Jackson felt a pang of agony, almost as if someone had just stabbed him in the heart.

"But it’s a pity that this dress got torn," Serenity said in a regretful tone. "I only got to wear it once."

It really was too bad that there was such a huge gaping hole in such an exquisite dress. Even if she wanted it mended, she had no doubt that it would cost a lot of money and require a lot of specialized skills.

"I'll just buy you a new one," replied Jackson. "The most important thing is that you're not hurt."

Serenity smiled and shook her head, telling him, "But I'm not hurt at all! I'm not as fragile as you think I am, you know."

But her smile only made him feel more ill at ease. She was right. Although she might appear thin and weak, she had always been tenaciously fighting to survive. After spending a lot of time with her, he now understood more than anyone else in the world how strong she was.

And yet, that was precisely why he was filled with even more guilt and regret. It was all b