"Why are you lost?"
Zayn was a little upset when he pinched Carla's face. He thought that she should've
been touched by the gesture and tear up. He was definitely expecting a warm hug and a
passionate kiss.
But she's just stunned there.
"It's nothing, " replied Carla. She finally came around and grinned bitterly before saying, "I
just felt like this happiness came too suddenly…"
"You're not happy with it?" asked Zayn as he stared at her in confusion.
"No, that's not it at all, " answered Carla. She reached out to hug him and rested her face
against his chest. She enjoyed the rhythm of his powerful heartbeat before she sighed and
claimed, "I've been through too much over the past couple of years, and I feel like happiness
will always be beyond my reach. I am finally happy, and it feels surreal. It's like I'm
dreaming."
"Silly girl. This is not a dream, " reassured Zayn. He hugged her tightly in his arms.
"I hope not…"
Carla buried her face by his neck and greedily inhaled his natural scent. She had been
holding especially tight onto him lately because it felt like he would vanish if she let her
guard down…
Zayn carried her and placed her onto the bed. He wanted to have her then and there, but
he worried that her body couldn't handle the fatigue.
Hence, he quietly held her and stroked her shoulder softly to coax her to bed.
"I'll nap now and wake up earlier tomorrow morning to make everyone some breakfast, "
murmured Carla wearily. She was like a cuddly kitten at that moment and was curled up
obediently in Zayn's arms. Her beautiful face was pressed against his heart, and she
listened to his heartbeat as she slept. That made her feel especially warm and safe.
Zayn rested his head on his arm and stared at Carla, who was lying sideways by his
side.
Back then, he found it annoying that she was noisy and troublesome. Turned out, her being
quiet just got him to worry…
It's like she's completely changed after she got back. She's starting to act lost and looks like
she's in a daze…
Am I overthinking this? Or is there something off with her body and health?
Zayn was nervous. However, when he saw her sleeping that soundly, he comforted
himself. Maybe she's just exhausted. She'll be fine after resting for a few days…
Zayn kissed her, then fell asleep with her in his arms.
That night, the rain suddenly poured, and the loud thunder woke Carla up. It made her
tremble in fear.
Zayn was obviously still asleep, but he instinctively held her closer and stroked her arm
gently. His other hand covered her ears and pulled her face to his chest.
Carla listened to his heartbeat and slowly calmed herself down. She adjusted her
position in his arms before she continued sleeping.
He was like her rock, and she felt like he was her protector that could shield her from
everything.
I don't need to be scared with him around…
The children's gleeful laughter echoed in the morning. Zayn woke up groggily, and he
instinctively reached out to his side. However, Carla was nowhere to be found.
He jumped out of his bed immediately to look for her, but she wasn't in the washroom nor in
the mini-study room.
Zayn panicked. He opened the door to search for her. At the very next second, he saw
Carla in a casual outfit. She had an apron on and was putting breakfast on the dining
table.
The kids were chatting away and discussing whether their mommy's cooking had improved.
Josh was sitting in a wheelchair, so it was difficult for him to move about. He sat by the
dining table and looked like he was tempted to taste-test everything.
However, Randy halted him and ordered sternly, "No, we can't eat until Mommy and Uncle
Zay are here!"
"We may be kids, but we have to be courteous, " agreed Venus in her baby voice. She even
tilted her tiny head to Dori and asked, "Am I right, Dori?"
"Yes!"
Dori had always favored Venus, so the former would agree to whatever the latter said.
"Okay, " muttered Josh. He retracted his hand obediently, but his eyes remained stuck on
the hot cross bunnies. His saliva was borderline leaking when he commented, "I wonder
when Uncle Zay will be up. I'm so hungry."
"I'll go get Uncle Zay…"
Randy was about to walk up the stairs when he saw Zayn staring at them in the corridor.
The former instantly called out, "Uncle Zay, come and have breakfast."

Share



