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Chapter 78 - The Truth Is Always Scary

Lina touched her lips, feeling heat grow on her cheeks. In this lifetime, it was her first kiss. His mouth felt as soft as it did in her first life, his gestures had not changed and his technique had remained the same. Did that mean he hadn\'t kissed any other women?

Lina tried to ignore that foolish question. Who could expect a man to remain celibate like a monk for one thousand years?

"Was that your first kiss?" Kaden asked, his fingers stroking her soft hair, enjoying the way it fell in layers. He pulled her close, cradling her head against his chest.

Lina expected his arrogance, but was given his adoration. Her heart skipped even faster. She reluctantly nodded her head and said nothing.

"Really?" Kaden encouraged, pulling back to peer down at her.

A strange emotion stirred from within Kaden\'s chest. She was bright red, with her shy fingers on her mouth while her eyes were still glazed from being out of breath.

Kaden had brought her to death\'s doors and whisked her back to life. He couldn\'t let go of those lips, sweet as the mochi ice cream she licked.

"You were the only man," Lina admitted.

Kaden slowly smiled. His grip tightened on her waist.

Kaden lowered his head, her eyes instantly closing. He pressed his lips together, holding back a laugh. She was damn adorable—especially when awaiting a kiss.

Kaden pressed his mouth upon her forehead. Her entire body stiffened and her fingers clenched tightly, crumpling the material of his shirt. She always liked to fist his clothes. Whether it was to calm her nerves or have something to hold onto, he loved that about her.

"Good," Kaden whispered, kissing the side of her face, then her ears, and behind the lobes. She let out a soft moan, clinging even more onto him, eager for more of his love.

Kaden could pour all of his attention into her and he\'d still have more to give. There was no other woman he\'d treat this kindly.

He was a villain who\'d kill, but only had a soft spot for her.

"And did you?" Lina asked, her voice low and hesitant. "Did you have any lovers before me?"

Kaden\'s hand halted. He pulled back to peer at her face, filled with expectancy. The truth was what she wanted. The truth was what she\'d get.

"There was you, you, and you," Kaden muttered.

Lina did not understand. He always spoke in circles, whether it was a habit from the past, or a forced hobby. She frowned.

"So, there was me from the first life, me again from another life that I can\'t remember, and then me from the present?" Lina asked.

"Precisely."

"Is this my third lifetime then?" Lina questioned.

Lina somehow felt touched by the knowledge. He had loved her across every lifetime she was reborn? But how did he find her?

"Yes, and your last," Kaden said.

Lina\'s heart fell. What?

"Fret not," Kaden muttered. "Should we succeed in this lifetime, there will be no such thing as death. It will just be an eternity for you and me."

Lina thought back to her dream, where a man had jumped into a whirlpool, followed by Dream Lina. Then, a red string of fate had shot out of the well, lighting up the entire atmosphere. If their love was fated, then did that mean they only had three tries to make it the love of a lifetime?

"My second lifetime," Lina whispered. "What happened?"

Kaden\'s face froze over. His grip strengthened as he held onto her tightly.

Lina was startled when he embraced her dearly. His hand pressed against her head, his palm caressing her back; he was unwilling to let her go.

Lina was surprised that this grown man, built with muscles and steel, was shaking. His fingers trembled on her hair, and he let out a small breath.

"Death."

Lina paled.

"B-by whose hands?" Lina whispered.

"Who else but the one that has always caused your death?" Kaden harshly said, his voice crude, like uttering a sin.

"I don\'t understand," Lina admitted.

Lina realized he wasn\'t shaking from fear, but anger. He was furious at something. Or, someone. She slid her hands up his body and towards his upper back. He became rigid under her touch, but eventually relaxed.

"It\'s best if we do not dwell on the past, it\'ll ruin your present," Kaden warned.

Kaden could say with certainty that this lifetime was Lina\'s best.

In every single life she lived, she was a wealthy lady, but locked in a cage like a dove meant for viewing. A pitiful woman with folded wings and small back, whose fate was not up to her, but other people.

"I-is that person currently in my life?" Lina stammered.

Lina was nervous and realized he was right.

If he had told her who it was, Lina would spend the rest of her life terrified of their every move.

