When Tenderness Disperses

Seven years ago, Brandon was betrayed by a trusted associate during a shipment run, losing both the cargo and being kidnapped. In Harbor City's underworld, everyone knew who was behind it.

They were jealous of Brandon's meteoric rise as a "newcomer" in the business and had conspired to set him up. To humiliate Brandon, they said they would release him if I entertained their boss. We had just gotten married then and were deeply in love.

Murder might end a life, but this was designed to destroy the soul.

I was terrified. In the video they sent, he was covered in blood, having gone two days and nights without water, looking frighteningly pale.

Eventually, I approached his enemies on my own. I knew what I would endure, but I would do anything as long as Brandon could live.

Two days later, I was delivered to the hospital, barely clothed. They released Brandon as promised, but they had despicably recorded videos of everything. In the footage, I was on my knees, actively begging while enduring multiple men's brutality. They even sent a backup copy to Brandon.

He only saw the thumbnail before going berserk.

It was the first time I'd ever seen him cry, and we huddled together, sleepless for many nights. He swore that those who violated me would pay the price and that he would kill them with his own hands. Later, he did exactly that, consuming all their territories.

Afterward, Brandon desperately begged all those who knew to keep silent about the incident. He paid with both money and his dignity. But at some point, he began to change. Young, "pure" girls started appearing around him one after another. I suddenly realized that people's hearts do change.

...

Brandon stood on the balcony smoking when his phone suddenly rang. He irritably hung up, but the caller persisted.

Finally, Brandon answered. The girl's soft crying came through, but I couldn't understand what she said. He cursed under his breath, "What a nuisance."

Then, he turned to me and said, "There's an issue at the port that I need to handle. You should rest first."

After that, he hurried out, not returning all night. He knew exactly where my boundaries lay. After going through so much together, I could accept everything about him.

I wasn't fond of sex, so I didn't care how many women he sought for release. However, I couldn't accept him truly falling in love with another woman and letting her get pregnant.

He felt sorry that I had suffered so much for him, becoming "unrecognizable". So, when he saw Luna, who resembled my younger self so much, he couldn't help but soften, wanting to protect her.

Yet, the person who had suffered alongside him was right beside him, so why care about a mere shadow? In the decade we shared, the last eight as husband and wife, I had lived almost entirely for Brandon's sake. Now I just felt so tired, so exhausted. I could not help but think I just wanted to be Carmelia again.