Chapter 61\u00a0<\/p>\n
DYLAN\u00a0<\/p>\n
My chest rose and fell in sharp, uneven breaths. My hair clung to my damp forehead, sheets twisted desperately around my legs like I\u2019d been fighting ghosts in my sleep. I pressed a trembling hand over my racing heart as I tried to steady myself, forcing air into my lungs.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The dim light from the lamp outside bled through the curtains, painting soft shadows across the familiar walls of my bedroom. The same cream curtains. The same tiny desk. The same framed photos of \u201cus\u201d smiling like a perfect couple.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I was still here. I hadn\u2019t gone anywhere. It was just a dream.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But if it was only a dream, then why did my lips feel tender, why did my skin still burn with the memory of his touch? Why did my body ache as if I had lived every second of it?\u00a0<\/p>\n
And that voice\u2026\u00a0<\/p>\n
My \u201clittle bunny.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
It echoed inside my head, deep and aching, as if it belonged to someone who had once whispered it to me a thousand times before. Someone who knew me. Claimed me. Loved me with a desperate, consuming certainty.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Someone who wasn\u2019t my husband.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A wave of guilt slammed into my chest, sharp and suffocating. I pressed both hands against my face and groaned softly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
What is wrong with me?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Why would I dream of another man like that? Why would my heart react like it recognized him when I don\u2019t even know who he is?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Or do I?\u00a0<\/p>\n
I swallowed hard, a shiver skimming down my spine.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It didn\u2019t feel like a fantasy my mind made up. It felt like a memory clawing its way back like something I had buried deep, trying so hard to forget, now fighting to be remembered.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But that\u2019s impossible, isn\u2019t it?\u00a0<\/p>\n
I drew my knees to my chest and hugged them tightly, trying to ground myself. Yet no matter how much I told myself it wasn\u2019t real, the warmth of his voice lingered, the way he said he died the day I left, the sorrow in it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My chest tightened painfully.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t manage to fall back to sleep.\u00a0<\/p>\n
No matter how many times I shifted on the bed or squeezed my eyes shut, my mind kept dragging me back to that dream- those hands, that voice, that unbearable pull that made my body heat up just remembering it. I turned to my side, then to my back, then to my stomach, but it didn\u2019t matter. My nerves were still on fire.\u00a0<\/p>\n
With a frustrated sigh, I stared up at the ceiling, watching the faint glow of dawn slowly sneak through the curtains. My pulse was still uneasy, my skin still too sensitive. I felt like I\u2019d been dropped into someone else\u2019s life for a moment.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Someone he had lost.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I rubbed my arms, trying to chase away the cold crawling over my skin. Was it really just a dream? Or was it something my\u00a0<\/p>\n
1\/4\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 61\u00a0<\/p>\n
mind was trying to remember?\u00a0<\/p>\n
I swallowed hard as a terrible thought crossed me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
What if the dream wasn\u2019t just a dream?\u00a0<\/p>\n
What if it was a piece of my past?\u00a0<\/p>\n
20 vouchers\u00a0<\/p>\n
I pushed the blankets away and sat up, running a shaky hand through my hair. My room felt smaller than usual, suffocating almost, like the walls were closing in around me with all the questions I couldn\u2019t answer.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I glanced at the door.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My husband was somewhere outside\u2013sleeping, maybe\u2026 or awake, pretending everything was normal. I wasn\u2019t sure\u00a0<\/p>\n
anymore.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I couldn\u2019t stop thinking about it. About him. About the man in my dream. About the truth that seemed to be hiding in every shadow of this house.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I hugged myself tighter.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t fall asleep again. I just waited for the morning sun to fully rise, hoping it might bring clarity.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stepped out of my room with slow, careful steps, almost afraid the floorboards would echo the confusion twisting inside me. The hallway was still dim, touched only by the early morning light slipping through the curtains.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When I reached the end of the corridor, I saw him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He stood in the kitchen, sleeves rolled up, humming softly under his breath as he plated scrambled eggs and toasted bread. The familiar clinking of utensils should\u2019ve soothed me the way it usually did, but today it only made my stomach tighten.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He looked so normal. So domestic. As if last night\u2019s phone call\u2013the one he tried to lie about\u2013never happened.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He sensed my presence and turned around with a warm smile that didn\u2019t quite reach his eyes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cGood morning, sweetheart. You\u2019re up early.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I forced myself to move closer, though every step felt heavy. \u201cI\u2026 I couldn\u2019t sleep.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOh?\u201d His brows relaxed in a way that felt too deliberate. \u201cNightmares again?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nightmares.\u00a0<\/p>\n
If only that\u2019s all it was.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSomething like that,\u201d I murmured, hugging my arms to my chest.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He wiped his hands with a towel and walked over to me, leaning down to press a kiss on my forehead. I tried not to flinch, but my body reacted before my mind could stop it. His lips felt warm, but the comfort they used to bring me wasn\u2019t there\u00a0<\/p>\n
anymore.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSit down,\u201d he said softly, guiding me toward the small table. \u201cI made\u00a0<\/p>\n
