Alyssa woke up to someone gently stroking her face. Seeing Arestair's face so close to hers made her jump and fall from the bed.

'You okay my love? I didn't mean to startle you' he held her hand and picked her up. He pulled her on his lap and buried his nose on the crook of her neck.

Alyssa just woke up. This was way too early for her to process. She just sat there wondering if Arestair was a dog in his previous life or something. Why does he sniff her so much. Is it fun?

She notices that his both hands are wounded. The wounds looked pretty deep and some parts of his face are bruised. That reminds her of the blood from previous night. Was that actually just Arestair's blood?

' What happened to your hand? How did you get hurt? ' she asked as she inspected his hand.

Her face scrunched up. She didn't like the fact that his wounds were just open like that. He should have bandaged them. She gently ran her finger on the wounds.Arestair chuckled at her cuteness.

'It's nothing much. Don't worry '.

Memories of last night came into his mind.
*************
Arestair was taking his daily reports on Alyssa as usual from the maids. The maids told him that Alyssa didn't eat anything the entire day. He got worried, so he went to check up on her.

But he halted when he saw Luke enter Alyssa's room with a tray of food. He silently took a peek.

He heard their conversation. He saw Luke give her hug and feed her.

He went back to his room feeling dizzy and awful. Another man touched his Alyssa wasn't even the main cause of his pain. The fact that she herself embraced another man was probably way more painful.

All she ever does is push him away. She never once embraced him. He only saw fear in her eyes for him. Every single time...as if she'd seen a ghost...And she opened up to Luke...? Just like that? She hugged him?!

'Am I that scary? Why does he get to be close to her and not me? Why does he get to feed her. And not me..She looked so comfortable with him.. Why can't it just be me....Why does she not want me. I would even tear the world down for her.. So why can't it be me! She said wants to leave. Does she want to leave me forever. No. No .. No.. Nooo. That... I can't let that happen. I can never let that happen..NEVER'

His mind was in chaos. He felt like his heart was ripping apart. Someone knocked on the door but Arestair was too deep in despair to notice.

Luke entered when he got no response. He was taken aback by Arestair's disheveled state. This was the first time he saw his boss like that.

He tried preaching his thoughts on letting Alyssa at least visit her home once a while. But Arestair seemed like he couldn't understand anything Luke was saying.

More like he couldn't hear anything. Everything seemed like a blur to him. He could only make out some of the muffled words.

'huh?... Luke's here? How dare he enter without permission. He's saying something. What's he saying. I can't really hear him.

Alyssa? He said something about letting Alyssa leave? DOES HE HAVE A DEATH WISH!! HOW FUCKING DARE HE EVEN SAY THAT!!

LET HER LEAVE?!

LET MY WOMAN FUCKING LEAVE??!!

NEVER'

Arestair only heard this much and snapped.

Before Luke knew it, he was on the ground. Punch after punch was thrown at him. He couldn't understand why Arestair was getting this angry! He didn't even say anything wrong!

He tried, but stopping Arestair was impossible. Luke was on the verge of passing out. His entire face was bloody. Fortunately Jordan came in time and pushed him off of Luke. But not before taking a few hits himself.

Jordan managed punch Arestair a few times which calmed him down a bit. Normally he would be lucky if he could land even 1 punch and still had his arms intact.

But right now Arestair seemed too out of it. Arestair looked at the almost passed out Luke with disappointment. He didnt expect Luke of all people to suggest him such a stupid thing.

'Sir what happened? Why would you do this! You've never hurt me or Luke like this before!' Jordan asked with worry as he held Luke.

' Take him out of my sight. Admit him to a hospital. Tell him to take his time recovering. Make sure he doesn't show his face to me for a while. ' Arestair stated in a deep cold voice as he stared down at Luke emotionlessly.

After Jordan carried Luke away, Arestair looked at himself in the mirror which was in the corner of the room. His disheveled form, his bloody hands, his face ... everything about himself made him feel despicable.

'No wonder she doesn't wanna be with me. Who'd ever like a monster..' he murmured to himself and broke the mirror with a punch. Blood trickled down from his injured hand.

He left to see Alyssa without washing off the blood. He wanted pounce her and destroy her peaceful slumber just like she destroyed his. But he couldn't.

He decided that night that he'd go to any length just to keep her here. Even if it meant chaining her up or killing her loved one's. He. Will. Do. It.
*************

He kissed her neck and left a hickey. She already started squirming due to being uncomfortable. Normally, this would've turned him on. But right now, he wasn't in the best mental state.

For now, he has assigned more people to watch over her. The security has been increased just so she can not walk around freely without his knowledge anymore. Now all that's left is for him to calm his nerves a little.

What better way to do that than cuddles. Only after snuggling into her, or more like cutting her air supply into half was he able to finally sleep in peace.

Her comforting scent and her presence slowly lulled him into dreamland. And he could swear he has never slept better.