“But you did. Not physically, but emotionally. You’re hurting me by hurting yourself.” Taking a hold of his bloodied hands carefully, I held them before his face. “You lied to me. I thought you told me it would stop once I’m in your arms forever. But it didn’t. I guess I’m not important enough for you to make your pain go away.”

Shaking his head, he tried to touch me, but I stepped back.

“Rosebud, there is no one more important than you in my life. You’re the sole reason I live for.” Pain flashed across his eyes as another tear fell down my cheek.

“Then why? Why do you torture yourself like that?” I sniffled.

Glancing down at his knuckles, a muscle of his jaw ticked. “Pain makes me forget, Rosebud. It helps me escape my fears and insecurities. And intense working out helps me with my frustration and the storm that rages inside me.”

Fears? Insecurities?

Hearing those words from Achilles Valencian’s mouth sounded foreign. What fear could this powerful man before me have?

“What fear?” My voice came out as a whisper.

“Fear of losing you.”

My heart stopped as I stared at him, speechless.

“Why would you lose me? I’m not going anywhere.”

He averted his gaze. With his fists clenched, he turned away. “It’s late, Rosebud. You should go back to sleep now.”

“Do not change the topic!” Grabbing his arm, I made him face me. “I’m not accepting my questions being unanswered anymore! You’re hiding something from me and that’s eating you alive! What is it? Tell me. Please, Ace. Don’t keep me in the dark anymore.”

“I’m not hiding anything from you,” his reply came out cold.

“Of course you are! Don’t lie to me!” I snapped, my temper rising.

I couldn’t let him torture himself like that. He needed to let it out. And I needed to know why he had this fear of losing me. Because I knew I wasn’t going anywhere.

“You’re still hiding something from me about your past, aren’t you? You didn’t tell me the entire truth.”

He tensed as his dark eyes snapped to me. The unreadable emotions swirling around his irises were unknown to me.

“I told you everything that you needed to know.”

I tilted my head. “So that means the things you’re hiding from me aren’t important enough for you to tell me?”

His lips pressed tight, eyes flashing. “I don’t want to talk about this anymore.”

“You have to! I won’t let you torture yourself like that! Nor will I let you keep me in the dark anymore!”