When Shane returned from a quick bath, Lloyd was no longer in the bedroom.
[He knew what he was like - petty, jealous, stubborn. Especially when it came to Adaline. Since childhood.]
[When she said that she wanted to shelter and raise Lloyd, Shane first tried to separate them, the boy was dangerous. But learning that she took him with her when she disappeared...he felt jealous for the first time.]
[Why did she choose only him?]
[Why did he stay nearby?]
[Ah, he, the one who was with her from the very beginning, was the first one she threw away.]
[Everything changed unexpectedly. One day, Adaline began to distance herself. When he jokingly started talking about breaking off the engagement, she wiped the crumbs from his lips and seriously told him not to come again.]
[I'm serious! Don't come to me anymore!]
[Why are you suddenly angry?]
[I'm not angry...But still, don't come!]
[Okay. Then I'll come back later.]
[Ah! I told you don't come!]
[Even her anger seemed charming to him.]
[She tried to stay away from him, but they were engaged. They still had to meet at least once a month. Even if not for long.]
[She acted coldly, as if he didn't exist. But Adaline was never able to truly erase Shane from her life. She thought she had drawn a clear line. But if she really hated him, would she have let him be around for so long?]
[Shane knew that if she pressed, her defenses would crumble.]
[As soon as he cried, pain appeared in her eyes.]
[Just tell me...what's wrong? I'll fix everything. True.]
[You didn't do anything.]
[Then why? Adaline, do you...do you hate me?]
[…]
[Stupid. So stupid.]
Even as he sobbed, he could barely contain his grin, pressing his hand to his lips.
[You can't do that. If she leaves even a drop of pity, she won't be able to end everything.]
[She should have said she couldn't stand him. That he's disgusting. That his existence disgusts her.]
[But Adaline couldn't.]
[She remembered too well what they said about Shane when his mother was alive, how she, breaking into hysterics, shouted that he looked like a reptile. Vile. Unbearable.]
[Adaline then literally flared up with anger. The face turned scarlet.]
[Shane couldn't forget that moment. He was overwhelmed by a crazy feeling; he wanted to bite her flushed cheeks, hold her close, hide her. So that only he can see her like this.]
[How could she be so beautiful?]
[I don't want to offend the reptiles, but you're not like them at all! Do you know how beautiful your eyes are? So blue...You probably saw it yourself in the mirror!]
[The main thing is that they seem beautiful to you.]
[If in doubt, look in the mirror. You will see an angel.]
[...Well, I'm not that narcissistic.]
[You have a face that deserves a little narcissism. And if anyone says otherwise, bring them to me.]
[Will you punish them? You?]
[I have very sharp palms.]
[You'll have to stay away from them to avoid getting attacked.]
[Perhaps it was these memories that prevented her from saying that she hated him. She was afraid of hurting him.]
[Only Adaline was like this.]
[No one ever thought that Shane was capable of suffering. But she looked at him as if he were a freshly laid egg - fragile, vulnerable, one awkward glance and he would crack.]
[Shane was sure she didn't hate him.]
[He believed that if he stayed close, if he didn't let go, she wouldn't be able to push him away completely. After all, she couldn’t say: “I hate you.” She couldn't even break their connection. Yes, she was not affectionate, but she continued to spend time with him.]
[That's why he was shocked when she tried to leave, even through death.]
[But even if I knew for sure that she hated me... it wouldn't change anything.]
[He had no intention of playing noble and leaving on his own.]
Shane pulled back the blanket and lay down next to Adaline.
[Now, even if you say you hate me...it's too late. I'll still stay, Adaline. No matter how much you don't want it.]
[It's a pity, of course. But now you have to live with someone like me.]
He touched the corners of her eyes, still wet from tears, with his lips. He kissed her long eyelashes.
[One source of her pain was enough for him to know that it was enough.]
[Even if she doesn't tell her why she's crying, Shane will find a way to find out.]
The corners of his lips curled into a broken half-smile.