Chapter 463 - Goodnight

"...But if you don't shut up, I'll make you." His words caressed her ears, sending a shudder down her spine.

Zoey pursed her lips into a thin line, zipping it tight as she nodded her head despite how tempted she was to make noise for him to shut her up.

"Tsk." Yet, her reluctant obedience caused him to click his tongue.

Matthew rolled to the side languidly. "You abide so easily now…. How lame." He complained, clicking his tongue that made her brows twitch.

'Duh? And then you get mad if I didn't!' Was what she wanted to reply, but Zoey decided against it as she knew he would make that as his opening. This cunning fox beside her would surely find a loophole to conduct his evil plans.

"Good night!" Without further ado, Zoey slid inside the blanket and covered her head. Matthew only glanced at her with the side of his lips curling into a smile.

"Good night, darling." He teased, sliding inside the same blanket and laid flat on his back. Little did he know, Zoey who was hiding under the blanket had her heart raging out of her chest, her face heating up by his last remarks.

After that, the entire bedroom fell into silence. Matthew stared at the ceiling wordlessly, his mind wandering far away like usual. On the other hand, Zoey wasn't sleeping as well, suffocating herself under the blanket with her mind trying to untangle her messy thoughts.

"I told you, I won't do anything silly." After several minutes, Matthew's deep voice broke the silence. He didn't avert his eyes away from the ceiling, his arm still under the back of his head as his cushion. "Even if I wanted to, I would hate to see you running to the ends of the world just to avoid me." He added, using the same tone. 

This time, Matthew gave her a side glance, seeing the blanket slide down ever so slowly. When her head peeked out, he returned his head back staring at the ceiling. "It would be a waste of time because you'll find yourself back here again." 

Slowly, Matthew closed his eyes while Zoey casted her eyes full of disbelief onto his side profile. 'Was that a threat?' She wondered, discerning that no matter where she would run, he would chase and lock her here again. Not that she ever planned to, she's already here, after all.

Zoey cleared her throat, swallowing a mouthful of saliva as she shifted her eyes towards the ceiling. 'This is unexpected as well…' She whispered internally, processing all the changes in her mind.

When she returned eight years before she died, Zoey never thought of being in a situation like this. She expected that everything would follow the original course of life: at the same pace, same flow, and the same events.

However, a simple change which was stopping Matthew from drinking that drug, and stopping the original events of having a one-night stand with him led her to this situation. It might be out of her control and will, but it had already happened.

Things had changed and she was now in this situation where she had a spot in his heart instead of waiting for the next seven years. 'It's not that bad, I guess…' She thought, thinking that there would be benefits coming in his life earlier than before -- in their previous life.

'After all…' Her thoughts trailed off as her head moved to the side, staring at his peaceful side profile as he seemed like he was trying to get some sleep. 'His activities are concerning. Who knows what kind of indirect changes I did by coming into his life earlier.' He added in her mind, recalling what transpired and what she had witnessed when she woke up two hours ago.

'That person that Dredd ate… was he supposed to die that early? He died because of me… more or less, so…' Her mind paused, releasing a heavy sigh as she moved her body to the side, facing Matthew who seemed to have fallen asleep as he wasn't moving a muscle.

'So, will his death bring unprecedented consequences? How can I leave him alone after knowing that he's wreaking havoc and abusing his power in this way?' Once again, a faint sigh slipped past her lips.

Zoey was gravely torn upon witnessing what she had witnessed. This was something she didn't expect in this lifetime. The truth behind Matthew and what kind of past he had buried before meeting him again seven years later.

Although it was a shock and Matthew never mentioned it to her in their married life, Zoey recalled Matthew hinting his capabilities. Maybe, he was pertaining to this kind of capabilities which she didn't consider.

Nevertheless, Zoey decided to stay with him. Even though deep down, she knew that Matthew would live in the next seven years, Zoey couldn't just leave it like that. After all, there were already changes that were happening, and she couldn't be complacent that no harm would come in his way.

'It would be better to watch his back for him.' She thought, closing her eyes as her mind followed her plan and added something here and there. Zoey's mind busied cooking up plans with the additional changes until she fell asleep.

After ten minutes, Matthew's eyes slowly opened. He turned his head to her side, hearing her deep breaths, sleeping. She fell asleep facing him, so he turned to his side facing her. "I told you that I'll share your burden…" Under his breath, he sighed.

Slowly, his hand reached towards her, his finger brushed the strand of her hair that strayed on her face. "How fickle…" He whispered, staring at her peaceful front with gentle eyes.

For some reason, Matthew felt that she was still worrying about a lot of things. He wasn't sleeping earlier, feeling the slightest movements on the bed. He also sensed her intent gaze, and how the silent air grew thick -- giving off a vibe of utter worry.

Thus, he figured she fell asleep worrying about something. Maybe, she was worrying about herself, or she was worried about him. Either way, he just wanted for her to live a carefree life which ironically enough, would be hard if she's with him.

"I'm sorry for being selfish but…" He inched closer, whispering his words along with his breaths. "...but, my heart will never let you go." Matthew placed a soft peck on her forehead, holding her hand gently before he rested the side of his head closer to her.

"Good night, my love."