Daybreak arrived, and Serena Feng would soon have to fight again. At that moment, no one would care about her weakness as a newlywed, nor would anyone care about her status.
Daybreak arrived, and Serena Feng was alone once more. No matter how close they were, at that moment he could not stay by her side.
He wished he could create a carefree world for Serena Feng, so she would no longer have to struggle for life and survival. But his own fate could never be smooth and peaceful.
A life where the woman runs the home and the man works outside is a luxury for both him and Serena Feng. From the moment he chose her, her life was destined to be turbulent—he had chosen her precisely for that strength.
Before, he only thought Serena Feng suited him. Now, he couldn't bear to let her face all those storms alone. People are always contradictory like this.
Thinking of this, Nolan Drake felt even more guilty. He had gained so much from Serena Feng, yet what he could give her was far too little.
Letting out a soft sigh, Nolan glanced at the sky outside, no longer wasting time. Serena Feng probably wouldn't sleep for even an hour before she had to get up. In the meantime, he needed to clean her up quickly, or else when the maids came in the morning, she'd have her hands full.
Soon, a shadow guard brought in two buckets of hot water, silently slipping into the adjoining washroom. The shadow guard was tall and slender, her curves distinct—even wrapped head to toe in black, it was clear she was a woman.
It made sense—Nolan Drake would never allow a man to protect Serena Feng so closely.
"Stand guard. No one is to enter," Nolan ordered the people outside.
Actually, when he came last night, he had already cleared out everyone around them. Giving the order again was just to emphasize how important this was.
The shadow guard made no sound, vanishing instantly when Nolan Drake carried Serena Feng into the washroom.
Nolan Drake might be a prince of royal blood, but he was not so pampered that he couldn't manage without servants. He could take care of himself just fine, and likewise, tending to Serena Feng was no trouble.
Seeing Serena Feng's pale face, Nolan worried she wouldn't be able to handle it. He wanted to cancel today's contest, but...
Nolan could only think about it—he didn't dare actually do it. Yesterday's incident hadn't blown over yet, and who knew if Serena Feng would hold it against him later. He'd already conceded once on her behalf; if he did it again, she'd probably kick him out of bed for real.
Serena Feng looked easygoing, but once you crossed her limits, she wouldn't yield an inch—unyielding, proud, and fierce.
He kept testing her boundaries, afraid of stepping over the line. Each time, he realized how tolerant Serena Feng was toward him.
Nolan Drake laid Serena Feng flat on the bed, tucked her in, then sat at the bedside, gently stroking her cheek and tucking the loose strands of hair behind her ear.
"You've really been wronged." She had, in every sense. No phoenix crown—the ornate headpiece reserved for imperial brides—no red bridal robes, nothing of the ceremonial splendor she deserved. Worse, it had all been so rushed and unceremonious, and now, on the very next day, she had to deal with a pack of clowns and troublemakers itching to provoke her.
The more Nolan thought about it, the more guilt gnawed at him. He'd gained so much from Serena Feng, yet given her so little. When love runs deep, reason loses all control; he knew he shouldn't, but he couldn't stop himself.
But regret? He felt none. If he could go back, he'd make the same choice all over again. He'd imagined holding Serena Feng countless times—now that she was finally in his arms, how could he possibly let go?
Now, all he could do was try to make Serena Feng as comfortable as possible. Nolan placed both hands on her waist and started massaging her—she'd mentioned her waist ached several times.
He kept massaging her nonstop, his own hands growing sore, but Nolan didn't stop. Not until dawn, when the rooster crowed, did he finally pull back, kiss Serena Feng's forehead, and leave reluctantly, biting his lip as pain flared from his old injury.
Nolan hesitated for a moment before resuming his usual composure and continuing forward.
It looked like his 'illness' had worsened again. He'd probably be confined for most of the next half month. In a way, that was good—a reputation for being lost in women would put some people at ease and make others give up. The only downside was that he couldn't openly help Serena Feng in the coming contests.
Fortunately, Serena Feng wasn't a weak woman who could be bullied. She held the advantage in the contests ahead, and Wendy Su wouldn't find it easy to get the better of her.
……