My Bratty Wife
Chapter 96 - Ninety Six

Chapter 96: Chapter Ninety Six

Ryan yawned and stretched, a sense of accomplishment washing over him. He had finally finished the last of the paperwork on his desk, a mountain of documents that had been piling up for days.

Exhausted but satisfied, he extinguished the lamp before him and stood up, stretching his tired muscles. He left the study, closing the door behind him.

As he entered his bedroom, his eyes adjusted to the dim moonlight filtering through the window. Suzy was already asleep, curled up in an unusual position that only she could manage. A barricade of pillows divided the space between them, her leg crossing the line. A smile crept onto his face. She was so endearing, so unpredictable.

"How cute" he said as he closed the door behind him and walked towards the bathroom.

He proceeded to shed his clothes, his movements slow and deliberate. The warm water of his bath soothed his tired muscles, washing away the stress of the day.

As he soaked in the warm water, his mind drifted back to the events of the past few days. The danger, the fear, the love. It had been a whirlwind of emotions, and he was still trying to make sense of it all.

He thought about Suzy, her courage, her resilience. She was a remarkable woman, and he was falling deeper and deeper in love with her every day. She is so addictive and he wondered what she was dreaming about.

He climbed out of the tub, wrapping a towel around his waist. As he dried himself, he couldn’t help but think about the future. He knew that their relationship was complicated, filled with challenges and uncertainties. But he was determined to make it work. He would tell her how he feels but hesitated having another thought, what if she doesn’t feel the same? What if she doesn’t want any serious relationship between them?

He continued drying his hair as he pulled on his night wear as he walked to the bed and shifted her leg to back to its position. He pulled the covers on her as he kissed her forehead.

He slipped into bed, his body aching for rest. But as he lay there, his mind kept wandering back to Suzy. He couldn’t shake the feeling that something was going to happen, that there was a danger lurking in the shadows.

He closed his eyes, determined to put those thoughts aside. He would deal with them in the morning. For now, he just wanted to rest.

He drifted off to sleep. In his dreams, he saw Suzy, her face radiant with happiness. She was laughing, her dimples, those cute pointy holes boring into her face, her eyes sparkling with joy. She pulled him from the grass as she led him to the stream, splashing water on him as she ran away while he chases her. And for the first time in a long time, he felt truly happy.

His fluffy dream of Suzy was quickly intercepted by a chilling scream, followed by the sharp sound of a gunshot. He jolted awake, his heart pounding in his chest.

The dream was vivid, the screams echoing in his mind. He saw a woman, her brown eyes wide with terror, she was carrying a child not more than two years of age. Her mouth agape as she cried out for help.

"Help" She said, her voice weak.

"Father, there’s someone there. Someone is there. She’s hurt . Stop shooting." Ryan said with fear in his eyes.

The last gunshot rang out, and then silence.

" Help me, please. Young Duke, your Grace." The only agonizing word that came out from her lips as she crawled toward him, her blood staining the grass below as her eyes shut closed. He stood there motionless as people came trooping in to find out what happened. Their noise muffled by the sound of the heavy rain that started pouring down. The little girl beside her crying.

He gasped, his heart pounding in his chest. He reached out, his hand trembling, but he couldn’t move. He was frozen in fear, unable to help her as the rain poured down on him and he was ushered inside by the maids.

He gasped, his breath coming in ragged gasps. He looked around, his eyes darting frantically in the darkness. The dream was so real, it felt like he was still there, in that moment of horror.

He reached for the glass of water on the nightstand, gulping it down in large swallows. His heart was still racing, his mind racing with the terrifying images from the dream.

He had been having this dream since he was a child, an incident he didn’t have control over, a recurring nightmare that had haunted him for years. But it had stopped when he had met Suzy, when he had found love.

" It wasn’t me. I didn’t kill her. It wasn’t me." He said as his heart was racing.

This nightmare has stopped stopped torturing him for a while now. Now, it was back, stronger than ever. Why? It wasn’t his fault back then.

He tried to calm himself, to focus on the present. But the dream lingered, a dark cloud hanging over his mind. He couldn’t shake the feeling that something terrible was going to happen.

He closed his eyes, trying to fall back asleep. But the dream was still there, replaying in his mind like a broken record. He tossed and turned, unable to find peace.

He wanted to go get a drink to calm him down as he has been doing for a while now. Alcohol seems to help him calm his nerve and put him to sleep.

Just then, Suzy crossed the barricade of pillows and snuggled deep into him. Ryan felt her warmth against his chest, her soft breath tickling his neck. His racing heart suddenly stilled, the fear and anxiety that had consumed him melting away.

He gently removed the pillows that’s keeping them apart, tossing them onto the floor. With a tender smile, he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close, hugging her tightly. Suzy responded instinctively, her arms wrapping around him tightly, her head resting on his chest as she continued her sleep.

As he held her, he felt a sense of peace wash over him. The fear and anxiety that had plagued him were replaced by a feeling of warmth and contentment. In that moment, he was surprisingly calm, calmer than what any alcohol could to do to him.

He closed his eyes, his breathing slowing. He could feel Suzy’s heartbeat, steady and strong. It was a comforting rhythm, a reminder that he was not alone.

He held her close, his heart filled with love. This was his sanctuary, his safe haven as he drifted off to sleep.