It was as if Ashen's sudden burst of anger towards her stutter had flipped a switch in Cessilia. From her complete panic, she had gone into her own self-defense mode, putting up an emotional shield, a barrier between him and her. The heart that she had dared to expose for a second was once again put back into that chest, and locked away. She was closing up to him, and he could see it happen right there and then. It was almost scary to watch that emotionless gaze of her on him.
Ashen tried with a faint movement to extend his hand, but there was still that table between them.
"Cessilia, I..."
She remained completely mute. Those lips wouldn't even open, although he could see her painful breathing, the way her chest heaved erratically. Her face was a bit paler than usual, too, and her lo
