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Allison rolled her eyes. “Can you mind your own business?”

Jackson chuckled, clearly unconvinced. He knew her well enough to recognize when she was keeping something to herself, and the way she reacted only made him more certain that there was something between her and Silas that she wasn't ready to admit.

His teasing expression gradually faded, however, and he leaned closer to the screen.

“Does he know about your past? About your illness and how sick you get? Does he know about the dreams you keep having about your parents and how that car accident comes back to haunt you?”

Allison's smile disappeared.

“No,” she admitted quietly. “He doesn't know any of it. And I need you to keep it that way, Jackson. Please don't tell him.”

Jackson stared at her, his expression growing serious. For a moment, he seemed ready to argue, but he eventually let out a frustrated breath.

“Fine. I'm going to bed, or I'll find something else to do before I lose my mind trying to figure out what's going on with you.” He shook his head. “Good night.”

Before she could respond, he ended the call.

Allison lowered her phone and tightened her fingers around it, remaining on the balcony as the cold air brushed against her skin. The breeze swept through her hair, lifting the loose strands around her face, but she barely noticed the chill. Her thoughts were too tangled in everything Jackson had said and everything she had chosen to keep from Silas.

A few moments later, a pair of strong arms wrapped around her waist from behind. A broad chest pressed against her back, and the familiar warmth of Silas's body surrounded her.

She turned in his embrace and looked up at him.

There was no trace of sleepiness left in his eyes. He was watching her intently, his expression unreadable as he held her close.

Allison lifted a hand to his face and gently caressed his cheek. Silas closed his eyes at her touch, leaning into her palm as though that simple gesture was all he needed. There was something almost vulnerable in the way he allowed himself to relax beneath her hand, something that made her heart ache with a tenderness she couldn't quite put into words.

‘Even when he's doing things behind my back, something I hate more than almost anything, I can't bring myself to hate him. Not even a little.’

She searched his face, her thumb brushing lightly over his cheek.

‘Have I really fallen in love with him?’

The realization left her strangely unsettled. A faint frown creased her forehead as another thought crept into her mind, one that had been haunting her long before she married him.

‘What if he finds out I'm not as innocent as he thinks? There are so many things he doesn't know about me. What if he discovers that I have a mental illness? Would he still want me as his wife?’

Guilt tightened in her chest. She should have told him the truth before they married. She knew that. But now that he had become so important to her, the thought of revealing everything frightened her more than she wanted to admit.

‘I shouldn't have hidden these things from him. But how can I tell him now?’

Silas opened his eyes and noticed the troubled expression on her face. His gaze softened as he raised his hand and gently cupped her cheek, brushing his thumb across her skin before leaning down to press a kiss to her forehead.

“Hey,” he murmured, his voice quieter and gentler than usual. “Don't worry about anything. I’m here for you. You need to trust me, okay?”

She held his gaze, searching for any hint of uncertainty in his eyes, but found none.

“Trust me,” he repeated, drawing her closer. “I'm not going to let you go. Whatever is troubling you, you don't have to face it alone.”

Something inside her finally eased. His words couldn't erase her fears or answer all the questions she was too afraid to ask, but the softness in his voice settled her restless heart, if only a little.

She nodded, unable to find the right words, and rested her hand against his chest.

Just then, her phone began to ring again.

She glanced down at the screen, and Jackson's name appeared.

Allison hesitated before looking up at Silas. He gave her a questioning look, but she finally accepted the video call.