Single Mom's Sweet Husband by Charlotte

No matter how hard Zoe fought, Peter still managed to tear off her clothes and left a bite mark on her collarbone.

He was not just kissing her, but biting her as if he wanted to devour her. This was terrifying. Maybe he would lose his selfcontrol and unintentionally kill her.

Zoe searched frantically for an escape plan, but cup with nothing. Just when she was at her wits' end, Peter suddenly stilled.

"No..." Peter repeatedly mumbled and collapsed atop Zoe as if drained of strength.

Zoe was frozen and tears spilled from her eyes.

She didn't do anything. It was Peter who managed to subdue his emotions.

Peter was asleep for an entire day. Zoe stayed at his bedside taking care of him. His wound had healed quickly, but she was not so lucky. She looked like a victim of domestic violence. As night fell, Zoe intended to get up and leave his bedroom to rest.

Just as she rose, she saw Peter move.

"Peter?" She asked.

Peter slowly opened his eyes, which were lucid and covered with a sheen of tears. "I'm sorry." He cto his senses and immediately knew what he had done. Although he couldn't remember the details clearly, he knew that he regarded her as prey and wanted to tear her up.

"It's okay. Shall I take you to see a psychologist?" Zoe leaned over and touched his forehead. It was a little warm, but he wasn't feverish.

"Does it hurt?" Peter looked at her lips and couldn't hold back his tears. "It must be painful. I've always wanted to protect you, but I acted like a lunatic." "It's nothing." Zoe shook her head. "I will pretend that this never happened, you-" Peter suddenly sat up straight and held her tightly in his arms. "I have been thinking, if you are willing to be my girlfriend, our first date must be romantic with flowers and the ocean and beautiful lights." "Peter..." "I want to protect you and give you the best, but Zoe, I don't deserve you," he whimpered like a child. "I don't even have an identification card. He said how could I have an identity card when I was picked up on the roadside? He said that I was a liability." Zoe gently patted his back. "It will all be over soon." "Zoe, can you stay in a hotel? Take Olive with you, okay?" Peter was reluctant to leave her, but he had no choice.

He did not know what he would do, nor did he know how to face her.

Fortunately, he woke up in the middle of the night.

He could see the bruises on her face in the faint moonlight. If it were daytime, he would clearly see the evidence of his brutality, and he would be reminded of wanting to destroy her.

"I can't leave you alone like this." Zoe touched his cheek and felt her heart ache when she saw his teary face.

In his vulnerable state, she remembered how he had always taken care of her over the past few days.

When she cooked, he washed the dishes. She said she'd help with the laundry, instead he quietly took care of it. She was too embarrassed to live in his house for nothing in return, but he insisted that it's not a big deal. After all, his hwas her home.

The only thing missing between them was a little bit of intimacy, heartache, and madness.

Initially, she didn't think much about it, but when she saw him like this, her maternal instincts surged and she felt sorry for him. She wanted to hug him and soothe his wounds.

Even if it had nothing to do with love.

"I don't know how to face you, Zoe. I can't promise that I wouldn't go berserk if I answered another phone call." Peter gently clasped her hand. Seeing her fingers covered in wounds, he wanted to kill himself. How could he hurt her? He only wanted to protect her.

"It's okay, it doesn't hurt." Zoe stroked his head. "Have a good rest and don't overthink. I'm going to bed too." She extricated herself from his hold, wanting to head back to her room to calm herself down.

Before she could take two steps, he enveloped her in his arms from behind and whispered into the shell of her ear, "Zoe." His voice was tender and it sounded unsure.

"Hmm?" She responded.

"I don't know," he muttered to himself.

He didn't know if he was willing to part with her.

Fortunately, she did not answer immediately.

Zoe sighed, turned around, and patted him on his head. "Go to sleep. I'll watch over you. I'll leave after you fall asleep." Peter shook his head. He grabbed her hand and pulled her down beside him. He wrapped his arms around her tightly like a kid squeezing a teddy bear and buried his head in her chest.

He asked her with a smile, "Does this count as taking advantage of you?" "You toldto leave you, and now you're holding onto me. You are really fickle." Zoe did not push him away, although she felt a little uncomfortable.

"You chose to stay," Peter argued.

"Yeah, I didn't leave." He did not analyze the meaning behind her words, or perhaps, he did not dare.

Peter felt secure holding her in his arms, and he promptly drifted off to sleep. Zoe gazed at the man in her arms and her pulse quickened. Peter was actually attractive, especially his eyelashes that were as long as a doll's.

If a male protagonist in the comics cto life, then he must have Peter's eyes.

Zoe's fingers brushed over his eyes and she chuckled.

Perhaps after seeing his vulnerable and crazed side, she felt oddly at ease. She had witnessed the worst of him, and she could finally accept him for who he was.

Did she have Stockholm syndrome? He had harmed her, yet she was intrigued by him.

People's feelings were really strange.

The next day, early morning.

Peter opened his eyes and saw Zoe. Before he had tto feel happy, guilt swept over him like a wave.

Her lips were still bruised. There was a jacket on the bed that looked like it was torn apart by someone. It must have been him, but she didn't throw it away.

He leaned over and gently kissed her eyes. "I'm sorry." Zoe struggled for a moment, stretched out her hand and hit him lightly. She gave Peter a small smile as if to say do not disturb her sleep.

A while later, Zoe opened her eyes to see Peter still staring at her. Although m this scene seemed quite romantic, apyone who woke up to a pair of eyes staring intensely at them would be afraid. "Why are you looking at me?" She avoided his gaze. "Zoe, you slept in the sbed with me. I'm responsible for you now." Peter held her face, not giving her any room to escape.

Zoe smacked him on the head soundly. "Don't get cheeky with me." Peter took her hand and looked at her. "Is that okay?" She was stunned.

He leaned down slowly to kiss her.

Zoe did not evade his touch. Peter just lightly grazed her lips before quickly withdrawing. He blinkedm rapidly, eyelashes fluttering like butterfly wings. He was elated. He bit his lips in shyness and happiness. He wanted to hold her tightly, but he held himself back. So this was how first love felt like.

Zoe stopped smiling and kissed him, and then bit him hard on the lips.

Her voice was soft and lazy. "We're even now."

"Zoe, I will not make you regret staying with me. I will try my best to love you so you'll reciprocate my feelings. Peter felt like a dog, because if he had a tail at the moment, it would be wagging frantically. "There's no need." That put a damper on Peter's affections and his smile froze. He was a little disappointed. "I'm sorry, I got carried away. I thought..." "I like you." Zoe stated frankly.

She said she liked him.

Peter felt like he was in a dream.

It was too unreal.

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