"Get in the car," he said, his voice colder than usual.

Melissa remained still, seemingly clinging to something. She pointed ahead and then dashed off on her own.

The street was empty at midnight.

Her slender figure moved along the road, appearing isolated. Marcus sat silently in the car.

His eyes felt warm.

He struggled to understand his emotions. He resented her, even despised her. He thought about that she had been with another man when she let him touch her.

To him, it didn't matter whether they had sex or not in the end.

What was the difference?

They had been together for nearly six months. He was sure anyone could tell he had feelings for her. She had plenty of time to disclose her past and reject him, but she never did.

Even after they made out on that small bed of hers, she didn't push him away.

With a bite on his finger, Marcus switched on the headlights and began to drive slowly behind her.

Melissa's current home was more rundown than her previous one.

The room barely had space beyond a makeshift bed and a small, shaky table.

Feeling awkward, Melissa hesitated to invite Marcus to sit, realizing there was nowhere to sit but the bed.

She bit her lip, reached under the bed, and pulled out a stone plate.

After digging a bit, she retrieved several bundles of old money from a hole in the wall.

Carefully, she placed the money on the small table.

Melissa whispered softly, "That's all I've managed to save. I want you to keep it."

Marcus quietly observed her hand. It wasn't as delicate as before.

She used to pamper her hands with a light green hand cream she always carried. Now, she was even cutting back on hand cream.