Memories Of The Night

He feels a little speechless.

How could she fall asleep so quickly? Is she not afraid that he will do something heinous to her? She is always on her guard against him, why is she so quiet right now?

Although Aaron is dumbfounded, he relaxes a great deal.

Whether she is drunk or not, she can trust him with such confidence that she feels comfortable losing consciousness in his presence.

After a long walk, Aaron reaches his car.

Balancing Katrina carefully on his back, he opens the door and gently places her in the pa.s.senger seat and fastens the seatbelt around her. Just as Aaron is about to pull away, Katrina suddenly grasps his hand.

The action surprises Aaron.

Katrina is still fast asleep. Her delicate brows are twisted tightly. As if his departure frightens her, she grabs his hand tightly and refuses to let him go.

Her subconscious reaction softens the expression on his face. He gets an inexplicable feeling of happiness in his heart.

But if she doesn"t let him go, how can he drive?

Aaron touches Katrina"s forehead and says softly, "Hey, let me go, I"m not going anywhere." His tone is soft as if he is coaxing an innocent little girl of four or five. In her sleepy state, Katrina resembles one.

But Katrina isn"t listening. Sensing that he is about to pull away, she tightens her grip more frantically. There is unspeakable urgency and sadness in her voice as she cries, "Dad, don"t leave me!"

Aaron"s brows twist, his face darkening at the words, he thought that she didn"t want to let go of him because she trusted and depended on him. But she just mistook him for someone else, and she thought he was her father.

Katrina always has a way of bringing him down when he is in a good mood. Aaron is so upset that he wants to throw her out of the car.

In spite of his anger, he doesn"t have the heart to leave her. He takes a small pillow from the backseat and carefully puts it in her arms.

Drunk and sleepy, Katrina thinks that the pillow in her arms is her father"s arm. She lets Aaron go and hugs the pillow closely.

Aaron feels complicated emotions stir within him.

This stupid woman!

Katrina usually puts up a strong, independent façade. She lives alone, earns a living for herself, and doesn"t seem to have a need for anyone.

In the end, she"s just a weak girl who yearns for her family. The lack of a family"s love is what probably made her who she is today. Without parents and relatives, she must have learned to be strong at a very young age, relying on a strong disguise to survive.

Remaining strong for so many years must have been very difficult and exhausting.

The realization makes Aaron"s heart soften in sympathy.

Despite how much he likes her, despite how much he wants to protect her, he is also the one who hurts her the most. His possessiveness and lack of knowledge in courting a girl keep making him express his love for her in the wrong way.

Subjected to injustice since childhood, she has to guard herself more. His actions only push her away from him further and further.

It"s time for him to control his temper and change his ways.

She has already led a miserable life, and he doesn"t have the heart to hurt her again.

After pulling away from Katrina, Aaron goes around to the other side of the car. Once he"s settled in the driver"s seat, he puts his foot on the gas and drives away.

Aaron is troubled. Katrina"s tiny bed is too cramped for two people to spend the night. He doesn"t know how he can bring her home safely, take care of her, and restrain himself from touching her.

He has no resistance against her body. He hasn"t touched her for so many days. Every time he holds her, something stirs inside him.

If he stays, they will have to huddle together in her narrow bed. Pressed tightly against her, he"s not sure he can control himself.

For the time being, their relations.h.i.+p has managed to thaw a little. She finally stopped being hostile and acting like he is her biggest enemy.

At such a critical moment, he can"t possibly take advantage of her while she is drunk.

If he does, her perception of him will drop to the bottom once again as soon as she wakes up. He doesn"t need to wonder to know the consequences.

He can"t risk their relations.h.i.+p.

After a few moments, Aaron turns the wheel around and drives to his villa. Instead of bringing her back to her tiny apartment, he takes her to his place is a better idea.

Throughout the trip, Katrina holds the pillow like a precious baby and sleeps peacefully.

Watching her lovely tranquil face, Aaron smiles unconsciously. This stupid woman is so gullible, he thinks fondly, not knowing that his eyes are full of affection as he gazes at her.

Twenty minutes later, the car pulls into the most expensive neighborhood in Abbe City and stops in front of a villa.

Aaron gets out of the car and walks over to the pa.s.senger seat.

When he pulls the pillow from Katrina"s grasp, she clutches the pillow tighter. With furrowed eyebrows, she says protectively, "Don"t touch my dad! Where are you taking him?"

Katrina is still dreaming. In her nightmare, a demon is taking her father away from her as she desperately holds onto him. The more Aaron tries to remove the pillow, the more distressed she becomes.

"Dad is here," Aaron soothes, patting her hand in comfort.

Aaron"s hand is warmer than the pillow, and it reminds Katrina of her father more than the pillow. She releases the pillow and holds his hand instead.

Aaron bends down and picks her up. Carrying Katrina, he walks into the villa.