He Hadn't Fully Trusted Me Yet

Clara's POV

Lina's expression flickered, but she quickly regained her composure.

She took a step back, her face contorting into an aggrieved look as she raised her voice: "Clara, you can't accuse me without evidence! I've been nothing but loyal to Mr. Kyle—how could I possibly harm him? The cedarwood and moongrass in that calming incense are premium imports from overseas. Perhaps during harvesting or transport, the merchant accidentally mixed in some impurities containing traces of silver ore. It was just an accident! I had no idea there were any toxins in it!"

As she spoke, her eyes reddened, as if she were the one being wronged.

Watching her performance, I felt nothing but cold contempt. I knew she was lying—even if there were impurities in the raw materials, they would never reach concentrations high enough to produce a derivative compound.

But I had no concrete proof in hand.

"Whether it was an accident or not, testing will tell." I didn't argue with her, merely fixed her with an icy stare. "Effective immediately, you're suspended from all care duties for Kyle. Without my permission, you are not to approach Kyle's room or handle any of his food or medications. You're dismissed."

Lina bit her lip, a flash of resentment crossing her eyes, but she didn't dare openly defy my orders within the estate. She could only lower her head and retreat.

However, the moment Lina left, Kyle wheeled himself into the apothecary. His expression was tense—clearly he'd already heard what happened.

"Clara, why did you suddenly suspend Lina?" Kyle looked at me, his brow furrowing slightly, his tone carrying a note of confusion and scrutiny. "Lina has cared for me for three years, always devoted and conscientious. She's one of the most trusted members of the estate. Why would you think she wants to harm me?"

Hearing the questioning edge in his voice, my heart sank sharply, a surge of hurt and indignation flooding through me.

"You think I'm being unreasonable?" I looked at him, my voice trembling despite my efforts to control it. "Kyle, I studied therapeutic medicine. My sensitivity to herbs and toxins far exceeds the average person's. That incense box contains obvious silver poisoning derivatives—I could never be mistaken about that!"

Kyle pressed his lips together, complex emotions flickering through his deep-set eyes. "Lina hasn't made a single mistake in three years. Clara, this is a serious accusation. Without solid evidence..."

"So you'd rather believe an outsider than trust your own wife, is that it?" I cut him off, my eyes burning though I forced the tears back.

He looked at me, opening his mouth as if to explain, but I no longer wanted to hear it.

"Since you think I'm falsely accusing her, then let's have someone verify it." I turned away coldly, securing the glass vial containing the balm. "I'll send a sample to Master Alvan at International Lunar Scent for authentication. He's an authority in the field—surely you'll believe his word?"

Kyle watched my rigid back, letting out a low sigh. "Clara, it's not that I don't trust you, it's just..."

"I'm tired. I need to be alone." I cut him off coldly, not turning around.

As the sound of his wheelchair rolling away gradually faded, a fine, dense ache spread through my chest. So even though we'd become Mates, in his heart I was still an outsider. He hadn't fully trusted me yet.

Taking a deep breath, I forced myself to calm down and wrote a letter, sending it along with the sample by express courier to Master Alvan that very night. Alvan had been a close friend of my mother's in her youth and was an absolute authority on fragrance and toxin identification. Most importantly, he could be trusted.

That night, danger arrived.

Kyle and I had completed a deep physical bonding the night before, and our Mate Mindlink had become exceptionally strong. In my sleep, I suddenly felt a tearing, dull pain radiating from deep within my mind.

The agony was excruciating, as if countless blunt knives were sawing through my bones and joints. I jerked awake, my entire body drenched in cold sweat.

I turned my head to see Kyle beside me, jaw clenched tight, every muscle tensed, curled up on the bed in obvious torment. His skin was burning hot, sweat streaming down from his forehead along his cheeks, soaking the pillow.

Because of the Mindlink, the pain he was enduring was being transmitted to me in full measure.

"Kyle!" I cried out, immediately pulling him into my arms.

His body was shaking violently, suppressed, animalistic growls escaping his throat. His consciousness was already somewhat hazy, his hands clawing wildly at the bed, even tearing the sheets.

"Clara... get away..." Kyle recognized me through his pain, using what little rationality remained to push weakly at me. "I'm burning up... I'll hurt you..."

"I'm not leaving. I'm your Mate. I'm your wife." Enduring the synchronized dull pain coursing through my own body, I held him tighter with determination.

I stripped off my nightgown, pressing my cool body tightly against his burning chest and back. When our skin touched without barrier, I could feel the toxins inside him raging wildly, like a trapped beast thrashing through his meridians.

I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and began channeling my Moon's Healing power.

Warm energy surged from my body like a tide, seeping into him through our pressed skin. When my Moon's Healing made contact with those raging toxins, it began to gently envelop them, soothing the damaged nerves.

"Ngh..." Kyle let out a rough gasp, his arms instinctively wrapping around my waist, crushing me entirely into his embrace. His strength was frightening, squeezing me until I could barely breathe, but I didn't struggle—I simply wrapped my arms around his back, continuously channeling healing energy into him.

The Mate Mindlink sent waves of searing pain crashing through my mind. My bones felt as if they were splitting apart, the agony bringing tears streaming down my face. But I couldn't let go. If I gave up now, the residual toxins would directly destroy the nerves he'd worked so hard to partially restore.

For the entire night, I never loosened my hold.

Sweat glued our two bodies together, impossible to distinguish whose was whose. My Moon's Healing reserves were depleting rapidly, exhaustion threatening to make me pass out at any moment, but I gritted my teeth and persisted, using my body temperature and power to calm the raging beast within him.

It wasn't until dawn broke that Kyle's breathing finally steadied.

He nuzzled into the hollow of my neck with his eyes closed, falling into a deep sleep, though his arms remained locked tightly around my waist, refusing to release me.

I leaned against his chest in exhaustion, listening to his strong, steady heartbeat, my heart filled with unease.

I would expose every conspiracy targeting Kyle and bring it all into the light.