Chapter 127: I won’t let you go

"Mm..." Jean groaned softly in her sleep, shaking her head a little before brushing the hair away from her face.

As her vision gradually cleared, she remembered falling asleep on the couch. More specifically, she remembered falling asleep on top of Kai.

However, things seemed to have changed while she was sleeping. Kai was no longer leaning against the armrest. Instead, he was lying flat on the couch with her sprawled comfortably over him.

She hurriedly tried to get up, worried that she might have caused him some discomfort.

"Ah!"

Before she could move very far, she felt his arms tighten around her waist, holding her firmly in place.

Jean narrowed her eyes, the corners of her lips slowly curling into a smile. "If you’re trying to act, you should at least commit to the role."

Kai slowly opened his eyes, a smile spreading across his face as well. "Who said I was acting? I was simply enjoying a few more moments."

Jean let out a sigh. "How can you sleep like this? I feel uncomfortable even with a pillow pressed against me."

Despite her slender appearance, she wasn’t exactly light. She was fairly tall and had gained a few pounds recently, too. Sleeping with all her weight resting on him throughout the night should have been anything but comfortable. Honestly, it was a miracle he hadn’t tossed her onto the floor in his sleep.

"We actually changed positions quite a few times last night," Kai explained. "I had to get up to check on Elli and change her diaper, too."

Jean stared at him in surprise. "You got up during the night, but you didn’t think of moving to the bed?"

Kai shrugged. "I wouldn’t have had an excuse to cling to you like this in bed."

For someone who had only just woken up, Jean’s heart was making an awful lot of noise.

She lowered her head, her cheeks warming as she muttered, "You’re not supposed to say things like that out loud."

Kai chuckled at her response. The gentle vibration of his laughter against her body only made her heart flutter harder.

This was the first time she had ever woken up like this, nestled in the arms of a man. And much like she had always dreamed, it was surprisingly romantic.

"Mm... Maaa..."

A disgruntled little voice interrupted their moment.

Jean reluctantly climbed off Kai and turned towards Elara’s crib, where the baby girl was sitting upright, clutching the bars and glaring at her mother as though she had committed some unforgivable crime.

"What got you in such a temper this early in the morning?" Jean asked affectionately as she checked her diaper.

It was dry, and the little girl otherwise appeared perfectly healthy. That reminded Jean that she needed to check Elara’s oxygen levels with the oximeter today.

"Maybe she’s hungry?" Kai suggested, coming to stand beside Jean as he gently caressed Elara’s cheek.

Unfortunately, the little girl seemed far too upset to even giggle at her father’s touch.

"No... Perhaps she doesn’t like her new bed." Jean sighed, already familiar with her little angel’s usual tantrums.

Without another word, she lifted Elara from the crib and gently lowered her onto the floor.

Elara remained seated for a few moments, looking around as though trying to figure out where she was. Then, without warning, she began crawling.

Both parents followed her movements with their eyes, curious about where she intended to go. Eventually, she stopped beneath the window and tilted her head back to stare upwards.

"She has a strange fascination with the curtains," Jean murmured. "Or perhaps it’s the sunlight?"

"There’s one way to find out." Kai approached his beloved and slipped his arms around her, drawing her up in his arms.

"Kyah! Ehehe!"

The moment sunlight fell across Elara’s face, the little girl squeezed her eyes shut and burst into a delighted giggle.

"It’s definitely the sunlight," Kai declared, amused by her reaction. "Perhaps she likes daytime so much that her fascination with the windows disappears once evening arrives."

Jean smiled as Elara eagerly tried to peer outside. "She’s been deprived of the outdoors and sunlight for so long. Perhaps that’s why she finds them so fascinating."

She took a step closer, only to pause as she considered her own words.

"Do you think I have a habit of saying depressing things so casually?"

Kai gave her a wry smile. "Sometimes, yes. But that’s fine. Neither of us is unaware of the other’s past. And if anything, it gives us a chance to understand each other a little better."

Jean hummed softly, accepting his answer.

She leaned against him, and the two of them remained by the window, watching their daughter enjoy the morning sunlight.

For a moment, the three of them looked like the picture of a perfect family. A husband, a wife, and their adorable little daughter, sharing a quiet morning together.

Then, in a voice so soft that it almost blended with the silence, Jean spoke.

"I’ll take that pill."

Kai raised his eyebrows. "Huh? Are you sure?"

He had told her the previous night that she didn’t have to take it if doing so caused her so much pain. Whatever the future awaited, he would rather spare Jean the agony of reliving her trauma than force her to endure it all over again.

But Jean had clearly given the matter some thought.

"I’m prepared to take that chance," she said. "Because last night, I realized something."

Kai remained silent, watching her patiently as he waited for her to continue.

Jean offered him a faint smile before turning towards him.

Her hand found his, and their fingers intertwined as she spoke.

"Regardless of the results, I know I won’t be able to let go of you."

Kai hummed softly, but before he could respond, Jean rose onto her toes and pressed a kiss to the corner of his lips.

He froze.

For a brief moment, Kai could hardly believe what had just happened. Jean, meanwhile, pulled away just enough to whisper into his ear.

"You’re mine, and nothing is going to change that."

And with those words, she hurried away, leaving a completely stunned Kai standing by the window.