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“Welcome to my family.”

“Maybe you should still try.”

“I’ll think about it.” I grab her wrist, placing a soft kiss on the cut on her palm. “Will you tell me about your nightmares?”

Her body goes rigid.

Chapter 23

Lilian

Opening up about my nightmares is like ripping open an old wound that refuses to heal. I close my eyes. It’s like a non-stop movie in my head. Trapped in the closet. Trapped in my memories. Trapped in my own mind.

And I don’t know how to get out.

“It’s… always the same,” I whisper. “A red room. My mother. A sewing machine and blood-soaked fabrics. Monsters trying to get in. Hammering against the door.”

His fingers stroke my back. “Since when?”

“Ever since the accident.”

“Accident?”

“My parents died in a car accident. My father was picking up my mother while I was asleep. They thought it would be fine. But…”

His arms tighten around me. “What happened then?”

“I don’t remember. It’s all blank. Like my mind erased it all. My uncle told me that they found me the next day outside on the stairs. Levi was there. I remember him vaguely.”

“Hmm.”

“I grew up with him and Lan. They’re like brothers to me.”

Sebastian’s thumb brushes my cheek, wiping away a stray tear. “How often do you have them? The nightmares?”

I exhale. “I had them almost every day.”

“Had? Or still have?”

“Still have… It started on my 16th birthday. I got a sewing machine. I had been asking for it for months after finding out that my mother loved sewing. Uncle Marc had been so excited as he handed me the large, carefully wrapped box. The sewing machine was, still is, beautiful, with intricate dials and engravings, but somehow, the sight of it made my stomach twist.” I take a deep breath. “Later, alone in my room, I sat down at the machine to give it a try. But the moment I pressed down on the pedal and the machine started, a wave of panic crashed over me. Everything blurred before my eyes…” And I could have sworn I saw blood, dark and thick, oozing from the fabric. I stumbled back, knocking over the chair. I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think. All I knew was that I had to hide. “Landon, my brother, found me hours later, curled up in the corner of my closet, shaking and—”

Sebastian takes my hand and places another kiss on my palm. Tender andloving.

A faint laugh bubbles up. “Maybe one day, I’ll be able to use it.”

“Why didn’t you tell me before?” His tone isn’t accusatory, just curious.

I give a small shrug, averting my gaze. “I don’t like talking about it. The nightmares, my parents, any of it. It’s… easier to just avoid it all.”

“But that doesn’t make the pain go away.”

“I know but…” I trail off with a sigh. How can I explain the constant ache that sits like a stone in my chest without unravelling completely? The gnawing emptiness left behind when half my world disappeared in one tragic instant?

His hand cups my cheek, turning my face back towards him. His eyes are soft but serious. “You don’t have to hide anything from me, princess. I’m here for you.”

My lip quivers. No one’s ever made me feel safe enough to be this vulnerable before. I don’t know if it’s wise to let my guard down, but maybe just this once, it would be okay.

“I’m scared,” I whisper.

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