Falling for the Goddess

A Nightmare

When they returned, the Villa was empty. With Adrian Blake away on a business trip the previous week, Sara Hart had asked Alice Miller to stay at the old residence to care for Grandma Blake, leaving no one to tend to the house.

As they entered through the front door, the villa was completely dark, save for the faint glow of the garden lights filtering through the windows. Adrian paused, finding the scene oddly familiar. It struck him that this was the reality Sara faced every day - coming home to an empty, silent house.

Click—

Sara reached out to switch on the lights, and the whole room instantly brightened.

"Why didn't you turn on the lights?" she asked.

"Just didn't get a chance," Adrian replied.

Sara nodded and made her way to the kitchen. She took two glasses from the cabinet and turned to ask, "Would you like some water?"

"Sure," he replied.

She smiled slightly, remembering Ella Duvall's advice. She needed to be more proactive, to start small by chatting and engaging in simple conversations like friends would. She filled two glasses with warm water and walked into the living room, handing one to Adrian.

As he took the glass from her, his fingers accidentally brushed against hers, a warm touch that lasted just a moment. Sara quickly pulled her hand back, feeling a subtle shift in the atmosphere.

Adrian took a sip of water, his Adam's apple moving as he swallowed. "I have some work to finish. I'll head upstairs."

"Alright," Sara replied, watching him leave.

She stood in the living room for a while longer before turning off the lights and heading upstairs. By the time Adrian returned to the bedroom, Sara had already finished showering and was sitting on the bed, her laptop open on her lap as she read research papers. Her long black hair fell softly over her shoulders, and her gaze was fixed on the screen with a look of deep concentration. Adrian suddenly found himself wondering if she looked just as focused and serious while working in the lab.

When he came out of the bathroom, Sara seemed to finally notice his presence. She looked up at him, her expression gentle. "Are you getting ready to sleep?"

"No rush. You can keep reading," he said casually.

Sara glanced at her laptop and then at Adrian before shutting the screen. "It's just some reference material. I can finish it tomorrow. I'm working on a project and plan to submit an article soon, so I've been a bit busy."

Her explanation sounded like a report, almost as if she felt the need to account for her time. Remembering the things he had heard earlier that day at North Capital University, Adrian took another look at Sara. She had been keeping a schedule more demanding than most full-time jobs, which explained why she had accomplished so much and earned her professors' admiration.

"If you need a place to write, you can use the room next door," he offered.

Sara's eyes lit up. "Really?"

"Of course. You're free to use any room in this house."

Adrian found himself wondering if he had been too harsh with her in the past. Sara had always been considerate and kept her distance, never venturing anywhere beyond the bedroom, kitchen, and living room. It was as though she viewed the Villa as someone else's territory, carefully respecting boundaries.

Instead of feeling reassured by her restraint, Adrian was left with an odd sense of discomfort. It was as though Sara had never truly seen the Villa as her home, only as a place where she was a guest, treading carefully not to intrude.

As he looked at her again, he noticed the unmistakable joy on her face, her eyes and brows coming to life. She looked like a child who had just been given a piece of candy.

What Sara didn't realize was how significant Adrian's offer was to her. The study was where he often worked; allowing her to use it felt like opening up a part of his private world to her.

Later, as they lay in bed, each on their own side, Adrian spoke softly in the darkness, his voice deeper and warmer than usual, "Mid-Autumn Festival is coming up. We should go to the old residence and spend it with Grandma."

Sara was slightly taken aback. Was the Mid-Autumn Festival already so close? "Okay," she replied.

---

In the middle of the night, Adrian woke up feeling groggy, only to hear faint sobs coming from the other side of the bed.

He tried to gather his thoughts and realized it was Sara crying.

"Sara? What's wrong?" he asked softly.

There was no response.

Adrian reached over and turned on the bedside lamp, squinting as his eyes adjusted to the sudden light. He looked over at Sara. She was lying at the very edge of the bed, curled up into a tight ball, her face buried in the blankets. The sound of her sobs filled the quiet room - muffled, restrained, and heart-wrenchingly sad.

"Sara..." Adrian called her name again, but she still didn't respond, as if trapped in a nightmare.

He got out of bed and walked over to her side. She was lying on her side, her pale face streaked with tears. Strands of hair clung to her cheeks, dampened by the tears. Her brows were furrowed, and she let out short, choked sobs, like a wounded animal trying to suppress its pain.

Adrian felt a sudden pang of sadness. He watched her for a few seconds before reaching out to gently pat her back, trying to wake her up. "Sara... wake up..."

In the darkness, Sara seemed to hear Adrian's voice. She struggled to open her eyes, and when she did, the first thing she saw was Adrian crouched beside her. He was wearing a gray loungewear set, his hair tousled and falling over his forehead, looking both casual and slightly concerned.

For a moment, Sara wasn't sure if she was still dreaming.

Adrian watched as she slowly regained consciousness, her eyes glistening with tears, looking dazed and vulnerable. Her long, dark lashes were wet, no longer neatly separated, but clumped together. Her expression was a mix of confusion and distress.

She reached out hesitantly, her slender fingers stopping just short of touching Adrian's face before she quickly pulled back, curling her hand into a fist.

"Are you... okay?" she asked, her voice soft and still carrying the remnants of a sob.

Adrian responded with a gentle "Yes," and added, "You had a nightmare."

Seeing that she was fully awake now, Adrian reached for some tissues on the nightstand and handed them to her. "Here, wipe your face."

Sara touched her cheeks, realizing that they were wet with tears. Her hair and pillow were also damp. She took the tissues and murmured, "I'm sorry. Did I wake you up?"

Adrian's dark eyes held a complex emotion as he replied, "No."

After a few moments, when he saw that Sara had calmed down, he returned to his side of the bed. But despite lying back down, sleep seemed impossible to find.

Sara had stopped crying, and the only sound left was the faint, steady rhythm of her breathing.

Who was she really?

She had entered this marriage with him under mysterious circumstances, never once demanding anything from him or their arrangement. She was always respectful, keeping a careful distance, never crossing any lines. Her behavior was dignified, almost reserved, but there was a sadness about her, as though she carried a hidden burden.

And even in a moment like this, her first instinct was to apologize.

What kind of person was she, and why had she agreed to marry him?

For the first time in his life, Adrian felt a deep curiosity, a desire to understand the person beside him.