He smelled of the wind. Abella lowered her head, then lifted it up again. She did not know why Cade came all the way here at this hour.

The reason why he crossed the strict Amerigo fence.

Abella closed the door to the balcony and drew the curtains.

“.... I think it’s the first time I’ve been in your room since I was a kid.”

Come to think of it, this was Abella’s private bedroom. The most secret place. Abella, with her cheeks blushing unknowingly, leaned against the balcony window. She watched Cade walk around her bedroom.

It was nothing special, but what was he looking at so carefully? It was when Abella was contemplating when she should call Cade that Cade first turned around and sat down at desk.

At first, she thought Cade would sit on Abella’s bed, and the heart that had sat down found its place.

“I never thought you’d be in this room either.”

Cade shrugged his shoulders and reached out to Abella.

Cade said to Abella, who was just staring blankly at him. “Take my hand, Abella.”

It was then that Abella realized that Cade was never okay with Cade. The anger in his eyes, which was pretending to be peace, and the coolness that contradicted him chilled Abella’s backbone.

Abella shook her head unknowingly.

“Abella.” Cade laughed softly. “It’s okay.”

Abella walked over as if possessed. She exercised the power of belief in Cade’s words that it was fine, and seemed to be true. Abella walked over to Cade and she took his hand. Cade pulled Abella towards him.

Abella was made to sit on Cade’s lap without realizing it, and she trembled. Cade buried his face in Abella’s shoulder.

Cade inhaled and exhaled his breath slowly.

‘Alive.’

He felt relieved. It was before Abella made the wrong choice. It was before Abella left him forever. Cade whispered in a growl-like voice.

“What are you thinking?”

“No idea.....”

“Abella.”

“Yes?”

“Are you going to throw yourself away casually? Because you are a person who has no regrets.”

“What.....”

His heart sank once again.

Cade’s breath tickled Abella’s neck, and the strange words he said shook Abella.

A person who has no regrets. Cade pinpointed Abella. She was someone who could throw her life away whenever she wanted.

Cade pressed his lips to Abella’s neck.

Abella’s eyes widened at the touch. He held Abella firmly before she pushed Cade away.

“Then.... Then.”

Abella clenched her teeth at Cade’s subdued voice. It was confusing. What was the cause of Cade’s anger? Was he jealous now? Why was he talking about regrets?

Cade had pinpointed Abella, but she had no clue about him. Cade ruffled Abella’s hair to the side.

“Then. What if I mean something to you?”

Every time Cade’s lips moved, it seemed that a hot fire was left on Abella’s neck. For some reason, she felt like she was being eaten by Cade.

Cade smelled of wood mixed in the wind.

“.... Are you jealous?” Abella asked quietly.

“Jealous? Abella. I’m not jealous of such a shield. What makes me angry is.....”

Cade raised Abella. His gaze shifted up and down. Cade pushed Abella to the bed. He got on top of Abella. The fingers that brushed Abella’s hair were infinitely tender, but there was no warmth in his eyes.

But, for some reason, what was the reason Cade’s eyes felt sore?

Abella, unable to think of pushing Cade away, placed her hand on his cheek.

“That you are always thinking about death.” Cade whispered softly.

Abella’s pupils dilated. Every detail of her inner self was exposed, which she had never revealed to anyone. Cade was so right that she couldn’t even say he wasn’t. Cade grabbed Abella’s hand and pressed it down.

“So you throw your life casually. You have no expectations or fantasies about the future. There’s nothing you want to do. You just want to silently support Amerigo and hand it over to Simons as Carlo asked.”

“Cade, you.....”

“Have you ever thought about what to do after that?”

Abella was silent. She had never done anything other than the thought of leaving. Did Abella have any wish other than simply to be free and in a place where there was no one else?

It was then that Abella realized that the freedom she had been longing for, was ultimately her death.

Cade was perfectly aware of what Abella could not have guessed.