You Hit My Heart by Kylie Stanford

Chapter 2086: Do You Understand Love?

On the cliff, behind a large rock.

Joyce leaned against the stone, trying to sleep but not daring to fully fall asleep. If she slept too deeply, she would lose consciousness, and any accidental exposure of her body or head could mean instant death. She only dared to close her eyes and rest.

From time to time, she called out to Clint to remind him not to fall asleep.

"Hey," Joyce called out. When Clint didn't answer, she raised her voice and called again, "Hey!"

"I have a name," Clint finally responded. "I'm not asleep. Call me by my name, call me Clint."

He wished she would call him like she used to.

Joyce ignored him. "If you're not asleep, why didn't you respond? Sniping is about endurance; hang in there. If you want to die, wait until this is over and undo the curse for me before you do."

Clint remained silent.

She truly didn't give him any kindness.

"You're a sharpshooter. Do you understand long-distance sniping as well?" Clint tried to engage her in conversation. He was genuinely tired; after all, he had been shot, losing blood and energy.

"I didn't before, but I learned a lot from my mother later on," Joyce answered softly. She could tell from his voice that the bleeding had stopped.

"Being born into a military family makes you different. Joyce, you're unlike any woman I've ever known," Clint said softly, his voice carried by the wind.

over twenty years, I never experienced familial love. I did everything alone. Even though I had a talent for shooting, the training process was grueling. No matter how sad or repressed I felt

gaze towards Joyce. He could feel her breathing

knew some of her past, but hearing it from her own mouth made the weight of it real. She had endured so much pain;

saved you? When I saw you floating on the sea back then, I remembered when I fell off a cliff into the ocean-vast and endless, with no end in sight, deep and unknown, not knowing life or death or future. That feeling of helplessness and confusion-I experienced

Joyce spoke to herself.

stayed silent; so that's how

of myself-not knowing my origins, having no family or support. That's why

that I was separated from my daughter for four years? After going through so much hardship to rescue her from Athena's hands, Iris refused to acknowledge me at first. It took all my effort for her to finally call me 'Mommy.' We had only reunited for a few months. Do you know that I've only been reunited with my parents for less than a year? I've never even had the chance to properly honor them. Do you know that Anderson and I rely on each other so

Even though I said it didn't matter, deep down, I still hoped for it. I thought that after all the hardships were over, peaceful days awaited me. But you've ruined everything. You kidnapped me to a foreign

you even

using unheard-of dark magic."

the toughest opponent I've ever faced-I can't kill you nor escape your curse. Clint, you've won; victors write history

deep breath. "Forget what

him all this-perhaps because time passed too slowly and boredom set

spoke about things he hadn't known before-details he couldn't have found in any information he dug up about her-and realized how

in her voice-a hoarseness and pauses-so she hadn't

turned away and tried hard to breathe deeply as

wiping away tears from the corners of her eyes-tears she refused to admit or

you'll deal with me once we get out

really want to

course! Do you think I'm

and heartless with no regard for kinship? You're just a lunatic," Joyce sneered

is