At that moment, Caleb Shaw slowly opened his eyes.
His long eyelashes trembled slightly, his pupils gradually focusing, while a faint, nebulous smile hung at the corners of his mouth.
But when his gaze finally landed on the familiar yet perplexing face of Selene Kane, that rare tenderness dissipated like mist blown away by the cold wind.
Replacing it was his usual aloof and stern demeanor.
"Female Master."
He called softly.
Selene Kane wasn’t annoyed, not only did she not get angry, she instead started to smile gently.
The smile carried a hint of playfulness, a touch of certainty.
She raised her hand, letting her fingertip trace along his brow bone, slowly sliding down.
Skirting past his nose, finally stopping at his broad chest.
"Barely awake, and you’re pretending not to know me?" Her tone carried a hint of amusement, yet there was a cunning gleam in her eyes, "Your hand... is still firmly holding my waist, no escaping now."
She suddenly leaned in closer, her nose almost touching his.
"Seems like your body is far more truthful than your words."
Caleb Shaw’s Adam’s apple moved slightly, his lips pressed into a fine line.
Reason frantically sounded the alarm in his mind.
He must push her away, must sternly rebuke.
Make her stay as far away from him as possible.
Yet the fine, tingling sensation in his chest, wave after wave, muddled his thoughts and numbed his will.
He couldn’t help but respond, a very low and soft sound emerging from deep in his throat.
"Hmm..."
Immediately after, he spoke softly.
"You’re right."
Selene Kane was taken aback, her eyes widening in surprise.
This person...
What’s going on?
Usually, he hates her getting close.
Finds even saying one more sentence unnecessary, but today he went along with her words?
She hadn’t even had time to think deeper when suddenly everything turned dark, the world spun.
The next moment, her back was pressed into the soft bed, Caleb Shaw’s figure looming overhead.
That handsome and almost severe face rapidly enlarged before her eyes.
"Female Master, can I?"
She was about to ask what he intended to do when her lips were suddenly covered with his.
"Oh dear, I’m not watching, I’m not watching!"
The system’s voice came with a touch of panic.
Before the words were even finished, it completely vanished from consciousness.
Selene Kane’s hands were held above her head with one large hand, firmly pinned down, unable to move.
Every breath was captured bit by bit by him.
"You..."
"Don’t you... hate me all along?"
The entire morning, time seemed stretched and twisted.
She floated and sank in this daze, half-awake, unable to discern reality from fantasy.
Afterwards, the room returned to silence.
Sunlight streamed through the sheer curtains, reflecting on the rumpled sheets.
Selene Kane curled up under the blanket, burying her face tightly into the soft fabric.
She wished she could disappear from this world, never to face this face again.
This isn’t love, it’s like undergoing tribulation.
She only wanted to live quietly, why is it so difficult?
Even more absurd, ever since her relationship with Caleb Shaw underwent that subtle change.
The normally solemn, unsmiling officers began finding various bizarre excuses to come to her.
Some said they needed to report the latest patrol situation in the war zone, others said there was a small issue with logistical supplies.
She saw clearly, they weren’t here for work, purely to watch the drama.
But before they could say a few sentences.
Caleb Shaw would come out from the next room with a stern face, lowering his voice, chasing them all away.
"No business discussions here."
"Report next time at the command center."
"Now, leave at once."
At first, she was so nervous she bit her lip, palms slightly sweaty.
She even instinctively wanted to explain a few words, yet she was stopped by a look from Caleb Shaw.
But as it happened more often, she gave up completely, lazy to conceal her emotions anymore.
She lay straight on the sofa, eyes fixed on the ceiling, with a look of whatever.
Anyway, they weren’t really here for her, they were here for the show.
A bunch of grown men, how come they love the excitement?
Don’t their daily tasks keep them busy enough?
Training, combat, reporting, exercises...
Which is not more important than gossiping about her emotional life?
Their own Female Master not busy enough?
The more she thought, the angrier she got, simply deciding on it.
Never coming to Caleb Shaw’s place again.
Really unbearable, mentally exhausting, more tiring than an Interstellar breakout battle.
Caleb Shaw tugged the blanket she was wrapped in.
"Eat something."
Selene Kane nodded, indeed she was hungry.
She hadn’t eaten properly since returning from the combat mission, coupled with emotional turbulence, her stomach was long empty.
Taking the nutrient vial he handed over, she took a glance.
The light green liquid gently swirled inside the transparent tube.
Initially felt like she could drink it, but somehow, suddenly lost her appetite.
Her chest felt stifled, as if blocked by something.
"Forget it, I’ll just head home."
She placed the nutrient vial gently on the table, her voice carrying fatigue.
"Zane and Alza must be worried sick."
Caleb Shaw’s hand suddenly clenched, knuckles emitting a faint "crack", the veins on his temple uncontrollably pulsed.
He lowered his eyes, his gaze falling on her face, then quickly averting.
After a long while, long enough that only the sound of breathing remained in the room.
"I’ll have someone take you."
No retention, no explanation, not even one extra word.
Selene Kane didn’t notice his anomaly.
Only thought he was the same as before, matter-of-fact, coldly restrained.
"Alright."
She replied softly, taking her jacket, preparing to leave.
Before boarding the spaceship, Caleb Shaw suddenly came closer, gently wrapping her coat.
Then, he leaned in, softly speaking by her ear.
"Heath is waiting for you at home."
Selene Kane was momentarily stunned, lifting her head to look at him, her eyes carrying a bit of confusion.
Then she realized, her lips slightly upturned, smiling as she said: "Don’t worry, I treat every partner the same, I won’t show favoritism."
She thought he was reminding her not to neglect Heath Langdon, that’s why she emphasized this point.
Caleb Shaw said nothing more.
He only quietly watched her step onto the spaceship, his gaze deep and steady.
Then he turned away, his back tall but carrying a thread of solitude.
Men are truly hard to understand, gentle and considerate in the morning.
Even handing her warm water when she got up, now as cold as ice.
Selene Kane felt uncomfortable, contemplating while clenching her teeth in frustration.
She felt like a tool, held preciously in hand when needed, discarded aside when not.
So unlucky, used as a tool again.
She closed her eyes, leaned back in the seat, not wanting to think about these messy emotions anymore.
Just stepping through her home door, Heath Langdon was already standing at the entrance waiting for her, holding Alza in his arms.
Both their eyes were slightly red, evidently waiting for a long time, worried for a long time as well.
Her heart softened with one glance.
This person is so attentive even to a "brother", surely they’ll be good with children someday too.
If he were to raise a child, she could rest easy about it.
She watched him clumsily yet earnestly hold that furry bundle, her lips couldn’t help but rise.