But Hannah continued piling up the pieces.

"I want to go out and work by myself, I can take care of myself."

"No," Archer rejected without even thinking.

This was in Bree, a girl’s situation ultimately had to be more dangerous than a boy’s.

It was determined by nature and was the most vulnerable part of human nature.

Moreover, he was afraid Hannah would leave and never come back.

He was not Archer, with no assurance that he could make Hannah stay by his side.

Hannah, holding a wooden block, put it down and looked at Archer in front of her without speaking, as if asking him why.

But her face was still expressionless.

Archer tried to soften his tone as much as possible, but the words that came out were still involuntarily stiff, "It’s dangerous outside."

That was his explanation.

Hannah didn’t speak, waiting for him to continue finding reasons.

Under such a gaze, Archer could only struggle to find more, but his words came out a bit jumbled, "...Anyway, I will take care of you."

Hannah averted her gaze, lowering her eyes, and repeated, "I can take care of myself."

Archer’s hand on his knee tightened, and his eyebrows were only slightly furrowed, making him appear stern, "Don’t you trust me yet?"

Hannah didn’t speak and picked up the wooden block to continue piling them up.

Archer simply reached out and snatched the wooden block from Hannah’s hand, interrupting her.

"Give it back."

Hannah’s tone then fluctuated a bit, like a child whose game was interrupted, angry and thus livelier.

Archer, holding the wooden block, directly asked, "Are you still thinking about Archer?"

Hannah ignored him, just looking at the wooden block in his hand.

Archer hid his hand behind his back, "Hannah, Archer has already left, left, left Bree!"

This was information he had found out with much effort; two months ago, a starship from another force had taken Archer away without pausing for a moment.

Archer knew that Archer was captured by those people, but he didn’t intend to tell Hannah the truth.

He just said, "He left, he doesn’t want you anymore!"

Hannah’s hand gripped the edge of the chair, her eyes wide and her lips tightly pressed, "You’re lying."

As soon as she spoke, her voice carried a sob.

Archer gritted his teeth and said, "I’m not."

His hand behind his back was shaking, but his tone was resolute. He had to make Hannah accept this fact.

Archer had left and wouldn’t come back.

"You’re lying." Tears had gathered in Hannah’s eyes, and before they could fall, she vigorously wiped them away herself, "Archer said he would never leave me!"

That was when she first wanted something in Bree.

She wanted Archer’s beautiful eyes, so she brought Archer back.

Archer was kind to her, he had said he would always be with her.

But he had deceived her.

Hannah pushed down the high pile of wooden blocks in front of her, then curled up in the chair.

This was the position that made her feel most secure.

She was crying, the sound very soft, but Archer still heard it.

Archer said nothing, rather than comforting Hannah, he wished she would accept this reality.

That night, Archer didn’t return to the arena but stayed at Hannah’s door, listening to her cry all night.

The crying was intermittent, she would rest for a while when tired from crying.

But the tears would quickly return.

This was the best way to vent, and it didn’t necessarily signify weakness.