Aiden, do you hate me?

"You, sure?" Anna asked on the phone.

"Yes, Ann." Shawn answered from the other side.

"I should have known!" Anna said, pinching the space between her eyebrows.

"He is just worried about you." Shawn said.

"But, who will send the whole team!?" Anna scoffed.

"Whole fućking team from Global Pharma is here just because he is worried about me?" Anna hissed.

"Didn't I say that I can manage my family business on my own? Is there any ulterior motive again?" she asked.

"I don't know," Shawn honestly answered.

"Sorry for lashing out on you." Anna apologized to her poor friend who didn't even know what was happening.

"It's okay, Annie. I understand how helpless you are feeling" Shawn said, feeling pity for his friend.

"Don't worry…I will manage this." Anna sighed.

"I and Shasha will take care of the rest of the things here. Don't pressurize yourself, okay?" Shawn said.

"I doubt it. Leaving both of you all alone will result in nothing but office romance" Anna teased, trying to lighten the conversation.

"Look who is speaking! Don't let your self control slip, okay? After all, your hot ex-boyfriend is just next door. I heard that you guys were PhD professionals in throwing dog food" Shawn teased back.

Before he realized, he already spoke his mind. "Sorry. I shouldn't have brought this topic." he apologized.

Before Anna could say anything, it started to drizzle and that was when she realized that she had walked far from the hotel into a flower garden.

"I..it looks...looks like it..will rain. I...need to go" Anna stuttered.

Her fingers started to quiver and her demeanor drastically changed to fear.

A traumatic fear.

"Better go fast," Shawn hastily said. He knows how much rain and thunderstorms scares her.

He doesn't know the reason but he does know that it started even before they met each other.

He brought up that topic once but it only left her upset, so he never asked her again about the cause of her frear.

Meanwhile, Anna started to walk fast, her eyes brimmed with fear and her limbs shivering. The memories of that day from a few years ago started to flood into her mind, making her feel cold with fear that she couldn't help her shiver.

She warmed her arms with her warm palms but it wasn't enough. She started to walk fast but before she could reach somewhere safe, a huge thunder boomed, sending a blinding light over the sky.

When Anna saw it, her heart started to drum fast against her ribcage and her breath swallowed.

When the second thunder boomed again, her legs gave up and she couldn't help but stumble.

Losing the balance, she fell on the ground. But, Anna didn't try to stand up. She curled up, her face and knees as close as possible. She closed her ears and closed her eyes tightly so that she wouldn't be able to hear the thunder.

If she hears that sound often, her trauma will become worse… she might even faint.

And, the nightmares that might follow, are something Anna never wants to see again. A

Unfortunately, as it is a thunderstorm, another thunder shot across the sky.

However, before Anna could hear it, warmth engulfed her. Someone held her tight and closed her ears, trying their best to reduce the intensity of sound.

And, that warmth she felt was so familiar just like the warm rays of the sun in the spring.

The soothing and comforting scent wafted her nose, giving the sense of security she wanted now.

It felt so good that for a few seconds, she was able to forget all this.

And, when she opened her eyes after a few seconds, it was Aiden who was hugging her tightly. He has her head pressed against his chest while his big, warm palm is closing her other ear.

He is wrapped around her like a cocoon, despite his fractured hand, protecting her just like how a mother protects its baby.

Another thunder boomed again, but this time Anna didn't feel that scared, at least not as much as she used to.

Staring at him is like therapy to her. His handsome face, those magnetic eyes...and most importantly, the beautiful memories she has with him are strong enough to fight the negative energy in her heart.

Meanwhile, as soon as thunder passed, Aiden lifted her up gently. As one of his hands is fractured, he was a bit clumsy but he somehow managed to carry her to the patio nearby and made her sit on the couch.

Noticing that her dress is wet and almost transparent, he covered her with his jacket.

But, all the time, he didn't let her go. She is still in his arms, with her head close to his heart. His rhythmic beat calmed her down a bit and like always it made wonders to her.

Neither of them spoke. While Anna tried to calm down, Aiden tried his best to make her feel comfortable.

However, even before Anna could recover a little, the series of thunderstorms started again, while the wind howled because of the air.

It triggered Anna again and she could only hug Aiden tightly while her eyes watered up.

Her traumatic past is so dark and horrifying that even the bravest one couldn't control it.

When Aiden felt Anna sobbing, his heart started to ache. However, he couldn't do anything but pet her head like he used to do whenever she was tense.

He hugged her tightly and kissed her forehead. "It's okay.. I am here" he whispered against her ears.

After a few seconds, the thunder came to halt and it was only when Anna opened her bloodshot eyes.

The first thing she saw was his concerned and scared face and it tore her heart.

"Ann, are you fine now? Do you want anything?" he asked, his eyes filled with worry when Anna started spacing out.

And, when Anna heard him , she was shocked for a second.

She never thought he would still care for her in the same way. If it was someone else they would have felt happy to see her suffer.

After all, the break up was initiated by her.

She broke his heart into a million pieces and abandoned him in despair.

Yet...yet, he cares for her.

She would have felt at least a little better if he would have hated her. He is making it worse by acting like a forgiving person.

It is making her awfully difficult to let go.

"Aiden, do..do you not hate me?" Anna faintly spoke.