Chapter 66

 Max's Point of View

My breathing quickened, and a shiver ran down my spine as I found myself unable to look away. I had seen her naked on two previous occasions - once when she almost burned herself in the shower, and the second time when I helped her change clothes. Despite those incidents, my heart raced, and I couldn't help but gaze at her as if it were my first time seeing a woman's body. She attempted to cover herself, but I could still catch glimpses, and a strong arousal washed over me. Knowing I had to control myself and avoid any actions that could scare her away, I had no choice but to turn my gaze and avert my eyes. I heard her sigh with relief.

After a few minutes, she called out, "You can come in!" I turned to look at her, and my heart nearly stopped. She was wearing an oversized shirt that barely covered her thighs. I wondered if she was wearing anything underneath. It seemed like today was going to be a challenge for me.

I sat on the bed with her beside me. "Give it to me, I'm so hungry," she said, reaching for the tray. Quickly, I swatted her hand away.

"I'll feed you," I replied, scooping soup with a spoon and blowing on it to cool it down before feeding her.

Priscilla frowned. "I can eat by myself, you know?" she argued. I rolled my eyes, pretending not to understand.

"I don't want you to do anything. You look exhausted and frail. I'll take care of everything. Just sit here and tell me what you need, and I'll do it," I assured her, meaning every word. I couldn't bear to see her exert herself; she needed rest and time to regain her strength.

"Max, stop treating me like I'm fragile or helpless. I can manage on my own," Priscilla persisted. But I was determined not to waver; all I wanted was for her to recuperate without any worries.

"Open your mouth!" I commanded. Priscilla sighed, eventually giving in and opening her mouth as I fed her spoonfuls of soup until the bowl was empty.

"I didn't realize you were such a good cook. Thanks for the soup; it was really delicious," Priscilla said, her eyes growing heavy with sleep. It was evident that she was exhausted. I placed the tray on the nightstand and carefully moved Priscilla to the other side of the bed, assisting her as she lay down. I settled beside her, pulling her closer and allowing her to rest her head on my chest. I draped a blanket over us.

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Priscilla's loud voice shouting "No!!" jolted me awake. She was thrashing about and sweating profusely. It was another nightmare.

"Daddy, stop. I'm your daughter!" she cried, flailing her legs. Tears streamed down her closed eyes. I wondered why she had this nightmare so often.

"Priscilla, wake up!" I shook her arm in an attempt to wake her up. She jerked into a sitting position, with tears streaming down her face and sweat dripping off her cheeks. Her sobs filled the room. I sat up on the bed and tried to pull her into my arms, but she moved away.

"Stay away from me! I want my mother! Where is my mother?" Priscilla sobbed. It seemed like she was half awake.

"Priscilla, it's me, Max. You know I won't hurt you, right?" I spoke softly and pulled her into my arms. This time, she didn't resist and rested her head on my chest, sobbing.

"Take deep breaths, Priscilla. I'm here with you, okay?" I said gently, stroking her hair. It pained me to see her cry like this. Though I wanted to inquire about her nightmare, I decided against it. She didn't look well at all.

Priscilla fell asleep again and I helped her onto the bed, her head resting on my chest. I couldn't fall back asleep myself; I wanted to watch over her as she slept. I was worried she might have another nightmare and start crying. It's hard to believe she's been surviving all alone until now. She told me she used to sleep with her mother and couldn't sleep alone, but I still acted like a jerk and made her life miserable. I shouldn't have said those hurtful words to her. Maybe she wouldn't be so depressed, sad, and thin if I hadn't. I doubt she's been eating or taking her medicine. She looks so thin, with only a small bump of a belly visible. I've been unfair to her, especially after getting her pregnant without her permission. I'm never going to leave her alone again. I'm going to stay by her side and take good care of her.

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The night had been long and restless, leaving me feeling exhausted when I finally woke up early the next day. I decided to make breakfast, hoping it would energize me. The menu consisted of fluffy pancakes, crumbled eggs, and mouth-watering egg and cheese toast. As I labored over the stove, I couldn't help but wonder if Priscilla would enjoy this breakfast. 

Suddenly, I heard Priscilla's voice calling out my name. I turned around and saw her walking towards me, her hair disheveled and the oversized shirt she wore only enhancing her beauty. I quickly suppressed any inappropriate thoughts and walked over to her. 

