“… Yes.” She answered honestly.
Elijah’s interest piqued. “Tell me more.”
“You said you were with me because of Kai, and Kai is my own decision to keep. I shouldn’t have used him to hold onto you. You have the right to choose true love, so…”
“So you chose to fake your death and leave me,” Elijah’s eyes deepened. “Should I thank you for your generosity?”
Freya looked up and said, “No need to thank me.”
Elijah fell silent. He quickened his pace and pulled her back to the room. Once inside, he lifted Freya up in his arms. They walked towards the large bed. Freya turned her head away. She tried her best not to expose her scars to him. Gently, he placed her on the bed. Freya lay flat, her face turned to the side.
Elijah leaned over her, gently adjusting her face. “You don’t need to hide, in front of me.”
Freya was still not used to exposing her flaws like this. She was accustomed to concealing them.
Elijah lay beside her, burying his face in her neck. His hand caressed her swollen belly. His magnetic and husky voice echoed in her ear, “Freya, I love you.”
Freya suddenly tightened the blanket beneath her.
“If I didn’t love you, how could I want you to bear my child?” Elijah caressed her cheek. “If you encounter such problems again in the future, question me instead of running away.”
Freya turned to snuggle against his chest, burying her face in it. She said, “Okay.”
“Freya, I miss you so much.” Elijah lowered his head, his lips lightly brushing against her soft hair, then touching her forehead, gently kissing her eyes, nose, and finally her lips.
He kissed deeply, held her tightly, and Freya’s body became soft and powerless, melting into his embrace. His hands became more restless, his cool fingertips gliding over her neck, brushing her chest, and finally delving beneath her skirt.
Freya suddenly snapped out of it. She grabbed Elijah’s hand and gently shook her head. “No, we can’t.”
Sometimes, absence makes the heart grow fonder. Faced with the person she had yearned for, Elijah was impulsive, wanting to merge her into his body.
“I’ll be gentle…”
Freya looked at him and said, “Not this month.”
It wasn’t a definite no, she just didn’t want it. She didn’t want to continued with this face. Elijah was feeling restless, his lips tightly pressed together as he remained silent for a while to calm himself. The restlessness still lingered, but he pushed it down as he held onto Freya, intentionally engaging in conversation with her to distract himself. “Will you have a daughter this time?” he asked.
Freya replied, “I don’t know.”
She hadn’t checked the gender. She placed a hand on her belly. “Boy or girl, I’ll love them all.” As long as it was her child, it would be enough. With a sigh, she added, “All because of you.”
Elijah’s lips brushed against her shoulder as he mumbled a vague response. He didn’t regret switching her birth control. He wanted to be with her and have many, many children.
Freya felt tired, too exhausted. Gradually, she closed her eyes. As she squinted, she fell asleep. Elijah, however, couldn’t seem to find rest. Before, it was the insomnia caused by missing her. Now, it was the discomfort that kept him awake. Looking at the scar on her face, he always thought of how she believed he didn’t love her, pushing him away so desperately when the bomb was about to explode.
This woman was so foolish. But that made him like her more, make him care for her.
…
The seminar began.
To prevent her face from scaring people or drawing attention, Freya specifically hired a makeup artist to help conceal it with modern techniques. Coupled with her clothing, it covered up quite well.
Although she was from Country Z, she worked at Mede, so she had to stay with the director and another doctor in the designated area. The designated area had three main seats, one for the host, another for the director from Mede, and the third for the associate dean of HY Research Center. Everyone took their seats. In the spacious hall, numerous experts in cardiology and ambitious individuals gathered together. This should have been a medical feast, but due to personal interests, it became less pure.
Freya opened a bottle of water on the table, took a sip, and as she placed the bottle back down, she noticed someone hiding around the corner, their figure somewhat familiar, sneaking around.
So she got up and walked over.
And then she saw–