your\u00a0<\/p>\n
favorite.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I sat because it was easier than resisting\u2026 or questioning him again. The aroma of breakfast filled the room, but I didn\u2019t feel hungry. If anything, the tight knot in my chest made me feel sick\u00a0<\/p>\n
He set a plate in front of me. \u201cYou need to eat. You look pale.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I gave him a small nod, though my hands trembled when I picked up the fork. I tried to smile, tried to act like nothing was\u00a0<\/p>\n
2\/4\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 61\u00a0<\/p>\n
20 vouchers\u00a0<\/p>\n
wrong\u2013but every time I looked at him, I couldn\u2019t help but feel guilty while thinking about the man in my dreams.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My stomach twisted.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I pushed the food around my plate without taking a single bite.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He watched me with an intensity that made my skin prickle. \u201cSweetheart, is something bothering you?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Yes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Everything.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But I swallowed the truth down and forced myself to meet his eyes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m just tired,\u201d I lied softly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He reached across the table and took my hand, his thumb rubbing slow circles over my skin.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But for the first time since waking up in this house two years ago. his touch didn\u2019t feel reassuring.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It felt like a warning.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter breakfast, you should take a rest. Forget about the shop today. You need it more. And don\u2019t forget to drink your medicine.\u201d He cleared his throat softly, as if he\u2019d been waiting for the right moment. He squeezed my hand one last time before letting go.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI need to tell you something,\u201d he said gently. \u201cI\u2019ll be gone for a few days.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I blinked. \u201cGone? Where are you going?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOut of state,\u201d he replied, \u201cThere\u2019s something I need to take care of. Important.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I waited for him to say more, but he didn\u2019t. He just stood there, watching me with a calm I didn\u2019t trust, as though waiting for me to push\u2013waiting for me to dig where he didn\u2019t want me to.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But after everything I overheard last night, I didn\u2019t have the strength to start a war at the breakfast table.\u00a0<\/p>\n
So I simply nodded. \u201cOkay.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He raised an eyebrow, almost surprised I didn\u2019t press. \u201cYou\u2019re not going to ask what it\u2019s about?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNo,\u201d I said quietly, tracing a fingertip along the rim of my plate. If you say you need to go, then go. Then it must be something really important.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
His shoulders eased, but his gaze lingered on me too long\u2013as if he was trying to read every flicker of my expression, every twitch in my fingers.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll only be gone three or four days,\u201d he continued. \u201cI\u2019ll leave you the car. And I stocked the fridge last night, so you be fine.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay,\u201d I repeated, keeping my voice steady even though my heart was thudding like a trapped bird. \u201cWhen are you leaving?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He glanced at the clock. \u201cNow,\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My heart skipped.\u00a0<\/p>\n
should\u00a0<\/p>\n
He walked past me toward the hallway, movements calm, efficient\u2013like he\u2019d already planned this, like he\u2019d been waiting for morning just so he could disappear. He grabbed his jacket, keys, and that one duffel bag he never let me touch.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t ask where he was going.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t ask why.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A part of me didn\u2019t want to know\u2026 and another part whispered this might be the breath of air I desperately needed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He paused by the door, turning to look at me. That soft smile again. The gentle husband. The perfect man.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cLock the doors. Don\u2019t skip meals. And take your medicine, okay\u201d His voice was warm, almost tender. \u201cI\u2019ll be back before you know it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I nodded, unable to say anything. My throat felt tight, clogged with words I wasn\u2019t brave enough to let out.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He opened the door.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And something inside me panicked.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cBeckett,\u201d I blurted out before he could step outside.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He stilled.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Slowly, he turned back to me. His eyes softened instantly, as if my voice alone was enough to anchor him. \u201cYeah?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cTake care,\u201d I said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He smiled before closing the door behind him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland\u2019s breathtaking cold.<\/p>\n
The Alchemist of Broken Dreams by Sienna Rose Blackwell 61 Chapter 61\u00a0 DYLAN\u00a0 My chest rose and fell in sharp, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[69],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-24412","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-the-alphas-golden-cage-novel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24412","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24412"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24412\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24412"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24412"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24412"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}