Chapter 1074

Aurora's death brought Carissa no solace. That night, she lay in bed, eyes closed, breathing slowly and steadily, appearing deeply asleep. In reality, she was wide awake. Scenes from the past played vividly in her mind, like butterflies flitting just out of reach in a canyon. She struggled to grasp anything, but her attempts remained futile.

It was nearly dawn when exhaustion finally overwhelmed her restless thoughts, and she drifted off. Rafael awoke; he hadn't slept either. He sensed Carissa's pretense; a sleeping person's body relaxes completely, but hers remained tense. However, she was genuinely asleep now.

His heart ached. Their marriage had been harmonious, even loving, yet he knew Carissa kept her heart locked away. She’d discuss anything—political matters, even national affairs—but her feelings remained deeply buried. She concealed her wounds behind a facade of composure, refusing to allow herself joy, as if believing she no longer deserved it. Despite a bright smile, a profound sadness lingered in her eyes, a sorrow that made her self-aware yet tethered to her pain.

Once a lively young woman, a wildflower blooming freely, she now seemed measured, even in her smile. Rafael longed for her to open up, to share her burdens. He wished she would let herself cry, as she had after reading her uncle's letter; he’d hoped then she might finally speak her mind, but she remained silent.

Quietly, he reached for her hand, his long fingers gently encircling hers. Her small hand fit perfectly within his grasp. She didn't wake, only sinking deeper into sleep, her dreams haunted by bloodshed and violence.

Carissa skillfully concealed her emotions, avoiding thoughts of the past. But when she did remember, the same nightmare returned: the brutal massacre of the Sinclair family. She hadn't witnessed it firsthand, but the gruesome state of her family's corpses allowed her to reconstruct the scene.

In her dream, she saw her mother, drenched in blood, crawling. One ear was severed; her bloodshot eyes fixed on Carissa as she dragged herself closer. A blade sliced into her back—again and again—blood splattering everywhere. Carissa watched, horrified. Gripping her Rose Spear, she charged, but an invisible wall separated her from the murderer, preventing her from avenging her family. This was more than a barrier between dreams and reality; it was the chasm between life and death. She hadn't even been able to face her enemies, let alone exact revenge.

In her nightmare, she screamed, her voice raw with rage. "To hell with the greater good!" she cried. "I'll kill every one of those murderers! I'll hack Aurora to pieces and toss her remains to the wild dogs!" One by one, her mother, sisters-in-law, nephews, and nieces fell, their blood pooling around them. She smashed her spear against the barrier until her head throbbed and her hands bled, but she couldn't break through. Helpless, she watched them take their last breaths. She hated it.

"Carissa! Carissa!"

Rafael's voice pierced the nightmare, his hands gently stroking her face. She jolted awake, her hand flying to his throat, her body radiating a deadly aura. As her vision cleared, she saw it was Rafael, his face etched with worry. She froze, her hand slowly dropping, her expression shifting from confusion to regret.

"I'm sorry," she rasped. "It was just a dream."

Her voice was hoarse. Her face felt cold and damp. She touched her cheek, realizing it was wet with tears. Rafael pulled her into his arms. "It's all right," he said gently but firmly. "It's over now. It's all over."

Carissa took deep breaths, wiping away her tears. "Don't worry about me," she murmured. "And don't tell Violet—I don't want her to fret."

Rafael's heart clenched.

"You can talk to me," he said softly. "You don't have to keep everything bottled up inside. It's not good for you—it'll only hurt you more."

Carissa offered a pale, fragile smile. "The revenge is done. I'm happy now. Truly. Don't worry about me."

But Rafael saw through her words. She always acted this way, afraid to burden others. He sometimes felt a pang of jealousy toward Violet and Travis; with them, Carissa let her guard down slightly more, sharing more than she ever did with him. After all, they had grown up together; their bond was different.