IN THE CAGE

144. IN THE CAGE

...NORMAL pov...

...----------------...

Fawn sat curled up on the hospital floor, ignoring the few people passing by in front of her and putting a faint anxiety over her condition. Fawn just then felt hollow. His heart and mind were not in his body. He was struck with his eyes dimming.

There was no response every time a nurse reprimanded him, asking him to get up from there. Fawn had no energy after everything that happened. After losing many things in his life, injured and tormented - Fawn has already reached her limit.

It's been ruined.

Lilian Alder, the woman who had accompanied him grew up. His precious treasure has left the world. Fawn did not understand what was wrong, why after all the sacrifices he had made, Lilian was still out of his grasp? Left him?

What should he do now with the absence of a mother figure in his life? The person who is the reason for living?

"Fawnia?"

In the midst of the chaos that messed up his head, ravaging his mind, a voice caught his attention. A soft voice that implied concern, a voice that was able to make him forget all the hubbub in his mind.

Source tranquility...

"Aces?" Fawn opened the voice. His long silence there made his tongue slightly stiff as he recited the name. Fawn's gaze rolled softly to the figure greeting her from the wheelchair.

Arcelio Hunter, Ace, was in front of him. Smiling as hot as the morning sun.

Without an exchange of words between them, Fawn moved from her position and headed for Ace. All the silence that silenced his emotions instantly burst out there. Fawn was crying in the lap of Ace who held her.

All the sorrow that his heart felt, all the pain and regret. The only person he has now, the person he loves and the most valuable person in his life.

"Please, don't ever leave me again!" Fawn blurted with a stuffing mixed in her voice. Ace who was then wiping Fawn's black mane, combed her hair strands in tenderness-smiling affectionately.

"Stay with me, Fawnia. I will protect you forever. I won't let a single person hurt you again."

Without pausing his response or delaying the length of his decision, Fawn nodded in obedience. He clenched Ace's neck once more tightly, feeling the man's warmth in his body, real. Fawn wants nothing more than to live with Ace. Protect her and love her forever.

"I promise you, I won't leave you, Ace." Fawn loosened his hold and looked at Ace right in the face.

A confession that had been stuck at the end of his tongue, a confession he had hidden from Ace long ago...

Fawn revealed it there.

In front of her mother's vacant nursery, in the hospital hallway where nurses and doctors passed by...

"Ace, I love you."

In front of that pair of dark irises, Fawn declared her feelings. It is not a romantic confession that makes your heart flower. It was a confession filled with sadness, despair, and regret. A confession that emerged from a wounded heart, came out of Fawnia's heart like the last reason of her life.

Just then, in front of a confession that felt like a pledge of loyalty, Ace felt a sense of victory. It was as if invisible bars had risen to encircle him and Fawnia. He locked her in a cage called love.

Ace-in front of Fawnia-realizes one crucial thing there. That, the cage he had prepared for the woman, ended up locking her up as well. Just as Fawnia is unable to live without him, Ace realizes he will be in hell without Fawnia in his life.

They are equally bound, like two birds trapped in a cage.

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"Are you sure you're in better shape?" On the same day, after Ace approached Fawn in the hospital corridor, Fawn had not separated from Ace at all. They join hands, reluctant to let go of each other.

Although Fawn was rather worried about Ace not resting at all, Fawn did not feel guilty for making Ace a prisoner in his grasp.

Fawn did not want to part with Ace, even a short item.

"The situation is very bad, isn't it? I poisoned you for my mother's safety, but in the end my efforts were in vain. Maybe this is my punishment for trying to harm you."

"Don't blame yourself. You've suffered enough."

"I know.., but it's hard to close my eyes when I realize all the problems that befall me happen because I'm not good at making decisions."

"You're not wrong. What's wrong is the person who's already leveraged your loyalty." Ace embraces Fawn into his arms and gives the girl a gentle swipe at the arm. "I'll finish it all now. I'll make sure, be it Evan or Anggara, they can never hurt you again."

"I'll help you" Fawn said. This time with seriousness and determination.

"You're in a state of mourning, Fawn. I don't want to get you into my problems anymore."

"No.., it's not just your own problem." Fawn drew Ace's hand, grasped it and hugged it with warmth. A pair of hazel Fawn irises sparkling with strong willpower.

"Since you're the most important person in my life right now, I'll protect you."

"But Fawnia, I don't want you to get hurt."

"Trust me, I won't get hurt again. Not by the same person."

Ace hesitated for a moment. His eyes looked at Fawn with great judgment. "You know you don't have to do this, do you?"

"I know, but I still want to help you. Also.., I have something I need to collect from Anggara."

"Something?"

"The promise" Fawn replied without context and explanation. At that time, Fawn thought about Anggara's words determined to protect her mother. However, who would have thought that Lilian's removal aggravated her condition. The hospital where Anggara hid his mother was not a hospital with adequate facilities.

In another sense, the cause of Lilian's declining health until she died was influenced by Anggara's negligence.

Fawn won't let the man step freely out there after what he did.

Every word and promise Anggara made regarding Lilian's protection, Fawn would be charged a balanced fee.

"As long as you're not hurt, I'll support whatever your decision is, Fawnia." Ace smiled faintly. Not a smile that implies affection and gentleness, Ace's smile was the smile of a craftsman who had successfully completed his work.

Fawnia Alder. He was a sword that Ace had forged with great caution.

"Tomorrow I can go home from the hospital" Ace said. "How about doing your mother's funeral, tomorrow?"

Fawn nodded with my eyes back. "All right."

"Don't be sad, Fawnia. I'll be by your side forever."

"Thank you, Ace. I don't know if I can live if I lose you too."

"..."

"You're a very meaningful person in my life right now, I love you."

Ace nodded and gave Fawn a kiss on the forehead. "I never expected more than this."

This is more than enough.

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