If Lina remained ignorant, she could live her life in peace, but would spend the rest of it worrying about who this person could be.

"In each life, their face is different, but they serve the same role," Kaden stated.

Kaden burying his face against her hair. He breathed in deeply, lulled by the scent of lavender and eucalyptus. Lina smelled like the forest she had always loved to frequent in her first life.

"So far, they have treated you well, and have not placed you in harm\'s way," Kaden promised her. "If needed, I will intervene. I\'ve learned from my mistakes. This time, I will not let you go. Ever."

Lina didn\'t know if she was touched or frightened by his promise. She had already ruled out many people in her life, as heartbreaking as it was. Her Uncle, her Grandparents, and her mother had placed her in harm\'s way. There were only a few left who hadn\'t.

"I have answered all that you wished to hear," Kaden stated, pulling back from the embrace.

Kaden cornered her against the table, his hips pressed against her waist, so she could rest her buttocks upon the edge of the furniture.

"Now, it\'s your turn." Kaden stroked the side of her face, his finger pulling back her hair. He always loved how beautiful, long and shiny it was, like the flow of fine ink.

"My turn?" Lina echoed, her chest tightening with fear of what he might ask.

Kaden had answered her questions honestly. Now, he was expecting the same. Lina couldn\'t say it wasn\'t fair or that it was fair. He had one thousand years of knowledge, one thousand years to practice lying to her, but a part of her knew he was truthful.

Lina realized Kaden was a man of his words—more than her Uncle could ever be.

"Mmhm," Kaden hummed, cupping her face.

Lina wondered why he always loved to touch her. He couldn\'t keep his hands off of her. Was it the lotion she used? She should buy out the entire stock.

"What would you like to know that you already don\'t?" Lina said, for she knew he possessed extensive knowledge.

Lina even pondered whether he had the cure for cancer. Did he meet people whose names went down in history? Was he great friends with people who started modern-day wars? Where was he for the years he wasn\'t with House DeHaven?

"Everything," Kaden responded. "I want to know everything you\'ll tell me."

Kaden\'s thumb stroked her cheek. Her skin was soft like milk pudding.

"Well, you have to start with something," Lina replied. She lightly laughed. "Or else, I don\'t know where to begin."

Kaden supposed she was right. There were too many questions he wanted to ask her. He wasn\'t even sure they could get to them all in this life.

Despite that, one question rested on the tip of his tongue. The only one he had been meaning to ask her, ever since he ran into her again.

"In the museum, you fainted," Kaden slowly said. "Why?"

Lina could lie. She could say it was from malnourishment, after all, it had happened before. He\'d believe it. Something told her he would. Whether it was his earnest eyes, open-heart, or gentle caress, she couldn\'t lie to him.

Not when he had told her everything she wanted to hear.

"You won\'t believe me," Lina whispered. "Y-you\'ll think I\'m crazy."

"I wonder how an honor student can be so foolish," Kaden responded.

Lina knew he was teasing her. Even so, it didn\'t quell her uneasy heart. Her brows tugged together in response. Her fingers played with the fabric of his black button-up. The material was soft silk. He always loved silk.

"I\'ll always believe you, dove of mine. Even if it is a lie."

Lina\'s eyes widened. Did he trust her that much? When he said it like that, she didn\'t have the conscience to lie to him.

"I\'m scared," Lina admitted.

Kaden\'s hand stroked down her cheek to her neck, where this thumb rubbed her collarbone. He leaned in close, pressing their bodies together. She was staring at his chest, unable to look him in the eyes.

"The truth is always scary," Kaden agreed, his other hand kneading her hips, massaging her soft flesh.

Her lips trembled and her gaze watered. She was growing teary-eyed again.

Lina always seemed like she wanted to cry at the sight of him. Kaden didn\'t know if he should be offended or humored.

"Will you think I\'m crazy?" Lina asked.

"Would an insane man call someone crazy?" Kaden returned.

Lina laughed at his words. Her voice cracked. She raised her head, her heart freezing. This entire time, he was looking at her.

His attention was always focused on her. His gaze was warm and welcoming like there was nothing he wouldn\'t believe. She could tell him the most obvious lie and he\'d take it as the most earnest truth.

"I\'m clairvoyant," Lina admitted. "The first person I touch each day, I can see their future."