The next day, Lilia slowly opened her heavy eyelids. The sound of birds chirping outside the window told her that it was morning. Lilia raised her gaze and saw Jean was still sound asleep.

  The man's face made Lilia think of Jean's back that was covered with terrible scars. The scars reflected the torment and abuse Jean endured 14 years ago.

  When Lilia saw the scar on Jean's back last night, she could only hug the man tighter. Her fingers traced the rough scars that had damaged the surface of Jean's smooth skin. Lilia hoped she could turn back time and help the boy before these wounds were engraved on his back.

  The sound of soft moaning that escaped Jean's lips jolted Lilia back from her thoughts. She held her breath and laid still, luckily the man didn't wake up. Lilia exhaled the breath she was holding earlier, then rubbed her eyes. She was still sleepy after staying up late, so she closed her eyes again.

  The bedroom was again filled by the sound of the regular breathing of the two of them.

  *****

  At about half past nine in the morning, one of the servants knocked on the door of the room.

  "Good morning Young Master Jean, Madame Lilia. I was asked by Mr. Lauren to inform me that the guests would start arriving in half an hour. Please quickly get ready and come downstairs for breakfast," the servant said from behind the door.

  Lilia jumped up when she heard that. She immediately panicked when she heard that the guests would be arriving in half an hour. She's not ready at all!

  A low chuckle from the side made Lilia turn her head. She watched Jean slowly get out of bed with lazy movements, as if the servant's words had not affected him.

  "Good morning. Did you sleep well?" Jean asked while observing Lilia's face closely. The woman still looked a little tired, but her cheeks were turning red as usual.

  "Ah… yes, I slept well… but this isn't the time to talk about that! Jean, when you're awake, why don't you wake me up too?!" Lilia protested in a low voice.

  Jean shrugged his shoulders with an indifferent expression. "You are still tired after everything that happened yesterday. I prefer to let you rest enough."

  "Ahh, you really are……!" Lilia couldn't complain about what that man did as he only thought of Lilia's well-being. She got out of bed and immediately bursted into the bathroom.

  Jean chuckled seeing Lilia's behavior, then he got up too. The man left and headed for another bathroom.

  When Jean returned to his room fifteen minutes later, Lilia had already finished taking a shower. The woman was wearing a dark blue shirt and black trousers. Her long hair was tied back, giving her appearance a simple yet fresh look.

  "Jean, are you finished?" Lilia turned around as the man entered. Her husband was still wearing the same black T-shirt he wore yesterday.

  The man nodded. "When you're done, let's come down." his words were short.

  He turned to leave, but suddenly a pair of slender arms embraced him from behind. Jean's steps automatically stopped when he turned to his wife. Before he could say anything, Lilia had pressed her soft lips against the man's lips.

  "Jean, everything will be fine." Lilia whispered after kissing the man. "You promised me last night that you won't be sad again. You will keep your promise, right?"

  Ever since Lilia heard that the man was suffering from depression from the incident 14 years ago, she had always been worried about Jean's mental state. The man had just lost the figure who faithfully accompanied him to recover from his trauma. Would Jean fall back into depression from Uncle Hans' death?

  Jean's eyes widened when he heard Lilia's whisper. The man looked closely at his wife's face. Worry and concern for Jean colored her expression. Her soft voice sounded like music to Jean's ears, calming the uneasiness creeping in his heart.

  Jean gently smiled and stroked her cheek affectionately. "You don't need to worry. As long as you are by my side, I'll be fine." he said with confidence.

  Lilia's laughter broke when she heard that. They hugged each other in silence for a while before finally descending downstairs, hand in hand.

  *****

  When Lilia and Jean arrived at the dining room, everyone was already gathered there. James sat at the head of the table, while Irene sat at his right. Across from her, Claire and Andrew sat side by side. The servants were busy pacing back and forth to bring food, but their faces looked grim.

  James looked up as the young couple walked into the room. He raised his eyebrows with an annoyed expression. "Why are you two just getting off now? Do you know what time it is?" James scolded.

  Lilia shrank her body when she heard James' harsh scold. She unconsciously tightened her grip on Jean's hand as if seeking protection. Lilia felt a little guilty because she hugged Jean for a long time. The woman opened her mouth to explain, but Jean cut her off.

  "We're busy," his answer was short in an icy cold tone.

  James' spoon fell against his plate with a loud clunk. Jean's eldest brother hurriedly closed his gaping mouth. He took turns staring at Lilia, who had a bright red face, and Jean, who looked as calm as ever.

  "W-What are you doing?! Don't you know the time?! You guys……"

  "Brother James."

  James began lecturing them, but Jean's next remark immediately made his brother shut up.

  "Do you really want to know?" Jean asked with a defiant look.

  James pressed his lips together and quit talking. He looked annoyed, but he had nowhere to vent his frustration.

  Irene, realizing her husband's annoyance, immediately stepped forward to calm the atmosphere. The woman wiped the corners of James's mouth with a tissue before saying, "James, don't be so hard on them. Jean and Lilia just came yesterday. Isn't it natural that they need time to rest?"

  "But…" James muttered with a dissatisfied expression.

  "Besides, it's still too early to start his funeral ceremony." Irene continued with an indisputable smile. "Why are you in such a hurry, hmm?"

  Irene's tone was soft and calm, but has a firmness behind it. Even her husband couldn't oppose her if she had spoken like that.

  James looked at Irene with a bitter gaze. But before the man could argue, he heard his sister Claire join in the conversation.

  "We all know Brother James is in a bad mood as a result of Uncle Hans leaving. But Jean and Uncle Hans are close like father and son. He must have been even more devastated than we were." Claire said to James in a critical tone. "Can't you spare him some time to rest and reorganize his mind?"

  After criticizing her eldest brother, Claire turned to Lilia with a big smile.

  "Come on, sit down and eat something. Brother James's emotions are often unstable like that, so there's no need to take it personally." Claire said while pointing at the empty chair beside Irene.

  James glared at his younger sister's words…… He just wanted to give Lilia a warning to watch her attitude, but why would his own family defend that woman?! James felt that his pride had only gotten worse after that brief conversation.