'Who is this handsome stranger? '

Two months later...

Athena opened her heavy eyelids slowly. She felt like her head was going to split. Her throat felt so dry, making her feel uncomfortable. She tried to move her body but felt like someone was inserting needles in all parts of her body. She groaned in pain.

"Don't move." A deep velvety voice was heard. Athena looked around and saw a blurry face. She opened her mouth to say something but no voice came out. Why was she in so much pain? She tried to sit up but felt an excruciating pain in her lower abdomen. She closed her eyes. She could not bear this kind of pain.

The wound on her lower abdomen opened because of her movements and blood poured out, soaking the clothes she was wearing.

"You are really a stubborn one. I told you to not move!" The voice scolded her in a gentle tone. She felt a hand touch her wound lightly. She hissed in pain.

"Be obedient and remain still. It's going to hurt a little," the voice said. This voice... It sounded familiar yet unfamiliar at the same time. Something suddenly press very hard on her wound. Athena whimpered in pain. Her eyes teared. It did hurt like hell.

"Don't cry," the voice coaxed her gently. Somehow this voice lessened the terrible pain she felt. She felt something press on her dry and chapped lips.

"Open your mouth," the gentle and soothing voice sounded again.

She subconsciously parted her lips and she felt some bitter liquid enter her mouth.

She frowned and immediately spat out the liquid. She heard someone sigh heavily. "Don't spit it out. It will help you recover quickly."

Something pressed on her lips again.

" Be a good girl and open your mouth."

The voice was quite pleasant to the ears. It sounded like music in her ears. She opened her mouth slowly. The bitter liquid entered her mouth. The taste was horrible.

"Now, swallow it."

She obediently did what she was told. Her expression contorted at the bitter taste. More of this horrible liquid entered her mouth. She swallowed some of the liquid and spat out the rest.

"Little girl, stop spitting out the medicine if you want to recover!" The voice sounded a little bit stern.

Right now, her mind was in chaos. She could not think properly. She could only oblige. Where was she? Who was the person who was feeding her this strange liquid? Was she not dead?

Athena felt someone lift her a little and was made to lean on something soft and warm.

"Open your eyes now."

Athena opened her eyes.

" Is this heaven?" She mumbled.

Everything was so blurry at first but soon became clear. She saw a handsome face right in front of her.

"Argh!" she screamed, looking startled. "Who... Who are you?" Her voice sounded hoarse and unpleasant.

A handsome man sat in front of her. He had short black hair, chiseled good looks... What attracted her were those sharp obsidian eyes. 'Who is this handsome stranger?' she thought.

He smiled lightly. "Good question. I should be the one asking you that... Who are you?"

Athena blinked. " Umm..."

"The name is Darren," he interrupted her.

"Athena."

Darren smiled. " What a beautiful name for a beautiful lady."

Beautiful lady? She knew that she was not beautiful...

Athena looked around. This place looked so unfamiliar and small. "Where am I? What am I doing here?"

He moved away and poured her a glass of water. "You ask too many questions."

He handed her the glass of water. She did not immediately accept the glass. Instead she looked at him warily. The man chuckled. "I am not going to poison you at all. You don't have to look at me like that."

She really felt thirsty. Athena looked into those gentle obsidian eyes and accepted the glass hesitantly. She drank slowly under his watchful eyes.

"Good girl!" Darren smiled fondly at her and ruffled her hair. Athena moved away, startled. "Hey, what are you doing? We are not even close! I don't know you!"

" But now you do know me," he said in a teasing manner and ruffled her hair again. She rolled her eyes at him. This guy was just too friendly... Quite surprisingly, she did not feel uncomfortable at all. It was like they had known each other for a long time.

Soon her hair looked like a bird's nest. She scowled. "How long have I been staying here?" she asked.

Darren sighed. "You do ask a lot of questions. You have been unconscious for two months."

Her eyes widened and she gaped at him in disbelief. " Two... Two months?" she stuttered.

She had been unconscious for two freaking months! How was she able to survive anyway from that heavy fall? It was a miracle that she was still alive.

"You are quite lucky that you survived," Darren suddenly said, pulling her from her thoughts.

"You were the one who saved me?"

Darren nodded.

"Thank you for saving my life.," she thanked him gratefully. If he had not saved her, maybe she would have been in heaven or hell...

"I will do anything for my little princess," he grinned. Athena blushed. She knew that he was teasing her again.

"I am not your little princess," she pouted.

He suddenly pinched her cheeks. Athena yelped and slapped his hand away. "What was that for?"

"I just wanted to pinch you," he said nonchalantly. The door was suddenly knocked. " I will be back," he said and walked towards the door. He opened the door and got out.

Athena sighed after he left. After she had escaped from the castle, her life was no longer the same.

