Chapter 1839

Karina couldn’t reconcile the composed, confident, and highly skilled Wilfred she knew with the idea of him as a slave.
Her lips trembled as though she wanted to say something, but the words wouldn’t come.
Wilfred noticed the shock in her expression and let out a faint, bitter smile before continuing.
“In that dark, endless hell, I was subjected to all kinds of drug experiments every day. My body and mind were pushed to the brink, treated as nothing more than a tool. My life and death were entirely in their hands.”
A sharp pang shot through Karina’s chest as she listened. She couldn’t begin to imagine the suffering Wilfred had endured.
“How did you escape?” she managed to ask, her voice barely above a whisper.
Wilfred’s gaze grew distant, his eyes clouded with memories.
“There was a rare moment of carelessness during a transfer. I seized the opportunity with everything I had left and escaped. After that, I hid my identity, pouring all my effort into studying medicine. I wanted to take back control of my life and help others who, like me, were at the mercy of fate.”
Tears welled up in Karina’s eyes, her heart aching for all he had been through. At the same time, she couldn’t help but admire his resilience and determination.
“Your sleepwalking… is it connected to that time?” she asked gently.
Wilfred nodded slightly.
“The experiments left lasting damage on my body. Sleepwalking is one of the aftereffects. I’ve always been afraid of anyone finding out, afraid of being seen as a freak. That’s why I’ve hidden it for so long.”
Karina reached out, taking his hand in hers. Her voice trembled with emotion as she said, “You’re not a freak. You’re the most incredible person I know.”
Her other hand rose slowly, brushing against his face.
“You’ve been through so much. It must have been so hard for you,” she murmured, her eyes filled with tenderness.
Wilfred felt a surge of conflicting
emotions. He had never imagined
that someone could so easily break through the walls he had built, reaching the vulnerability he had buried deep inside.
He opened his mouth to speak, but his throat tightened as if choked by invisible chains. After a moment, he finally managed to say, “It’s all in the past. But sometimes, those memories feel like nightmares I can’t escape.”
Karina shook her head gently. “Not anymore. I won’t let those memories haunt you again.”
As she spoke, she tightened her grip on Wilfred’s hand and leaned closer, her forehead almost touching his.
“Whether it’s the sleepwalking or the pain of your past, we’ll face it together. I’ll help you overcome the aftereffects. You’re not alone anymore.” Wilfred stared at her, her eyes reflecting his image back at him-filled with unwavering certainty and deep affection.
His eyes grew misty, and for the first time in his life, he felt an urge to lean on someone else.
Turning his hand to hold hers, his voice came out low and rough, carrying a faint warmth. “Alright.”
*
Karina’s lips curved into a soft smile, the warmth of it breaking through the heavy atmosphere, as if trying to bring a sliver of light into the moment.
“Let’s not dwell on these heavy things today,” she said softly. “I heard there’s a new movie out that’s getting great reviews. Why don’t we go watch it together?” Wilfred blinked in surprise before nodding. “Alright, whatever you want.”
They arrived at the cinema, where the weekend crowd bustled with energy, filling the air with excitement and chatter.
Karina, visibly excited, headed to the
ticket machine to collect their tickets However, she ran into a
small issue. The machine seemed to be lagging and wouldn’t process her request.
Noticing her struggle, a nearby staff member, Leonard, quickly stepped in to assist.