Libia wiped away her tears; it was something she had already come to terms with in the past. There was nothing to gain from dwelling on it, much less torturing herself over it.

“That doesn’t matter.”

Tiodor exhaled, approached her, and kissed her on the lips. This time, unlike before, it was barely a touch, slow and soft. He wasn’t good with words, especially when it came to comforting someone. As they pulled apart, Libia felt lighter. This was the first time Tiodor had stayed in the room. She couldn’t resist the urge to curl up against his chest, even though her way of sleeping was a mess, tossing and turning all over the bed.

The next morning, Lison left the room. Now that he knew the awful life Libia had endured, he couldn’t help but feel sorry for the poor girl. He swore to himself he wouldn’t be such a bastard. Backing down was not an option; he had never been so close to fulfilling his revenge as he was now.

On the other hand, Libia couldn’t deny the obvious. Her heart raced whe