22. Chapter 22

Chapter 22

-Alison-

I gazed at Jared in disbelief. Though my father had never possessed the monstrous traits of my mother, often showing me kindness and spoiling me, I couldn't bring myself to believe he was capable of such acts. My initial response was denial, and I attempted to retreat from Jared's grasp. Yet, he held me close, his green eyes ablaze with a fervent intensity, urging me to trust him.

"No..." I murmured weakly.

"Yes," he affirmed. "He was part of a hidden organization. Had they not sabotaged one of our deliveries, perhaps we could have ignored them. But they encroached upon our territory, forcing us to take action."

"But he couldn't have..." I protested.

"But he could have, and did. Did you not notice the behavior of his old acquaintances toward you?" Jared questioned. "The lingering gazes?"

"But they've never..." I began, faltering.

"It's possible they viewed you differently because of your role as Warren's wife," Jared suggested. "You married young, and prior to that, you were shielded from their influence by college. However, when I exposed the cracks in your marriage, they saw an opportunity. Perhaps not to exploit you directly, but certainly to take advantage in some way."

Nausea churned in my stomach as I shook my head. "My father wouldn't have allowed..." I trailed off, the truthfulness of my own words uncertain. Tears welled in my eyes as I thought of the countless women he had harmed. How could he commit such atrocities? And my mother... She must have known something, yet she remained by his side. Did Warren suspect anything? Did his family? Had I been blind to the truth all along? Suddenly, sorrow gave way to anger, leaving me feeling numb inside. Instead of the overwhelming grief for all I had lost, I felt foolish for not seizing the chance to escape when I had the opportunity.

Turning my attention to Jared, I reached for him, pulling him close and kissing him fiercely. He was the only true thing in my life amidst the elaborate fa?ade constructed by others.

I let the towel slip away, my focus solely on savoring the comfort of his embrace, finding solace in his strength. Jared's response was a low groan, his hands finding their place on my bare skin, gently squeezing. It had been too long since he had touched me so intimately, and the longing for his affection burned within me, but he withdrew too soon.

"Come, we should return to bed," he suggested, his tone gentle yet firm.

I shook my head defiantly. "No, I don't want to rest," I breathed, my husky tone betraying my desires.

Jared recoiled in surprise, his eyes widening at my boldness, but my fury and betrayal overshadowed any hesitancy. However, he shook his head.

"Regardless, I'm not up for anything," he whispered, his words hitting me like a wave of icy realization, reminding me of my selfishness, oblivious to his own pain.

"What's wrong with me?" I murmured, my hand instinctively covering my eyes, overcome with embarrassment at my own actions. My emotions were in turmoil, leaving me disoriented, yet I couldn't fathom why I had even entertained the idea of intimacy with Jared when he had just endured a night with Astrid.

"You're trying to distract yourself, but it won't bring you peace. We both know that," Jared said gently, his hands now gliding over my bare shoulders, offering comfort.

"Yes, we do. But how can I forget what we've just discussed?" I sighed.

"Because it's a lot to process, especially when it involves your own father," Jared replied softly, his touch soothing.

"Let's go back to bed," he suggested, and I nodded, meeting his gaze with remorse.

"I'm sorry," I whispered, hoping he could sense the sincerity in my apology.

"Let's not apologize anymore or talk about it. I'm exhausted," he admitted, finally revealing the depth of his fatigue.

"Can I still touch you?" I inquired softly, noticing a faint smile on his lips.

"Yes, I was just a little hyperaware in bed," he replied.

I nodded, resolving to be cautious around him, mindful not to trigger any discomfort with my touch. Jared effortlessly lifted me from the ground, sparing me the need to walk, and carried me back to bed. Taking a moment, I admired him, relishing the sensation of his strength. It was rare for me to truly appreciate Jared's presence without other thoughts clouding my mind, but in that moment, I absorbed every detail about him. Despite enduring such a tumultuous night, he remained steadfast, a pillar of resilience. I yearned for the same strength, yet Jared welcomed my reliance on him, even insisted upon it.

As he gently placed me back on the bed and tucked the covers around me, I reached out to him, silently inviting him to join me. Climbing in beside me, he motioned for me to eat. As I began to eat, I noticed his gaze on me, but there was a different look in his eyes.

"What?" I asked, curious about the change in his demeanor.

"Just taking it all in, reminding myself that I'm free now," he murmured.

I offered him a small smile. "You can rest. I'll stay right here."

His expression seemed to relax at my reassurance, and he settled in, attempting to drift off. However, he appeared too on edge to find sleep easily. After some shifting, he turned to the side, his arm wrapping around my hips, my hand coming to lie on his skin. A sigh of relief escaped him, as if my touch provided the solace he needed to find rest this time. Slowly, he drifted off to sleep, and I remained still, careful not to disturb him.

Focusing on finishing my meal, I emptied the plate before turning to Jared, watching him sleep, feeling a whirlwind of emotions. Life used to be simpler, but now there was much for us to overcome.

For the remainder of the morning and part of the early afternoon, I sat quietly, not wanting to disturb Jared. Yet as the afternoon wore on, Jared began murmuring in his sleep, his body jerking slightly. It was evident he was experiencing a nightmare, and I felt unsure how to help him. He hadn't experienced dreams like this when we slept together, or at least not to this extent. Unsure of the best course of action, I reached out to stroke his arm, feeling it was the safest option.

"Jared?" I called softly.

He jerked again, but remained asleep. I continued to stroke his arm, hoping to provide some grounding, but it seemed to have little effect.

"Jared?" I called again, gently shaking him.

My name escaped his lips in a broken tone, as if he were searching for me, and it broke my heart to hear.

"Jared, wake up, it's just a dream," I reassured him, shaking him a bit harder this time.

His head rose from the bed, his eyes disoriented yet vigilant as he scanned the room for any perceived dangers. When his gaze settled on me, relief flooded his features, and he let out a deep groan.

"Where were you?" he questioned, still gripped by the remnants of his nightmare.

"What do you mean? I've been here all along," I assured him.

He nodded, his eyes unfocused as he pulled me closer on the bed, his breathing shaky and unsteady.

"Can I touch you?" I whispered as we lay face to face, his arm tightening around my waist.

"Yes," he breathed, longing evident in his voice.

I reached out, placing my hand on his cheek, and he seemed to melt into the contact. Instantly, he relaxed, his eyes closing as he began to drift off again.

"Don't leave me, Alison," he murmured.

"I'm not going anywhere. Not now. Not when you wake up. Not even when I'm so old I can't walk. Just rest," I urged him.