Chapter 223 Chapter 223
She felt the tremor in his hands. She heard the terror in his heartbeat.
She didn't believe a single word.
No big deal? The man looked like he had just come back from war. This wasn't just a silly nightmare born of stress. This was trauma. It was a memory that was eating him alive from the inside out.
And for the first time, Caroline realized that her billionaire, all-powerful husband carried scars that money could never heal.
From his reaction, this was definitely not an ordinary nightmare.
But since he wasn't willing to share his demons right now, Caroline didn't want to push it. Everyone had their own scars.
“I'm thirsty,” she murmured, breaking the tense silence. “It's that pepper pasta's fault. I'm going to get some water from the kitchen before I go back to sleep. Would you like some?”
Caroline made a move to pull back the covers and get out of bed.
But Nicholas stopped her, gently holding her wrist. “Would you like some water?” Stay in bed. The floor is cold. I'll get it for you.
Before she could protest, he got up and went to the kitchen.
He returned in moments with a huge glass of cool water.
Caroline took it with both hands and tipped it back in one gulp, drinking greedily. Eating spicy food at night always left her throat as dry as the desert.
Nicholas took the empty glass from her hands, his dark eyes shining with silent tenderness. “Would you like some more?”
Caroline nodded, embarrassed. She was still thirsty.
Nicholas filled the glass again. Only after emptying the second round did Caroline breathe a sigh of relief, finally feeling hydrated.
“Are you still thirsty?” Nicholas asked, sitting on the edge of the bed beside her.
She shook her head.
He patted her head gently, a strangely comforting gesture. “Then go back to sleep, sweetheart.”
Caroline was sleepy. It was only four in the morning. If it weren't for the relentless thirst, she would have slept straight through until eight.
She slid back under the covers, but noticed that he was still sitting on the edge of the bed, his posture rigid and with no intention of lying down. “What about you? Aren't you going to sleep?”
Nicholas rubbed his temples, the exhaustion evident in his shoulders. “I'm not sleepy yet. I'm going to stay here and watch you sleep first.”
“Oh... All right, then...”
Caroline was too tired to argue. She needed to get some sleep before waking up early for class the next morning. She usually fell asleep very quickly, and with her stomach full of water and Nicholas's protective presence beside her, it was no different.
Hearing Caroline's breathing become slow and rhythmic again, Nicholas' gaze lost itself in the darkness of the room.
He began to replay the nightmare in his mind.
He thought that trauma was buried. The last few times he slept in Caroline's arms, his nights were absolutely peaceful, without nightmares.
But tonight... the past had returned with full force.
However, something fundamental had changed. It was different from the past.
Before, he was always stuck in the endless and torturous cycle of his dream world, repeatedly watching the scene where the policeman died, feeling the blood run through his hands without being able to do anything. The nightmare only ended when Enrico knocked on his door in the morning to wake him up.
But this time... this time, he managed to free himself much faster.
Moreover, even before he opened his eyes, the image of blood was already fading and losing its color the moment he heard Caroline's voice calling him. Her voice cut through the darkness like a blade of light. She pulled him back.
He had no idea of the psychological implications of that.
He sighed. He would have to schedule an appointment and ask Luan, his psychiatrist, the next day.
...
The next morning.
Caroline got up early, as usual, because she had classes at the university.
As she opened her eyes and stretched, she heard the sound of running water coming from the bathroom of the suite. Soon after, the door opened and Nicholas came out.
He had a habit of taking cold showers in the morning to wake up.
He was wearing only a black silk robe. It was loosely tied at his waist, leaving a deep “V” that showed off his sculpted, slightly damp chest.
Drops of water dripped from his dark hair down his perfect face, sliding dangerously close to his sensual lips before falling down his neck.
Being greeted with such a sinful and captivating sight early in the morning was undeniable torture for Caroline's heart.
She swallowed hard. My God, my husband is too handsome. It's almost unfair.
Nicholas, with his keen senses, immediately noticed how she stared at him, without even blinking, like a deer hypnotized by headlights.
His lips curved into a knowing, mischievous smile. He walked slowly toward the bed, moving with the grace of a predator.
A refreshing, masculine scent of expensive soap and mint enveloped her.
The man leaned over her, resting his hands on the mattress and trapping her. He placed a soft kiss on the top of her head and whispered, his deep, seductive voice vibrating in the quiet of the room: “Good morning, my dear. I've already prepared your toothbrush with toothpaste and left a glass of warm water on the sink. Go wash up.”
Caroline blinked, stunned, coming out of her visual trance. “How did you know I would be getting up at exactly this time?”
He chuckled softly, the sound reverberating in his chest. “Don't you have class today? On the days you were in the dorm, you used to wake up at this time to get ready.” I figured your internal alarm was set for the same time.
Caroline looked at him, genuinely surprised. Had he been paying attention to her routine, even when they barely lived together?
“What is it?” Nicholas asked, his eyes overflowing with affection as he gently tousled her tousled hair.
“Nothing much.” Caroline blushed slightly, avoiding his gaze. “I'm going to wash up.”
Caroline escaped to the bathroom, closing the door with her heart racing.
There was her toothbrush, just as he had said. She was touched by his thoughtfulness. This man surprised her every day with his attention to detail.
It seemed that the saying was true: it takes time to get to know someone. The “cold and calculating tyrant” that everyone saw on the surface did not match the careful and protective essence that he reserved only for her.
After her morning hygiene routine, Caroline changed her clothes, putting on a simple and comfortable dress, and went downstairs to the dining room.
The butler was in the hall, standing impeccably. “Good morning, Mrs. Wolf.”
Caroline smiled, lighting up the room. “Good morning, Enrico!”
“The president is already waiting for you in the dining room,” said the butler, pointing the way.
Caroline nodded and followed the smell of fresh coffee.
Upon entering the dining room, she paused for a second, her eyes wide.
Nicholas had already shed his seductive robe and was dressed in his usual tailored suit, looking every inch the unattainable billionaire and President of Wolf Corporation.
He was seated at the head of the long table, reading a tablet and eating his breakfast in elegant silence.