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nThis ongoing heart-wrenching scene before Adrian makes a not-so distant memory pass through his mind all of the sudden.

nHe can't remember when exactly it happened, but he can recall that it was also raining so hard that evening. The two of them had just retired to bed when the thunder started rolling and lightnings went striking.

nFor the first few seconds, Adrian could hear Cassidy whimpering faintly all the way from her bed. He's still half-awake at that time. A moment later, he suddenly felt her frantically shaking him from behind.

nTaken aback, he then turned to look at his wife - only to find her fidgeting on her spot and fiddling with her fingers nervously.

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"C-Can we share a bed tonight?

" was what Cassidy asked him timidly.

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"Why?

" was what Adrian remembered himself replying nonchalantly.

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"B-Because I want to...?

"

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"Quit it, Eleanor. I still have work tommorow morning. Just go to sleep.

"

nThinking that it's only one of her tricks to get close to him and do all of that lovey-dovey stuff again, Adrian only chose to shrug her request off and put not much thought into it. He then went back to sleep while Cassidy had no choice but to cower under her blanket for the rest of the night.

nEver since then, he never got a similar request again - even after an eternity worth of thunderstorms passed by. All the while, he remained as clueless as ever, which both meant that he didn't really care and she was good at hiding her petrified reaction every single time.

nNow that Adrian finally realizes why Cassidy came up with that request in the first place, he feels himself shattering into millions of pieces.

nHis chest can't stop recoiling as that flashback keeps playing in his head. His expression can't help but contort into a tremendously regretful and guilt-ridden one. His entire being at that very second begins to break like a piece of glass.

nMore than anything, though, Adrian feels very, very mad at himself.

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"I'm such an asshole...

"

nThat's when he eventually stops asking Cassidy to look at him and just goes ahead to wrap his arms around her trembling body. He then pulls her so close that there's no longer any gap between them. With his huge arms and build, he's practically engulfing her small frame.

nShe reacts thrown off guard as soon as she finds herself crashing onto his sturdy chest. His body heat that travels through her skin at that very moment has offered her much more than a portion of his warmth -

nIt offers a soothing sensation that somehow eases her shaking for a tiny bit.

nAs much as Cassidy wanted to question this uncalled-for gesture, she still couldn't find the strength to lift her head. The weather is just getting worse at that point, making their situation even more despairing.

nThe two of them look like a homeless couple right now, all drenched in rainwater and shivering in the cold.

nBut even then, their pitiful position didn't make Adrian waver. All he's really thinking about is Cassidy and her well-being alone. He doesn't care even if he catches balls of fire just to shield her.

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"Let's stay here, Cassidy,

" he said before taking her to a much sheltered spot under the tree.

nAdrian sits right beside the trunk and pulls Cassidy in his arms once more. One of them envelop her by the waist while his other hand is on the back of her head. From that second on, he just keeps embracing her in silence - both gently and firmly.

nCassidy only nestles deeper into his arms right then, burying her face in the fabric of his shirt. Adrian is a bit taken aback to feel her quivering hands gripping him as if hanging on for dear life, which only worsens the rampaging storm of emotions within him.

nHe really feels revolted at himself now - for being such a huge dumbass, for letting her suffer like this every time, and for failing to be a proper husband at the very least overall.

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"I'm sorry...

" he then found himself saying with a broken voice.

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"I'm so sorry...

"

nAs Adrian kept repeating those words, he squeezed Cassidy tighter, holding her closer than ever. He just continues to hug her protectively and nuzzles his nose in her hair. All the while, he can't help but muster an extremely remorseful expression.

nEven with a thousand apologies, Adrian knows that he can't ever be forgiven for treating Cassidy horribly this entire time, but despite that, he wants to say his regrets out loud -

nAlong with the promise that he'll be a better husband this time around.

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