Eliana had never dared to hope that Dylan would do anything for her, especially considering their complicated relationship and her status as the daughter of his enemy.

"Son... what are you doing?"

Mrs. Cunningham was utterly dumbfounded. She never imagined that Dylan would use his own body to shield Eliana and endure this pain.

"Mom, stop searching. The man in the photo is me," Dylan admitted, not only enduring the physical pain but also acknowledging the relationship with Eliana that should never have existed.

With a clatter, the branding iron, stained with Dylan's flesh and already faded, fell to the ground.

Mrs. Cunningham was on the verge of spitting blood. For a woman who had lost her husband and had a psychologically distorted appearance, nothing was more emotionally exhausting than her own son being involved with the daughter of their enemy.

"My good son, you are truly my good son. You actually..."

"Mom, this is my responsibility. Don't make things difficult for her anymore," Dylan said, enduring the burning pain in his chest as he walked towards Eliana and helped her untie the ropes.

At that moment, Eliana was also in a daze. Without the support of the ropes, she weakly collapsed into the man's arms, her trembling hands touching the burns on his chest caused by the branding iron.

"Dylan, are you okay?" Eliana's tears welled up. She had never dared to imagine that the man who had used her as a means of release would protect her like this.

"I'm fine. Let me take you to apply some ointment..."

In front of his mother and the entire Cunningham Family, Dylan carried Eliana away.

This unexpected turn of events took everyone by surprise, including Eliana herself.

She had always believed that she was just a plaything to him, a means of release, and even considered herself the daughter of his enemy, believing that he took her as another form of revenge.

But today, the man stood in front of her, bearing the scalding branding iron for her. Even though her heart was an icy fortress, it began to waver and melt.

Eliana had been taken away in a brutal manner, and the room was in complete chaos.

He held her, and there was nowhere to step.

"Could you put me down? I'll get some ice for you..."

Eliana knew that his burns were more severe than her whip marks.

She freed herself from his embrace, fetched some ice, and carefully helped him remove his clothes. On his well-defined chest, there were fist-sized burns that looked painful.

These burns were the result of him bearing everything for her, and Eliana's heart ached. Tears flowed once again.

"Are you undressing me skillfully now? It seems like you've thoroughly studied my body?" Dylan's voice was teasing, not wanting her to blame herself too much, especially since all the suffering she had endured today was because of him.

"What are you saying?" Eliana stopped crying, but her face was flushed with embarrassment.

Suddenly, Dylan embraced her, but not as forcefully as before, as there were many whip marks on her body.

"Does it hurt a lot?" His voice became magnetic and gentle, even his embrace was gentle, as if he was afraid of causing her any pain.

"Don't tease... I'm not in pain. But what about your wounds?"

"I'm sorry I came back late."

"Huh? What?"

Eliana was surprised. He apologized to her, which seemed like a dream.

"You are my woman, after all. I shouldn't have let you endure all this," Dylan said, his mood incredibly complex.

“Your women?”