Through the mist, she saw two glowing eyes.
A huge wolf suddenly charged straight toward her.
Ima couldn't even run.
Fear had completely frozen her in place.
The wolf leaped toward her.
But suddenly, someone jumped between the wolf and Ima.
It was the young man.
He grabbed the wolf tightly around the neck.
The wolf tried to bite him, but he refused to let go.
"Run" he shouted at her.
But Ima couldn't move.
The wolf was incredibly strong.
The young man used all his strength to hold it back, but Ima watched in horror as the animal's claws sank deep into his flesh.
She realized in an instant that he couldn't defeat it.
Instead of simply standing there in fear, Ima quickly looked around.
That's when she noticed a sharp wooden branch lying half-buried in the mist.
She grabbed it and, using all her strength, drove it into the wolf's body.
The wolf let out a fierce howl of pain.
Its attention shifted away from the young man.
Ima immediately grabbed his hand and ran.
The two of them stumbled through the mist, running for their lives.
Ima could feel the young man's hand trembling inside hers.
When they finally reached a safer place, they stopped, breathing heavily.
His entire body was covered with scratches and wounds.
Blood dripped from his injuries onto the ground.
Ima felt a deep affection for the young man who had risked his own life for her.
Even though he knew he wasn't strong enough to defeat the wolf, he had still tried to save her.
"Are you in pain?" she asked, her voice trembling.
"Of course. Getting scratched by a wolf feels wonderful, doesn't it?"
He said it with a sulky expression.
Ima's eyes immediately filled with tears.
She tore a small piece of cloth from her dress and began wrapping it around one of his wounds.
He winced in pain.
"Oh... Does it hurt that much?" she asked anxiously.
He said nothing.
He simply looked at her.
It seemed to him that Ima was suffering more from seeing him hurt than he was from his own wounds.
He thought about Olivia, the girl who had betrayed him and walked away.
He had done everything he could for her, yet she had never shed a single tear for him.
She had never cared for him with this kind of kindness.
Ima was only a stranger to him, yet the concern she showed touched his heart deeply.
"Don't cry..." he said softly.
There was more surprise than pain in his voice.
He raised his hand as though he wanted to wipe away her tears, but halfway there, he hesitated and lowered it again.
Ima couldn't even look at him.
The thought that he had suffered so much because of her filled her with guilt and pain.
"What is your name?" he asked.
"Ima..." she replied, wiping away her tears.
"My name is... Rex."
He introduced himself as well.
Ima couldn't hold back her curiosity.
She slowly asked,
"Did you see Olivia again?"
The moment she asked the question, Rex's face fell.
"Yes... It wasn't what I thought. Lord Mephisto didn't lure her away. She left willingly after he offered her money. Her greed for money was greater than her love for me."
He paused for a moment, as though it had become difficult to breathe.
"She said she didn't need me anymore. She even mocked me, saying that I was a man who couldn't even afford to give her a kiss after all these years..."
His eyes filled with tears again.
"I was busy trying to earn enough money so that we could build a life together. I spent everything I had on her education. Now I have nothing left... And that's why she doesn't need me anymore."
Rex's words caused a deep ache in Ima's heart.
He had sacrificed everything for the woman he loved, only to lose it all in the end.
She felt immense respect and sympathy for him.
She gently touched his hand.
"Don't be sad, Rex... Don't cry over someone who didn't deserve your love. Someday, a girl who truly loves you will surely come into your life."
Ima's words brought Rex more comfort than she realized.
For the first time in his life, he felt that someone truly understood him.
Deep down, he was happy to have found the friendship of a kind girl like Ima.
The mist had begun to clear.
Rex stood up and helped Ima to her feet.
"It's not safe to stay here. I'll take you back to the bungalow," he said.
The two of them climbed into the horse-drawn carriage and set off.
When they reached the steps of the large bungalow, Ima looked at Rex and said goodbye.
The old disappointment in Rex's eyes was gone.
Instead, they were filled with gratitude and affection for Ima.
As Ima entered the bungalow, Rex remained there, watching her.
To him, Ima seemed like an angel sent by God at the very moment his life had fallen apart.
The moment Ima stepped inside, something suddenly came back to her mind.
She raised her hands to her neck and felt around.
For a moment, she froze in shock.
The silver cross necklace that the priest had placed around her neck was gone.
Somewhere along the way, she had lost it...
To be continued...
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