Chapter 106

Emily slept until after eleven o'clock at night. When she woke up, the entire family villa had succumbed to a deep slumber, with both the children and servants sound asleep.

"Awake?" a crisp voice echoed in her ears. 

She squinted open her eyes and mumbled, "Derek, I'm hungry."

Derek chuckled softly, "Rest a little more; I'll go downstairs and cook for you. It'll take about half an hour." 

Emily nodded with her eyes closed, finding solace in the prospect of a little more sleep.

As she drifted in and out of consciousness, her cerebral cortex unusually active, she surprisingly began to dream. 

She found herself traversing a white valley with mountains and layers of green trees, directionless and weak.

With each step, her legs gave out, and she felt the desperation of trying to break free from the dream. Finally standing up, she struggled across a swamp, and as the path leveled, she attempted to open her eyes without success.

Sudde