CHAPTER 360: AUNTIE ROSA/LEXIE

Lexie was in deep shock; she had expected anything but him not pushing her away for the first time.

For a moment, she remained frozen, scarcely able to believe that Isiah had actually accepted her embrace.

His words, "This... this thing you’re doing... do it... longer," echoed in her ears, filled with an unfamiliar vulnerability.

Slowly, she tightened her arms around him, holding him close, her heart pounding with a mix of surprise and tenderness.

She could feel the tension in his body easing ever so slightly, and for the first time, she felt a glimmer of hope that perhaps, beneath all his walls, there was a part of him that longed for the same connection she desperately wanted to give.

Her fingers found their way into his hair, gently threading through the dark strands.

With a soft, trembling voice, she whispered, "Isiah, I promise... I’ll never stop showing you what love feels like. You don’t have to be alone anymore."

But Isiah wasn’t even there, not really. He wasn’t thinking of Lexie in that way at all.

He was lost in his memories, the ones he had buried after his first death. The warmth and comfort of Lexie’s embrace had triggered something deep within him, bringing back the memories of the one person who had truly loved him on Earth: his auntie Rosa.

Lexie, unaware of his inner turmoil, gently ran her fingers through his hair, her voice soft and trembling.

"Isiah, I promise... I’ll love till I can’t breathe."

But Isiah’s mind was far away, wandering through the tender moments with Auntie Rosa, the warmth of her love and the safety he felt in her embrace.

He closed his eyes tighter, trying to hold onto those fleeting memories, finding solace in the only love he had ever known.

He even put his arms around Lexie so tight that she felt she was about to suffocate.

She started to whisper things in his ear, words of comfort and love.

"It’s okay, Isiah," she whispered, her breath warm against his ear. "I’m here for you. You don’t have to be strong all the time. Let me in. Let me take care of you."

She could feel his grip tightening around her, almost as if he was trying to hold onto the memory of his aunt.

Lexie continued to whisper, her voice filled with a mix of desperation and affection.

"You deserve to be loved," she murmured. "You deserve to be happy. I want to be the one who makes you feel that way. I want to be the one who loves you."

Lexie was on cloud nine. She had never been this close to Isiah, and the proximity made her feel intoxicated by him.

The influence he had over her was like a potent, dangerous drug, and she was so happy to consume it as if it were the sweetest confection.

Driven by this overwhelming sensation, she whispered more fervently into his ear, her voice trembling with emotion.

"Isiah, I need you to understand... I can’t stop loving you. You’re everything to me. I want to be by your side, to share your burdens, to make you feel cherished."

Her fingers continued to run through his hair, her touch delicate yet desperate.

She leaned in closer, her lips brushing against his ear as she spoke, her words a mix of passion and longing.

"I’ll do anything for you. ."

Despite her pleas, Isiah’s mind remained ensnared in his memories, the warmth of Auntie Rosa’s love still the only solace he could fully embrace.

When Lexie started to kiss his lips, Isiah went tense.

His eyes snapped open, and it felt like he finally realized what was happening.

The warmth of her lips brought him back to the present, making him painfully aware that he was with Lexie, not reliving memories of Rosa.

He pulled back slightly, his gaze locking onto hers with a mixture of confusion and intensity.

The realization hit him hard, breaking through the fog of his memories.

"Lexie..." he murmured, his voice strained.

The tenderness from moments ago vanished, replaced by the icy wall he had built around himself.

Lexie, noticing the change in his demeanor, froze, her heart pounding in her chest.

She could see the conflict in his eyes, the struggle between the warmth of her embrace and the cold distance he wanted to maintain.

"Isiah, I..." she began, but her words faltered under his intense gaze.

The vulnerability she had glimpsed was quickly slipping away, replaced by the hardened exterior he used to protect himself.

Isiah removed her arms from around his neck and stood up abruptly, heading straight for the door.

Lexie watched, a mix of desperation and heartbreak flooding her eyes as she saw him retreating.

"Isiah, please," she called out, her voice trembling. "Don’t walk away. Not now."

He paused for a brief moment, his back to her, before speaking in a tone that was cold and distant. "This changes nothing, Lexie. I can’t give you what you want."

With those words, he opened the door and walked out, leaving Lexie alone with her unfulfilled longing and the weight of his rejection.

What killed him was the fact that he felt something he hadn’t felt in ages, a flicker of warmth and connection, and that it came from Lexie, not anyone else.

The realization gnawed at him as he walked away, each step heavy with the weight of his inner turmoil.

He had buried his emotions deep, convinced he would never feel anything again.

But in those brief moments with Lexie, she had managed to break through his defenses, stirring feelings he had long since forgotten.

It was both terrifying and painful, and he didn’t know how to handle it.

As he reached the door, he paused, his hand on the doorknob, struggling to compose himself.

The memories of Auntie Rosa’s love mixed with the unexpected affection from Lexie, creating a confusing storm inside him.

He clenched his jaw, pushing the thoughts aside, and stepped out, leaving Lexie behind with her heart still reaching out to him.