“Don’t you dare!” I yelled.
Rufus tried to soothe my rumpled feathers.
“Don’t worry, the floor is carpeted. It won’t hurt.”
I remained silent, aware that the pain was not the problem.
My apprehension stemmed from a sense of shame rather than fear, and I couldn’t bring myself to voice it.
“If you don’t want to fall, hold me tight. I will always stand by your side, and will never abandon you,” he said seriously.
I crinkled my nose, disdainful snort escaping my lips.
“You wish!” I retorted with a scoff. I was well aware of Rufus’ intentions.
He wanted to see me turn to him for help and rely on him. It was just as he had done in the past when teaching me close combat.
First, he would make me lose face, and then he would derive satisfaction from instructing me.
“I’ll let you go when you’re ready. 3, 2…”
Rufus commenced the countdown, gradually relaxing his grip on my shoulder.
I gulped a mouthful of air as my legs trembled, threatening to buckle beneath me at any moment.
Overcome with fear, I instinctively clung to Rufus’ waist, trying to steady myself.
As I was about to curse, I felt a cold, metallic shiver crawl down my neck.
Rufus was fastening a necklace around me.
I froze, my mind flashing back to when I first met Rufus.
He had gifted me a necklace then too, but I had misplaced it.
The atmosphere took an unexpected turn, brimming with rosy red hues.
My gaze fell upon the exquisite necklace.
Rufus had impeccable taste.
I discreetly cleared my throat, feeling a tinge of unease swirl in my belly as I asked, “What do you mean? Why this sudden act of generosity?”
Rufus chuckled softly, his thumb gently tracing the delicate lines of the pendant that adorned my neck.
His eyes sparkled with admiration as he replied, “I just think it suits you very well.”
“Humph, I don’t believe you.”
I couldn’t help but scoff, a touch of skepticism creeping in.
I knew Rufus too well.
If it were just a casual gift, he wouldn’t be so cautious and wouldn’t shy away from looking at me.
I regarded his shaky composure with a suspicious eye.
Crystal’s POV
For outsiders, Rufus was a cold and indifferent man.
But only those who knew him intimately understood his true personality.
And I happened to be the person he was most familiar with.
When we lived together five years ago, I saw his indifferent, angry, animated, and confused sides behind closed doors.
Rufus always cajoled me using the same methods. He would either have wild sex with me, or he would follow me wherever I went, making it impossible for me to be aloof toward him.
Or he would bring me a gift like this one.
Even though he had lost a part of his memory and had no recollection of our relationship, he could still bring down my defenses easily.
Pinned under my scorching gaze, Rufus faked a cough. He turned around with a flushed face.
“This is for you, an apology gift.”
I found his gesture sweet, but to ensure the smooth progression of my plan, I didn’t reveal my happiness.
Instead, I scoffed coldly.
“Give it to your mate. I don’t need it. I won’t be taken in by your sweet talk, and my heart won’t melt.”
I put my hand on the necklace, intending to take it off, but Rufus quickly grabbed my wrist. He placed one hand on my shoulder and forced me to look at him, which only served to increase my unease.
I couldn’t keep up my tough exterior under his direct gaze. I looked down to avoid meeting his eyes, but he raised my chin.
“That was a misunderstanding. Adela is not my mate. It’s a lie. Back then, I had suffered a serious injury and fallen into a coma. Adela bewitched me with a spell, which made me mistake her for my mate. I believed she was the mate designated by the Moon Goddess,” Rufus explained painstakingly.
His deep eyes were shining with tenderness, which made me want to give in to him.
“To tell you the truth, a little while after Adela appeared in my life, I felt something was off. However, I couldn’t get my hands on any evidence, which led to the matter being delayed until now. But don’t worry. I have dealt with her. No one will bother you in the future,”
Rufus comforted me as he stroked my chin with his finger, making me feel itchy. I hesitated for a moment, but didn’t try hard to evade him.
Instead, I curled my lips and angrily glared at him.
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