Reborn in the Enemy's Embrace

When I returned to the room, Dexter was still sitting on the floor, covered by the same blanket.

Resigned, I asked, "Isn’t the floor cold?"

He was deliberately sitting on the floor.

Was he planning to sit there all night long if I had returned late? Was he doing all this just to guilt-trip me?

With teary eyes, Dexter looked at me begrudgingly and said, "My legs are numb

I stifled my laughter and scooted closer to check on him. "What did you do on the floor that made your legs numb?"

Dexter’s ears turned red. ’You’re so shameless now, Sophia-’

I couldn’t help but tease, "Am I shameless, or are you the perverted one here?"

Dexter huffed and remained silent. I reached out to him, and he took my hand to help himself up.

Losing a leg meant nothing to Dexter as long as he knew that I was still alive. But it was like a bomb that exploded within me.

My fury and hatred started to grow from that moment. I had to destroy Genome Society and everything in their wake. They were the ones who hurt him.

Dexter leaned against the wall, looking down at me at his full height.

He seemed much happier without the constraints of the chain. It seemed like I no longer needed to cheer him up. He could do it on his own.

"Sophia..." Dexter reached over to ruffle my hair. He said after a while, "I’ll be able to put on a prosthesis in a few days when my injury gets better.’

Tears filled my eyes as I looked down at his leg. I have been tearing up so much nowadays. It seemed like an after-effect now that I was capable of feeling emotions.

"I heard that it’ll still hurt even after the wound heals because your brain still thinks that your leg is still there, "I mumbled with my head hung low, unwilling to let him see my tears.

Dexter merely smiled, as if happy that I was crying for him. He gently caressed my cheek and wiped my tears away.

He then said softly, "It won’t. My brain doesn’t have the time to wonder about my leg now-it’s occupied enough worrying about your safety."

He managed to make me laugh. I looked away and wiped my tears, asking, "Are you a lovestruck fool?" Dexter gave it some serious thought before nodding. ’I’m only lovestruck for you, Sophia."

I burst out laughing helplessly. "I hope Ashton doesn’t inherit your romantic mindset." Speaking of which, Andy wasn’t a lovestruck fool either. So, who did Dexter inherit that trait from?

"I only belong to you, Sophia.’ He leaned against the wall for support and hugged me tight.

I rested my chin on his shoulders. It felt good just to stay quietly with him.

"I’m afraid to let Damien get in contact with Jimmy. Jimmy is the only person who can reach the person backing Sarah up. Damien might be able to help us if he’s smart enough,’ I said. My biggest concern now was that he wasn’t smart enough.

"He’s not stupid," Dexter whispered. ’It’s just a dangerous feat."

The mastermind of Genome Society would definitely kill Damien if he was exposed.

I remained silent. If we did not allow Damien to proceed now, everyone involved would definitely get into trouble.

I said, ’Those in the most danger right now are Eason and Zion. The police have been cracking down hard on Genome Society, but their higher-ups are trying to smooth things over.

"Both of them are clear in their stance, and with their superiors trying to smooth things over, I’m scared that "I was worried about Zion and Eason the most now.

"Why do you think Violette would suddenly switch sides?" Dexter asked, ruffling my hair. "Her love for Zion is genuine, and her mother’s control over her is also real. She realizes that Sarah wants to kill Zion, which is why she ultimately chose him."

Violette would use her own way to protect her loved one, as she should.

"As for Eason, he wouldn’t die with Joel around," he said softly.

I felt relieved. Everyone had someone they wanted to protect.

"If anyone has to sacrifice, I hope we’ll both die together, Dexter," I whispered as I held Dexter’s hand.

He said nothing. He didn’t want me dead.

"If you don’t want me to die, you have to do your best to survive as well," I threatened in a low voice. Dexter chuckled. "Alright."

I leaned into Dexter’s embrace and lulled myself with his heartbeat.

Actually, ever since I was a child, hearing his heartbeat always made me feel at ease.

I couldn’t understand it before this, but perhaps I never was some heartless monster-I was only slow to catch

My heart had long since started beating in sync with his.

"Sophia," Dexter called my name, indicating that he was tired of standing.

I suddenly recalled something and looked up suspiciously at him.

"I never told you about Violette switching sides, did I?’ I asked, narrowing my eyes.

How did Dexter know about it if I never told him, then?

He behaved as if he was obediently staying in the room, all locked up, but in reality, he was far from it.

Dexter coughed diffidently. ’I... I made a blind guess. You mentioned that Zion and Eason had taken Sarah away. Who else would it be if not Violette?’

"Tell me, how did you manage to get in contact with the outside world?" I asked, grabbing his chin threateningly as I pushed him down the bed.

Dexter’s ears reddened, but he refused to reply. He was rather stubborn.

"How did the kids manage to crack the passwords for all three doors so quickly?’ I was rather surprised.

Clearly, Ashton and Xan had only managed to crack one a few days ago. How did they manage all three this soon?

"I figured out your passwords," Dexter replied, resigned. "I’ve been taking note of them every time you opened the password-protected doors."

"You three surely know how to outsmart me,’ I said in a fit of anger. ’No breakfast for all of you tomorrow! I’ll starve all of you!"

Dexter chuckled before pulling me into his embrace and hugging me tight. "I want to sleep with you, Sophia." "Which kind of sleep are you talking about?" I asked.

He contemplated seriously before replying, "The normal one."

I smiled. I made myself comfortable in Dexter’s embrace before quietly closing my eyes.

It seemed like he was having a hard time sleeping. I leaned against his chest and listened to his heartbeat.

Dexter’s fingers continued to gently caress my hair.

"Goodnight, Sophia," he whispered. He was probably dreaming of ordinary yet happy days.

Dawn would always come. This time, it wasn’t just our battle or struggle alone.

Violette would fight for Zion, and Joel would fight to protect Eason. I would also work hand in hand with Dexter.

As for Damien, he was probably doing it out of his guilt for not trusting Sophia back then. As such, he was doing his best to compensate for it.

Everyone had their own obsessions and beliefs.

A single spark could start a prairie fire. Even an entity as huge as Genome Society would eventually fall to their destruction.

If we weren’t meant to see the dawn, we could leave it for the next generation.

The success that we had worked and sacrificed for would eventually benefit our children. They would live ordinary yet happy lives in our place.

"The life I want to give you is so simple, Sophia," Dexter said, his voice choked in sobs and laced with remorse

Like a moth drawn to flames, he sacrificed himself just to ensure that I would walk on the path of "happiness". Yet he was left battered and broken, with a profound sense of helplessness.

Even though he was strong, his effort alone was still too insignificant.

"The path ahead must be lonely, right?" I whispered while hugging him. ’You’re no longer alone now, Dexter." Dexter was finally no longer alone.

He tensed up and cried in the dark of the night.

He was no longer alone in this path he had me, Zion, Eason, and countless others fighting for justice. There was also Violette, Joel, and those from the Rebels.

We would press on without questioning what lay ahead.