"Good morning, sunshine," I greeted her with a smile. However, I was taken aback when I saw tears glistening in her eyes. 

"I-I thought you had left," she stammered, throwing her arms around me and hugging me tightly.

"Oh, I see. Someone doesn't want me to leave?" I said, teasingly, as I brushed Priscilla's hair away from her face. She quickly moved away from me, her expression unreadable.

"Don't talk nonsense," she said, walking past me and into the kitchen. "Mmh, this looks so yummy. Were you making this all along?" she asked, reaching for a slice of toast on a plate. But I quickly rushed over to her and swatted her hand away.

Priscilla glared at me with a pinched expression, her annoyance palpable. "Why are you stopping me?" she asked.

"Because I'm not done cooking yet," I replied, scooping her up in my arms.

"Max, what are you doing? Put me down!" Priscilla yelled, but I ignored her and carried her over to the counter, where I carefully placed her down.

"Sit there quietly until I finish making breakfast," I said, walking back to the stove to continue cooking.

"It's really a shame that you can cook so effortlessly, while I can't even boil an egg. You should teach me how to cook. It's not really fair that you can cook, but you have a bunch of maids to cook for you. I have no maids, and I can't cook," Priscilla remarked, and I chuckled. 

"Why should you learn how to cook when I'm here?" I asked her, without turning to face her.

"You're here now, but you won't be here forever. One day, you'll find your soulmate and get married. Will you cook for me then?" Priscilla asked. I stopped what I was doing and walked to her. I stood between her legs, my eyes looking into hers. I could see her face turning red as she averted her gaze from me.

"I have already found my soulmate, Priscilla," I said softly. I removed the strands of hair that were covering her face. "You are the only woman I want to spend the rest of my life with, and I know that this time I'm really in love. I'm in love with you."

"You don't know what you're talking about, Max. I think you're mistaking guilt and pity for love," Priscilla said. She didn't want to believe me, and I didn't know how to make her believe me.

"Priscilla, I don't pity you, but I admire you. I still feel guilty about everything I said to you. On the other side, I think it was good that you went away from me because otherwise, I wouldn't have realized how much you meant to me and how much I love you. I know you don't believe me or you don't want to believe me, but trust me when I say that I've never felt this way for anyone," I said while looking into her eyes. "Being here with you and making breakfast for you is the best moment of my life. It makes me so happy to see you watching me make breakfast for you, and I want to do it forever. I know that I don't deserve you and that I'm being selfish, but I can't help it. I'm yearning for your love, and I really want to be with you and spend the rest of my life with you," I told her. I could see tears gathering in her eyes. I knew that her past was holding her back, but I wasn't going to give up.

"Maybe you should stop loving me. Because I don't deserve you, nor do I deserve to be with you. You deserve someone better, someone who will be with you forever and love you the way you deserve. I'm not that person, I don't have a future. The police could walk in here any moment and arrest me; killing 5 people is a grave crime that will lead me to my death. You will be left alone with a broken heart," Priscilla said, wiping her tears. "If I were you, I wouldn't have such feelings for me because one way or the other I'm going to break your heart just like Nelly did." Priscilla moved from where I was standing and jumped off the counter and ran out of the kitchen. I followed her to the room.

I was quick, I grabbed her arm before she could enter the room.

"Priscilla, why are you making this decision for me?" I asked her, trying to control the hurt and anger I was feeling at this moment.

I could see her swallowing hard. I know that she has feelings for me, no matter how hard she tries to hide them. "Because it is the right choice for both of us. Sometimes we have to think practically. Love is nothing but a fairytale. Had love been real, then my father wouldn't have done what he did to my mother. If he had loved her as we all saw, he would have protected her; he wouldn't have raised his hand to the woman he loved. How do you expect me to believe in love after all I have witnessed?" Priscilla asked, her questions feeling like a dagger straight to my chest.

"Priscilla, you are not your mother, and I'm not like your father. What happened to them won't happen with us," I said, trying to make her understand.

"Unfortunately, I see my father in you sometimes. The way you find a way to hurt me with your words when you are angry, the way you drink and break glass and shout, losing your temper. That's how my father started until he turned into a monster. Honestly, sometimes I'm scared of you," Priscilla said. I let go of her hand. She ran to her room and closed the door, tears gathering in my eyes. Her words cut deeper into my chest than a knife. I never thought that my actions made her reminded of her father but I never raised a hand on her.