Just then, Elias let out a guttural growl.

Sienna blinked. "Hugging therapy?" she muttered. "You want me to hug this lunatic fox while he’s chained like a beast?"

The system chimed: [Affirmative. Hugging therapy is required.]

Sienna sighed, rolling her eyes. The sound of the chains rattled as Elias tried to break them loose physically, with strength alone.

"Of all the ridiculous missions..." Sienna muttered. She approached the bead cautiously.

But Timothy stopped her. The rabbit beast man had been perched on a window all this time. It was safe for quick exist and at the same time, keeping an eye on his boss. "My lady, he’s dangerous. The chains are barely holding him. If you get too close--"

Sienna silenced him with a glare. "I know what I am doing Timothy, you don’t need to be worried for me."

She climbed into the bed, her movements deliberate. Elias snarled, his teeth bared, his aura flaring. But Sienna wrapped her arms around him, pressing her body against his trembling frame.

At first, he resisted, thrashing violently. The chains clanged, her roared, his mental strength burst outwards. Guards outside shouted, and Timothy nearly fainted. But Sienna held firm, her embrace unyielding.

"It’s okay," she whispered into his ear. "Everything is going to be okay. Just calm down and listen to the sound of my voice. I am Sienna, your beautiful, fearless, wonderful wife. You are my husband, my handsome...very hot husband. Sharing a bed with you is like cooking a pizza when I am on a diet. Do you know how terrible a temptation it is? And why do you insist on sleeping shirtless some nights? It cannot be an innocent decision. For a man who was once repulsed by me, you sure are brave."

As she muttered nonsense, her warmth seeped into him, her steady heartbeat anchoring his madness. Slowly, his thrashing eased.. His breathing grew ragged but less violent. His aura dimmed, flickering like a dying flame.

Sienna tightened her arms, resting her chin on his shoulder. "You are a bastard, you know and your mother sucks. Why do hot men have baggage? Why can’t you just be a sweet guy, madly in love with me, with a mother who wakes up and prepares my favorite meals and helps our kids with homework? I could also go for her simply staying out of my business and dotting on her grandchildren. Perfect arrangement."

Elias’s eyes flickered, confusion battling the pain on his head. His lips trembled, forming words. "Sienna....why are you here?"

She smirked. "Because I planted spyware on you and discovered the moment you suffered a mental break. Apparently my hugs can cure you much faster than the pills sold in pharmacies. What did you do to put yourself in this condition, bastard?"

Timothy gasped, horrified at her bluntness. Calling the fox lord a bastard, to his face, was how some people found themselves in hospitals being treated for a variety of mental issues.

But Elias’s wide eyes softened, a faint chuckle escaping his lips.

Sienna yawned. "From growling to laughing, looks like Chubby charms strikes again. You will live. By the way, when were you planning to tell me that your mother has been calling me Chubby charms?"

The system chimed:

[Stabilization at 40%. Continue hugging therapy.]

Sienna sighed dramatically. "When you are fully restored to 100% sanity, we are going to have to discuss the price of this hug. It has got to be the longest hug in history. I am afraid that I am about to break your bones."

Elias’s chuckle grew louder, though his body still trembled.

Sienna pressed her forehead against his. "Your temperature has gone down. You almost burned my clothes off. Maybe I should break your bones."

He laughed softly. "I am curious about how a human without mental strength managed to soothe my mental break."

Sienna thought on the information she had read on beast men with mental strength. Most opted to marry beast women with mental strength as well because they could help with natural soothing during mental breaks. It was one of the reasons why their kind did not marry human women. Elias had actually risked a lot by marrying a human woman.

She twisted her lips. "Call it hug therapy. Don’t go looking for it elsewhere because it is unique to me."

The door opened and closed. Timothy had left to give them privacy because he sensed the situation was not as dangerous as before.

"You idiot," Sienna suddenly muttered, pressing her forehead harder against his. "What were you thinking, marrying a human woman? Do you even know the importance of having a partner that helps to soothe your mind in the midst of a mental break? If I had been thinking rationally back then, I should have taken the money and accepted partial custody of the children. No wonder your mother hates me." She finished softly.

All this while, she judged Lady Cadelaria for declaring her an unfit partner for Elias. But if the pros and cons of this relationship were put on a weighing scale, the cons probably weighed more;

Elias’s eyes flickered again, madness clashing with clarity. "Sienna, don’t you dare leave me..."

Her heart clenched. They had already agreed to divorce, so what did he mean? Did he mean she could not leave now or ever?

The system chimed:

[Stabilization at 70%. Hugging therapy effective. Continue.]

"How can I leave when my body is wrapped around you like a second skin?" She exhaled sharply. "I am surprised you have not yet suggested something like I should take my clothes off for this to work faster."

Elias chuckled weakly, his aura dimming further. Outside, the guards lowered their weapons and most started to retreat.

A lion beast man whispered to Timothy, "This was one of the strongest mental breaks I have ever witnessed. How has your lord recovered? Has he killed his human wife?"

Timothy replied vaguely. "How could kill his pill?"

The lion frowned, confusion pooling in his brown eyes. What did this statement mean? When he recounted the incident to the king, how was he supposed to explain it? He turned to Timothy and asked further, "What do your words mean?"

Timothy looked at the lion coldly. "That you should mind your own business. I requested for back up because my lord was having a mental break. I did not request for press. Your services have been paid for in full. You are excused."

The lion beast man sneered at the rabbit beast man. The urge to dominate Timothy and teach him his place was big. But, the lion knew better than to mess with Elias’s people. He still snarled in anger. "You may work for Lord Veythar, but you are not him. His arrogance is excusable, yours is a plea for a quick death."

With a confident smirk, Timothy replied, "Try me."

The lion stepped back, and left with a growl.