Julian Sterling could not recall exactly when he had fallen asleep, but by the time he opened his eyes, the morning sunlight outside had already crept into the room, illuminating his face. He shifted slightly, and the very first sensation that hit him was a severe numbness in his lower back, radiating all the way down to his thighs.

His body at this moment felt no different from a dilapidated machine that had been violently dismantled and then haphazardly pieced back together. Lingering down below was the residual sensation of fullness and a slight stinging ache. It was not as if he had never experienced this feeling before, but after the blinding pleasure, the one left to suffer the morning after was always Julian. He let out a soft murmur, pursing his lips, and the moment he moved, he was pulled into a firm embrace by the man beside him.

The touch of bare skin against bare skin made Julian realize that there was nothing but a single blanket shielding them, with neither of them wearing any clothes.

He had no idea when Ethan Caldwell had woken up. The man’s face had returned to its usual composure, entirely devoid of the panic, anxiety, and overwhelming possessiveness from the night before. Ethan’s hand was currently resting on his waist, gently kneading Julian’s sore lower back. He exhaled a long breath, resting his head against Ethan Caldwell’s chest, his fingers tracing the scratches he had left on the man’s arm the previous night.

"Are you still uncomfortable?" Ethan Caldwell’s voice was remarkably husky, carrying a deep, warm tone of coaxing.

Julian Sterling narrowed his eyes slightly, instinctively nestling deeper into the other’s firm chest, taking a deep breath of the familiar scent that brought him an absolute sense of security.

"Of course I am uncomfortable... why don’t you try being fucked like that all night and see if you are tired?" Julian mumbled his complaint, his voice entirely hoarse from crying too much the day before, sounding as fragile as a fleeting sigh.

Ethan Caldwell felt a pang of heartache. He bent down and pressed a light kiss against Julian’s forehead, then slowly trailed down to the tip of Julian’s nose, before finally lingering on his lips that were still slightly swollen and red.

"It is my fault. I already cleaned you up and applied medicine for you late last night."

Bringing up the events of last night, perhaps recalling the very scenario he dreaded, Ethan unconsciously tightened his arms around the person in his embrace. Julian Sterling did not express any objections. He wrapped his arms around the soft cotton blanket, hugging Ethan’s broad back.

Julian knew that the man’s insecurity had existed for a long time. In truth, the more power someone held in their hands, the more they loathed things that fell outside their control. Yet, right now, Ethan was deeply in love with someone, and even he did not know if the person who opened his eyes tomorrow would still be the exact same person from yesterday. Perhaps Ethan Caldwell was also terribly panicked by this outcome.

However, this insecurity stemmed entirely from the fear of gaining and losing, rather than any concern for Ethan’s own personal safety. It was quite clear that Ethan was sharing a bed with someone who sounded as though he suffered from schizophrenia, yet he harbored no fear; he spent his days purely terrified that the personality he loved would vanish.

"I already told you, I am not going anywhere." Julian whispered, his fingers gently caressing the nape of Ethan Caldwell’s neck: "No matter what the past of this body entails, the one who loves you, the one who is holding you right now, is only me. There is no possibility for him to return."

Ethan closed his eyes, savoring the resonating heartbeat echoing between their two chests. After a long while, he finally released Julian Sterling, pulling the blanket up securely to cover Julian’s shoulders.

"I have instructed the domestic helpers to simmer wild mushroom and crab meat porridge. You exhausted a tremendous amount of physical stamina, so eating something light yet highly nutritious will help soothe your stomach. Lie still right there, I will bring it up for you."

Not waiting for Julian’s refusal, Ethan Caldwell threw on the nightgown hanging by the bed and stepped out of the room. When he returned, he brought along a tray of food with steam billowing from it. The refreshing sweetness of fresh sea crab meat intermingled with the distinct earthy aroma of wild mushrooms, creating a fragrance that stimulated the appetite incredibly intensely.

Ethan Caldwell carefully supported Julian Sterling to lean back against the headboard, placed an extra soft pillow behind his back, and then personally scooped up each spoonful of porridge, blowing on it until it cooled before bringing it right to Julian’s lips. The thoroughly simmered porridge was rich and smooth, infused with golden crab roe, warming the body with every single bite, entirely sweeping away the hollow feeling in his stomach. This tender care melted Julian’s heart, and all the lingering frustration from being done to the point of being half-dead last night simply vanished into thin air along with it.

After finishing the meal, Julian stepped into the bathroom for a moment. He stood before the mirror, gazing at a body completely marked with an intricate web of dark red hickeys stretching all the way from his collarbones down to his lower abdomen. Julian Sterling let out a sigh and had no choice but to opt for a dark-colored turtleneck silk shirt. After all, the weather had already begun to turn a bit chilly, so wearing slightly more conservative clothing would not attract too much unwanted attention.

When the two of them walked down to the study room on the first floor, Felix Tate and Kieran Talbot were already seated there. The atmosphere in the room was heavy and gloomy, as if shrouded by a thick layer of fog. Louis York was absent today, most likely having gone to handle superficial operations in order to divert the attention of the outside world.