To Casey, what was Izabe? She was his only sun in the sky, the rare rainbow after a storm, the vast ocean a whale needs, and the me a moth recklessly dives into.


    His obsession with Izabe was just as intense; he wanted to possess her, wanted her by his side, always.


    Yet, if Izabe chose to leave, his heart, filled with self-doubt, couldn''t even muster the courage to reach out and ask her to stay.


    If there were only one rose left in the world, with but a month to bloom, Brett would preserve it at its peak beauty, while Casey would witness its life cycle, standing by as it blossomed and wilted away. That was the difference between their notions of love.


    Casey''s sudden mood swings were due to his insecurity, hisck of a sense of safety. His mind, already fragile from past trauma, seemed at times to revert to Ryker''s state.


    Izabe didn''t want to see him be a fool again, but she was at a loss about what to do. Should she resort to hypnosis to make Casey forget her once more?


    Whatever Bunny went on to say, Izabe couldn''t take it in. She sat on the couch, her hands unconsciously growing cold.


    As the weather turned chillier and darkness fell before six, Izabe stood up. "Mom, I should get going."


    "Why? Stay for dinner. I''ll invite Casey over too."


    "No, he''s waiting for me at home."


    As Izabe stood to leave, her phone rang. "Are you at your parents''?" Casey''s voice came through the speaker.


    "Yes, I''m about to head back." Izabe''s body warmed up at the sound of his voice, her heavy heart suddenly easing. She tilted her head, her ear close to the phone as if to catch every nuance of his voice. "It''s raining outside. I''lle to pick you up."


    Izabe nced outside; it wasn''t raining on her end. "It''s dry here. Maybe I should just take a cab."


    "I''m already on the road. Oh, and do you want some hot chocte? I''ll grab one for you on the way." "Sure, that''d be nice."


    After hanging up, Izabe saw Bunny eyeing her curiously.


    "Was that Casey?"


    "Yeah, he''sing to pick me up."


    "Well, that''s perfect. Stay for dinner; I''ll get the maid to start cooking."


    "Let''s see when he gets here."


    Izabe thought it would take a while for Casey to arrive, but in just seven or eight minutes, the sound of a car pulling up reached them.


    Casey entered, the picture of bedragglement. He hadn''t bothered with an umbre, and his coat was soaked through. His hair was a mess, and he handed Izabe a steaming cup of hot chocte. "For you."


    She took it, feeling the warmth seep from her palms to her heart. Outside, the rain had drenched him, yet the cup was spotless.


    Not only had Casey brought hot chocte, but he had also brought a scarf, knowing full well Izabe never carried one despite her aversion to the cold.


    Holding the hot chocte in one hand, Izabe threw herself into his embrace. The collision grounded their anxieties.


    Casey looked down at her, his eyes soft, a faint smile ying in his deep brown irises, as if to melt the winter''s frost.


    He hugged her tightly, his hands running through her soft hair. "Let''s go home."


    "Wouldn''t you like to stay for dinner?" Bunny called out after them.


    "It''s toote for that now. It''s winter, too cold."


    "We have a room for you to sleep in."


    "I''m notfortable in unfamiliar beds."


    In truth, it was Izabe who was particr about where she slept, and Bunny knew it. She waved them off. "Alright, take Be home. Don''t catcha cold." Then to Izabe, "Come visit when you can, stay a few days."


    "Mhm," Izabe responded.


    Casey wrapped the scarf snugly around Izabe, making sure no gaps would let the cold in, before leading her out. Bunny watched them leave. Under the dim lights, their close silhouettes made her eyes moisten with tears.


    It hadn''t been easy. She knew the struggles they''d been through to find this peace.


    Back inside, Beck in his wheelchair called to her. "Don''t stand at the door; aren''t you cold? Come inside."


    Bunny walked over and leaned against his knees, her eyes still red.


    Beck knew she was upset again, perhaps because of his legs, which might never regain their former agility.


    "If I hadn''t pushed for Brett to take control of the Windham family''s assets, maybe you wouldn''t have ended up in the hospital, maybe I wouldn''t be in this wheelchair."


    "I wasn''t just helping him. Nathaniel


    hurt Casey and lied to us; of course, I


    wouldn''t let that go. It was Brett''sContent held by N?velDrama.Org.


    skill that secured all of the Windham Group''s wealth in J City."


    The Windham family knew how to teach sess but failed to teachpassion and love.


    Seeing his partner in tears, Beck fumbled tofort her, saying, "Don''t cry. There''s an upside to this wheelchair; I no longer have to kneel on the washboard as punishment." Outside, as Izabe buckled her seatbelt in the passenger seat.


    Casey started the car and asked, "What brought you here so suddenly today?"


    He was unaware of his own "illness,"


    only that he''d been gued by nightmares and ack of appetite What he didn''t know was the extent of his psychological turmoil, his nocturnal wanderings, and his memorypses upon waking.


    Izabe had not nned on telling Casey about his condition. Instead, she said, "I came to discuss wedding dates. My parents picked a few; which do you think we should choose?"