Chapter 6 Nightmare

A terrifying nightmare woke Kate up. “No!” She cried out and abruptly opened her eyes. Kate sat up in bed. The sudden movement left her mind blank, and she fell back onto the bed heavily. “Haaa … ” Gasping for air, Kate’s body trembled slightly. Her heart filled with panic. Her eyes darted around in confusion and helplessness until they landed on the man lying unconscious in the bed next to hers. Only then did her pounding heart gradually calm down. As memories flooded back, Kate clenched her fists and removed the IV needle from her hand. She quietly got out of bed, pulled a chair over, and sat by Eric’s bedside. She gazed at Eric’s face almost longingly. In the dream she just had, she once again witnessed Eric being humiliated and killed. It was difficult for her to breathe because it felt like an invisible hand was squeezing her heart. This man, who was noble and aloof, almost like a god, was dragged down into the mud because of her. A single wrong move, and everything was lost. Trembling, she held Eric’s hand and felt the warmth in his palm. Her heart finally found some peace. When George pushed open the door to the ward with breakfast in hand the next morning, he saw that Eric had already woken up at some point. His deep, complex black eyes fell on Kate, who was still asleep by his bedside. There was a smile on his face. Kate still held Eric’s hand as she lay asleep by his sickbed. George wanted to say something, but Eric gave him a cold glance and gestured for silence. His gaze returned to Kate, and his typical stern gaze was visibly softening. His muscles were tense all over, but upon waking up to find Kate holding his hand by his bedside, Eric didn’t dare to move, afraid of waking her up. Eric’s eyes remained fixed on her delicate yet slightly pale face. Is this a dream? Eric’s gaze was unusually confused. Kate clung to him like a fragile dream, which made him hesitant to touch her. He feared she would disappear once he woke up. So he stayed still, quietly watching her. “Eric … ” Kate suddenly trembled. She unconsciously tightened her grip on his hand. Her voice was tinged with fear as she exclaimed, “Eric!” She jolted awake again, sitting up quickly, her panicked eyes meeting Eric’s deep black gaze. She stared at him in shock, tears streaming down her face once more. At the moment when Kate cried out his name with warmth in her voice, Eric felt a dull pain in his heart. His consciousness drifted away and then quickly returned. He pursed his lips slightly, his deep gaze falling on Kate’s face. Almost involuntarily, he raised his hand and wiped away the tears from the corner of her eyes. Kate did not avoid his hand but instead leaned forward affectionately, carefully nestling into Eric’s embrace on the right side. Her voice choked up as she said, “Eric.” Eric’s eyes were deep and hoarse as he responded, “Hmm.” With tearful eyes, Kate looked up at Eric and said in a trembling voice, “I had a nightmare.” Eric did not speak, his deep gaze carrying a hint of inquiry and a touch of coldness. Her behaviour was out of character. Instead of taking the opportunity to escape while he was undergoing surgery or unconscious, she was by his bedside when he woke up, and now she was saying such things. Is she trying to play a game with me? Trick me to relax before kicking me away and fleeing from my side. Such little tricks were not new to him. A mocking and cold smile tugged at the corner of Eric’s lips as he waited for her to continue. Kate gazed at him with a blank expression. Her heart ached. She said, “I dream that you have passed away.” Eric was stunned for a moment; his throat moved a few times, and his aura instantly turned cold. The icy and violent atmosphere enveloped Kate. Eric clenched his fists tightly. After a long while, he finally spoke in a hoarse voice, “Isn’t that amazing?” His gaze was cold to the extreme, yet he forcefully suppressed the deep-seated pain in his heart, his lips carrying a faint, indifferent smile as he said, “Just as you desire.”Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.