"You shouldn't have come to our home in the first place." Those words rang in her mind. That voice... It sounded like Trisha's voice. She was bewildered. Why would Trisha push her off the cliff? She did not do anything wrong to her. So why would she want to kill her? Trisha's innocent face flashed in her mind and she shook her head. Trisha wouldn't do such a thing.

"You are so pathetic," a cold voice rang in her ears. She quickly turned to look around but so no one. She only shrugged. She was hearing things again.

Athena couldn't believe that she could be that evil. When Darren opened the door and walked in, he found her staring blankly at the wall.

"Don't think too much," he said softly, making her snap out her daze.

"I can't believe that it was her who pushed me off the cliff. But it was her voice..."

"Who pushed you off the cliff?"

However she did not hear him. " I have to go back. I need to find the truth..."

She tried to stand up but failed. She gasped in pain. He rushed to stop her from trying to stand up. "Stop being stubborn. You have not yet healed completely. You have to limit your movements."

" But I have to go back. I have to," she said weakly.

" No, you don't need to go back right now." He said sternly. " You will go back after you have recovered completely. I will make something light for you to eat."

After some time, he came back with a bowl full of bland porridge. He scooped some porridge with a spoon and blew it gently.

"Open your mouth."

She blushed and quickly refused. "Ah, no. I can feed myself."

"Just open your mouth. Or do you prefer I use my mouth to feed you?"

Athena looked at his serious expression speechlessly. She sighed in defeat and opened her mouth reluctantly.

"Good girl." He gave her a toothy grin. Her cheeks turned crimson as he continued to feed her.

"So..." She began.

"Shhhh. No one is allowed to speak while eating. Where are your table manners?" He scolded her.

She could only lower her head shyly. She had only ate a little when she said that she was full.

"You have to eat more. Look at how skinny you are!"

Athena could only force herself to finish the bowl of porridge.

"That's my big girl," he smiled and patted her head gently.

Why did she feel like she was being treated like a pet? She lowered her gaze and her eyes almost popped out of their sockets at what she saw. Her face turned a beetroot. Why was she wearing a man's shirt?! Where is her dress?

"This... This..." she stammered as her blush deepened. She looked so cute and childlike at the moment. "Why am I wearing... a man's shirt?"

"Oh that," he scratched his head awkwardly. "Your dress was torn and no longer wearable."

Does that mean he saw everything? However she did not dare to ask him. It was obvious that he saw everything while changing her clothes and while treating her wounds. Athena bit her bottom lip and looked down. She did not dare to look into those beautiful sharp obsidian eyes. Why did he have such beautiful eyes?

"I was thinking of making you something to wear for the meantime," Darren said with his usual smile.

She looked up, surprised. " Are you a tailor?"

"No," he chuckled. "I am a hunter but I can just give it a try. I have never made clothes before... Just wait here. I will be back very soon."

" Where are you going?" Athena asked.

"I have an acquaintance of mine who sells fabric at a cheap price." He said as he stood up and walked towards the door. When he reached door, he paused and turned to look at her. "Don't miss me too much."

He gave her a wink and finally left. Athena sighed. This narcissistic man...

He came back thirty minutes later. He was holding a thin silver fabric in his hands. Athena raised an eyebrow at him. He grinned and took out a box of needles and a pair of scissors.

"Why do you have so much needles?" She said in astonishment. He clicked his tongue. "You ask too many questions." She secretly glared at him. He sat down, cross-legged and stared intensely at her, making her feel uncomfortable. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"I am taking your measurements," he said seriously.

" With your eyes?" She asked in disbelief. "Don't people use tape measures to take one's measurements?"

"I don't have one," he shrugged nonchalantly.

He stared deeply at her flat chest. Athena's ears turned red and she quickly covered her chest. Pervert!

He chuckled. "There is nothing to cover. I have seen it all already," he said blatantly.

Her heart stopped beating for a split second. Her face turned red. Why was his speech so blunt? He suddenly pinched her cheeks, catching her off guard. She screamed in pain. Her eyes turned teary and slapped his hand away. Athena rubbed her stinging cheeks.

He looked at her cute red face in satisfaction. " It's time to get to work."

Athena rolled her eyes speechlessly. He was seriously going to try to make clothes for her?

Darren felt a piercing gaze on him and immediately turned. His back was now facing her. "You are not allowed to look."

Athena,"..."

" So do you leave alone here?" Athena asked curiously.

" Yes," he answered.

"You don't have a family?"

Darren did not answer immediately. Instead he turned to look at her and placed a finger on his lips. "Shhhh. You are distracting me. You wouldn't want to wear something ugly, right?"

Athena closed her mouth and did not speak to him again. Instead she looked around. It was quite a cosy place. She could not help but relax. There weren't a lot of things in the small house. Only one painting of a blue rose was hung on the wall.

Time passed slowly and she began to feel bored. None of the two spoke. She looked at Darren's broad back and a faint smile appeared on her face. She let out a yawn and half closed her eyes. She was beginning to feel sleepy...