptied the bowl.

How in the world does he store so much food in his perfect body? Is he a black hole?

After eating two bowls of ginger soup, Kyle fell asleep.

I stayed by his side to take care of him.

His fever was almost gone. An hour later, after making sure that he would be fine, I went to the living room to relax.

A ring from the doorbell got me trying to think who would come here this time.

I opened the door and saw a middle aged man with a few gray hairs, looking at me.

"Hello mr. How can I help you?"

The man cleared his throat and with a stern face, he told me.

"Hello, I am Fin. Mr. Kyle Moon's lawyer. I am here for the signing of a contract."

"Oh! I see! Come inside"

"Thank you"

I showed the lawyer to the living room and served him a cup of tea.

"I am sorry sir but Kyle Moon is currently sick ..."

"No I'm fine!"

Kyle entered.

"Then we shall proceed"

The lawyer handed us both the two copies of the contract. The paper that will toe us together.

Bonds...

Do I want to tie myself down with him?

Even if it is not him... Do I want to tie myself down?

This thought took form when I held the contract in my hands. When I felt the paper with my fingers.

I just freed myself from a deadly love and two fake friendships. Do I have the courage to chain myself down?

What if those chains hurt?

Do I break free from them eventually?

Human relationships are like chains. Handcuffs. The tie you down to the point that you can only act obedient. They tell you how to feel, how to speak, how to be...

Painful restrictions. You become a slave to yourself...

I looked at the paper in my hands. Clauses filled with "party A" and "party B".

Clauses that one by one will become a cage from the second I will put my signature.

What choice do I have? Marry an old man who has divorced twice and has already four children?

I will sign.

But with my own safety measures.

"I will sign on two conditions."

"Tell us."
The lawyer said with a stern face.

"Firstly, we will divorce two years later if  one of us doesn't like the other or if one of us finds his destined love."

"Agreed."
Kyle said calmly

"Secondly... You will not touch me without permission"

"... Are you sure?..."

"Very."

"Okay then"

I took the pen and signed the papers after we added my conditions.

The lawyer left and I was about to make lunch when a knock on the door stopped me.

I opened the door and stood face to face with my adoptive father... Or should I say uncle...

"Mr. Grey, to what do I owe your sudden visit?"

"Silvia..."

"I am not Silvia... Your daughter died years ago."

"..."

"Now that I think about it... Why did you name me after her? I am very curious... Why did you give me this name and acted like I wanted to take her place?"

"Don't be so emotional. If Silvia didn't die you would be raised at the streets."

"What?"

"I didn't want people to think that my daughter is dead... You were the perfect person for the job. You look like her and you are both from the same family."

"So you adopted me for the sake of your reputation?"

"What do you expect? To adopt you out of charity? Or maybe out of pity? Don't flatter yourself-"

*Slap*

How dare he!

Why is he even here when he didn't even want to raise me?

How cruel.

"Why are you here?"

"Tomorrow you will go abroad to meet your fiance."

"No."

"You can't refuse."

"I am already married mr. Grey. "

"Then divorce"

"Why? For your reputation?"

"If you want to think so then sure."

"Sorry but I don't give a dime for your reputation. You can as well get married to him."

I closed the door on his face and went to the kitchen.

Anger. That's what I feel now.

Kyle is at the living room.

I can't let him see me like that.

I heated the leftover ginger soup
I served two bowls and called Kyle.

Kyle seemed excited to eat ginger soup.

"Kira this is our first meal as a married couple!"

"Eh?! Yes!"

"You seem very distracted. Are you okay?"

"No..."

"Does it have to do with the person who came before?"

"It was mr. Grey..."

"I see... Do you want me to make you feel better?"

"How can you do that?"

"I have my ways"

Kyle smirked sexily.

I tilted my head out of curiosity.
Kyle told me to get dressed.

I dressed up and brushed my hair.

Kyle went to get the car.

...

We reached to the destination. It was a very mesmerising scenery. A river that disappeared at the end of the horizon where it met the setting sun. Sunflowers everywhere. Just like a painting.

"Isn't it like a painting?"
Kyle said as if he knew what I was thinking.

This majestic place was like something out of a dream.

Kyle took a wooden basket out of the car and as he held my hand, we went close to the river.

He opened the basket and took out a blanket that he put on the ground. Then, he placed the basket on the blanket and we sat down. A picnic!

"Thank you Kyle... I have never had a picnic before..."

"Don't worry, we can have one again whenever you want"

He really tries hard to make me happy... I should give in for the moment. I have never had a picnic before.

The Grey family would go every year but I was never included. The twins were the only ones that were considered as Greys.

Yet for the first time in my life , I am having a picnic with someone.

Kyle smiled softly and patted my head.

"Don't worry... Just let the troubles that keep following you, stay back in the city."

His words surprised me and encouraged me. I think I can tell him about today.

"Kyle...today, when Mr. Grey came, I learnt something heartbreaking."

I smiled bitterly.

"Mr. Grey, he is actually my uncle. My parents are both dead and he adopted me... But not because I was a relative... Because the same day, his daughter Silvia died too. I was taken as a replacement for her... But people hated me for that reason... When I finally ran away from them, I used my real name. Kira and my mother's surname, Kim..."

I started weeping.

"He took me in for his reputation..."