Chapter 3

Subconsciously, Amelia clenched his shirt hard, muttering incoherent words due to fear. All she needed was a hug.

All the time she went through hell alone, her only wish was for someone to hug her this way. No words, no advice, no laughter, no cursing, but just a hug.

Also, who was this angel? Did God send down an angel on purpose, a physical one at that to stop her? Or was this man human like her? She thought humans like him had gone extinct.

How? How on earth again did she meet this man? This was him, Cullen. All, the times she encountered him, he had always saved her in one way or the other. It surprised her that he didn't recognize her. Well, they have only crossed paths twice… but still…

"I have to get going. I still have things to do," Cullen spoke up after a long moment of silence, filled with comfort.

Amelia was taken aback by surprise. She felt she hadn't cried enough. But on second thought, he has been so much of a help to her. She appreciates him.

She pulled away from the hug and bowed her head before him as an act of gratitude. The stranger blinked at her act and pushed it off with just a nod.

Amelia raised her tear-filled face again when she no longer felt his presence before her. But to her further surprise, Cullen walked towards her belongings, picked them up, and nodded at her to follow him.

Her heart skipped a beat. Reality descended on her and she realized that Daniel and his mistress would need her service at the moment.

Since she did not accomplish her goal of dying, she must surely return to the house. And when she does, what would she say? What explanation would she give to them? She just lost her child but she doubts they care.

Panic immediately covered her whole being. Her hands began to tremble with each fist she envisioned she would receive.

Cullen paused when he heard no footsteps following behind him. He turned around, only to see the woman he asked to follow him standing at the same spot, looking all weird. Not just that, her eyes were glued to her floor and she trembled like a wet leaf.

He pinched the area between his eyebrows and let out a long heavy sigh. He charged towards her without a second thought and with each step he took, the more his heartbeat accelerated because of her.

She did not just tremble, she also looked extremely pale. Taking in deep breaths, he reminded himself to be gentle with her. He grabbed her hand the moment he stood before her.

Amelia jolted back to harsh reality again. Her hand in his grip trembled and before she would know what was happening, she was being dragged by him.

Out of reflex, she slapped his hand, struggling to be freed from him. "No_ no, please stop. I have to go back home," she begged, realizing her power was no match for him. His hold was so strong on her.

"Home?" Cullen halted, his pupils constricting slightly. He halted to give her words a short thought, and at the same time asked himself questions.

A few seconds later, he pushed everything to the back of his mind and continued dragging her along.

"You don't have a home," he said, "Well… if you do, I will see if you're returning there or not tomorrow," he added, his voice neither hard nor gentle.

Also, his expression was blank. It gave Amelia a hard time to know what he was thinking.

Amelia parted her lips to speak but her words were caught up in her throat. In every short encounter they had, he always made sure to make her feel valued and protected. Something her family and husband for seven years have never done. Everything about him was a bit confusing, his mood and more.

However, she whined in the next second when his grip on her wrist became a bit too hard. The swelling on that spot she acquired from Daniel's fist hasn't healed yet.

Cullen halted and let go of her wrist when he heard her tiny whine. He met her lime-green eyes, and took her hand in his, scanning her wrist.

There was a purple mark around her wrist area. He frowned slightly and gently caressed that spot, using his thumb.

His jaw clenched and he met her eyes again, "Who did this?" the voice came out sterner than he intended when he asked.

He raised her sleeves a bit without her permission. And before Amelia would stop him from going too far, Cullen had already caught sight of her bruised arms.

The sight of her arm brought back ugly memories to him. Memories he tried to bury. He did not even take notice when he began to clench her wrist so tight again.

"Stop please," Amelia begged, the pain on her wrist getting unbearable. And also, she hated how he looked at her bruises. His eyes held pity in them. She hates that look so much.

Cullen realized himself and immediately let go of her wrist. The angered expression on his face softened a little.

Amelia slowly covered her skin when he let go of her. She forced out a small smile, "Thank you," she said about walking away from him.

"It's nothing," Cullen replied casually and turned away from her. His fists were clenched together as he tried to control the anger he felt.

He wasn't angry because her bruises seemed to come from a man. He was angry because of the memories he allowed the bruises to force back to the surface of his mind.

Seeing she had nothing more to do around him, Amelia turned her back on him to return to her hell hole. The stranger had been so nice to her, which was so odd coming from a human. However, that doesn't mean he could see her bruises without her permission as he just did.

Or perhaps, she can just decide to jump off the bridge after he leaves. Whereas, everyone would be happier without her.