"Yes... Oh, no... No..." Eliana bit her lip, nodding and shaking her head in confusion.
Saying it wasn't painful, how could it not be painful? Those wounds were vividly evident, even on tough skin and bones, enduring such torment was unbearable.
"Why bother? Those grudges are your father's doing. Why endure all this?" His hand gently traced her delicate jawline.
Eliana was beautiful before him, her beauty without an ounce of aggression. At the age of 21, she bore the weight of two feuding families on her frail shoulders.
"This is my choice. I just hope that the Cunningham Family will spare my family..."
"Don't worry, I promised you that as long as you're in the Cunningham Family, your family will be safe, at least to some extent. Turn around."
"Eh? What?" Eliana's heart skipped a beat. Did he want to do it again?
"I'm helping you apply the ointment. The one you're using is about to expire. Aren't you afraid it will cause infections on your wounds?" Dylan snorted.
He casually threw away the ointment she had been using and pulled out a bottle of high-quality Chinese herbal ointment from his suit pocket.
Dylan's hands were gentle as he applied the ointment to her back, which was covered in countless scars. Over the past three years, Eliana had been subjected to countless beatings from Mrs. Cunningham, with new injuries piling on top of old ones. She looked so pitiful that it even tugged at the heartstrings of someone who was supposed to be her enemy.
Unlike the cheap wound ointment, this one didn't sting when applied. Instead, it felt cool and soothing.
This wasn't the first time he had touched her in this way; they had shared many intimate moments. But this time, Eliana's heart raced inexplicably, like the palpitations of a first love.
Surprisingly...
Dylan embraced her from behind, and his body temperature continued to rise. Eliana knew what that feeling meant.
"Dylan, we... we shouldn't. Mrs. Cunningham will find out sooner or later." Eliana was afraid. She couldn't bear the consequences of discovery.
"Are you afraid? But deep down, you desire it, don't you?" His breath became more hurried, and that dangerous aura grew stronger.
"Please... don't..."
"Kiss me..."
His tone was dominant, yet there was a hint of tenderness. Eliana resisted with her words, but her heart was filled with longing.
Her heart had been cold for so long, and even the slightest warmth from Dylan made her want to hold onto it desperately. However, he had never shown her any tenderness before.
Eliana didn't understand how she fell asleep or, perhaps, passed out. For her, reality was always cruel, but in her dreams, there was a hint of sweetness. Even the bitter memories were transformed into something sweet, becoming memories of countless lonely nights.
When she woke up, it was already the next morning. They both woke up almost simultaneously. This was the first time Dylan had spent the night. He remembered their previous encounters, where he would leave immediately afterward. Thinking about last night's experience and comparing it to their previous ones, it felt like a dream, but the memories were so vivid, so unforgettable.
"Remember your place, and don't think too much..."
Dylan hesitated for a long time before uttering words that left no room for her to entertain any illusions.
"I've always known my place. You should go. If the madam sees us like this, she'll kill me, and you won't have any sympathy for me either, right?" Eliana feigned indifference, but her heart was bleeding.