[Bonus chapter] His Little Lie

The first rays of dawn pierced through the dense foliage of the silver forest, casting a soft golden glow over the tranquil scene. Dewdrops glistened on the leaves and petals, creating a sparkling tapestry that adorned the forest floor. The air was crisp and filled with a subtle freshness, carrying the scent of moss and earth.

Birds began to awaken, their melodious songs echoing through the trees as if celebrating the arrival of a new day. The forest slowly came alive with the rustling of leaves and the scampering of small creatures. Sunlight filtered through the branches, painting intricate patterns on the ground as if nature itself was weaving a masterpiece.

Helena awoke to the tantalizing aroma of sizzling meat, wafting through her nostrils. Her growling stomach rebelled, urging its owner to rise and devour whatever it was that smelled so delicious, promising a taste to match its scent.

Helena's eyes lazily opened. She felt better now, despite not recalling doing anything besides sleeping... and... what was that? Helena was perplexed to find herself wrapped in a thin blanket. Wasn't that the same blanket she had dreamt about last night?

"Are you awake?" came a familiar voice.

Helena jolted upright, startled. "Ethan?"

She couldn't believe that her puppet husband was sitting by the fire, grilling two plump rabbits glistening with spices and oil, answering all of Helena's bewilderment about the mouthwatering meat scent.

"You? How did you get here?" Helena asked again, wondering if she was still in a dream or if she had entered the realm of reality.

Ethan smiled gently and approached his wife. He extended a stick with a succulent, well-cooked rabbit toward Helena. "Perhaps your suffering stomach can confirm whether this is a dream or not."

Helena's face flushed, blushing. She snatched the roasted meat quickly and began eating. It was hot, scorching her lips.

"Careful, it's hot!" scolded Ethan. His hand reached out to touch Helena's lips, inspecting if the burn was severe or not. "Don't add more wounds to your body!"

Helena's face grew redder, not out of anger but from Ethan's touch on her lips. She swatted Ethan's hand away and grumbled again to hide her embarrassment. "You should have warned me it was hot from the beginning!"

"Could you not see that I had just finished cooking it? Did you expect the meat to be cold right after grilling?" retorted Ethan. He then pulled Helena's face toward him and made a motion to kiss her. Swiftly, Helena pushed Ethan, causing him to stumble.

"What are you doing?" Helena yelled in anger.

"I was going to soothe your lips! My saliva will alleviate the heat!" Ethan said, unapologetically.

"And why can't I do it with my own saliva?" Helena snapped, dampening her lips a few times to alleviate the minor burn caused by her carelessness.

Ethan smiled at Helena, then tore a piece of the grilled meat to cool it quickly. He offered the now edible piece to his wife. "Eat. I know you're hungry. Your stomach was rumbling all night."

Ethan brought the meat close to Helena's lips, prompting her to open her mouth and take the offering from his hand. Helena drifted off for a moment, trying to confirm if her dream from last night had become reality.

So, she had slept embracing Ethan all night long? Oh, dear! What had she done? Upon realizing that Ethan was now feeding her, Helena quickly snatched the grilled meat from him and ate it herself. She turned her face away, distancing herself from Ethan to avoid him catching her overwhelming embarrassment.

Remembering something, Helena was startled and turned back to face Ethan. "You didn't do anything last night, did you?" Helena questioned, her words punctuated by rapid chewing as she devoured the meat. Her eyes bore into Ethan, seeking an honest response.

"Hey, I am your husband!" Ethan retorted a mix of surprise and defensiveness in his voice, his eyebrows furrowing in confusion.

"Just answer my question!" Helena persisted, her tone firm and unwavering, a touch of vulnerability hidden beneath her determination.

"No!" Ethan exclaimed, his voice laced with sincerity and disbelief. He leaned forward, his eyes locking with hers. "How could I do something like that without your consent? Besides, you were unwell," he emphasized, his concern evident in his expression. "How could I have ill intentions toward you?"

Helena then looked at the bandaged wounds on her thighs and arms, made from torn shreds of Ethan's shirt. Her wounds were much better now. Not as painful as the previous night.

"I sprinkled herbal powder on your wounds. They need to be replaced after you finish eating," Ethan said. He quickly devoured his own grilled meat.

Ethan's body suddenly felt a mix of warmth and coldness, recalling the events of the previous night. After all, he was a normal man. How could he not be affected when Helena's body was nestled in his embrace?

His eyes glanced at the nape of Helena's neck, observing the fresh red hickey he had secretly made. Truth be told, he couldn't resist doing something to Helena last night.

'I hope she forgives me for that,' Ethan thought, feeling a mix of emotions. 'I tried my best to hold back though.'

"Hey!" Helena's voice rang out, cutting through the silence as Ethan found himself lost in his thoughts.

Startled, he stammered, momentarily taken aback. "What?" he managed to say, his voice tinged with confusion. "Is the meat undercooked?"

Helena shook her head, her eyes searching his face before she turned away, a hint of vulnerability in her posture. With a mixture of gratitude and emotion, she softly uttered, "Thank you... Thank you for coming," her words carrying a depth of appreciation that lingered in the air.

Ethan's chest swelled. He knew Helena had turned away. However, the crimson hue in her ears let him know that Helena was blushing.

Unfortunately, Ethan couldn't see Helena's smile at that moment. He also didn't know the racing heartbeat in Helena's chest matched his.