The Traps of the Black Swan

75

Lisa adjusted Ruby Jane to a comfortable position and securely wrapped her in his arms. His thumb caressed the side of her forehead looking at her tear-stained, flushed exhausted face and the lost gaze of her drooping eyes.

'How did you survive in such a harsh world?' He thought softly planting a peck on her forehead causing her to finally close her eyes and rest.

'Selfish?' He remembered why she told him about her family and her childhood.

She felt selfish because she finally got to see, feel, and relish being pampered, loved, and cared for her without expecting anything in return. She finally got to call a house a home that is filled with affection for her and she wasn't alone there. She feels she likes him because she thought she was craving his warmth but not him.

However, she failed to discern she never let anybody else show affection to her other than him. It may be the past or present, she carefully took steps before embracing him.

In his opinion, she was never selfish. She was feeling all those because he was the one who wanted her to feel loved, feel at home next to him. If that's what made her feel selfish, then he was one too. He needed her for himself in any situation, time, or place.

The exhaustion finally brought rest to her body, he could only hope, her thoughts in place, rest her mind without nightmares.

He quickly pulled his mobile out and dialed a number twice before it was answered and got a response, [Young Master?!] Lisa quickly instructed but in a whisper before hanging up the call.

Melia who was sleepy felt wide awake looking at the solemn and aloof man having melancholic air around. There wasn't a façade of seriousness, he had the real emotions on, unhappy and pained.

It had been six years, the warm teenager became cold like freezing ice hiding all his emotions. She had seen him sitting like a lifeless statue when he lost his mother and sister back to back. Then the extreme coldness when he failed to search his Cupcake, then all just saw his blankness.

Only after Ruby Jane got to know he loves her, Melia started to see the teenager Lisa getting back to life, indulging Ruby Jane in everything. She had hoped, wished he could be happy for the lifetime but his state left her in a daze.

She wanted to ask but her eyes fell on the girl in his arms as he carefully pulled the comforter on them. Her swollen eyes, trembling brows, pained expression, blocked nose, breathing through the mouth, Melia needed no words to understand Ruby Jane had cried for too long time.

She knew her boundary and limits so she didn't cross it other than praying in her mind they should live a happy life ending the sorrow.

Lisa helped Ruby Jane to drink a little water from the glass by holding her up, then he wiped her face, neck with a warm wet towel before noticing downcast Melia who was unhappy just by seeing them sad.

His voice was low hiding his emotions from the tone, "Thank you, Aunty Melia." Melia nodded and left deeply sighing to herself.

It took sometime before Melia slept in her room and Lisa dozed off in the swing.

---

In the morning, it took time for Ruby Jane to open her heavy eyelids feeling the warm sun rays falling on her face passing through the tree leaves and branches. Slowly recovering memory from the night, she noticed Lisa still sleeping while the sun was dazzling in the sky.

She didn't know what time they slept but she definitely could guess their morning routine was missed. Since both had no plans to go to the office or Lisa to the hospital, she didn't wake him up.