It was late at night. Outside the Serenity Villa, rain fell persistently, and the sound of thunder rolling from afar made the space even more desolate.

He pushed the wheelchair, moving silently along the second-floor corridor. The bedroom door was slightly ajar, spilling out a faint, sickly yellow streak of light. He intended to pass by, but a small figure inside made him freeze.

She was sitting on the wooden floor, leaning against the edge of the bed, her arms hugging her knees tightly. She didn't scream, didn't smash things, nor did she laugh foolishly the way she always displayed before the Kwon family servants. In this moment, she was as silent as a broken porcelain statue, her eyes staring into the void outside the window, where rain was lashing against the glass.

He narrowed his long phoenix eyes, his gaze sharp as a dagger scrutinizing the girl who was his wife in name. Under the thin blanket covering his lap, his calf muscles tensed — the instinct of a predator wanting to stand up and approach, but cold reason restrained him in the wheelchair.

He wheeled himself into the room, stopping right in front of her. The dark shadow from his figure fell over her, engulfing her trembling small body.

"Scared?" He asked, his voice low and hoarse, devoid of discernible emotion. "Even a fool knows to fear thunder?" He paused for a beat, then continued ."Stay obediently in the room..."

His voice rang out coldly, lacking the warmth of a husband. "Don't run around. My legs are crippled; I can't save you if you fall."