searing pa

mell of antiseptic filled my lungs. Bandages were wrapped tightly aro

bed, humming a cheerful tune. She saw

d, you' r

nd pressed her thumb directly onto the la

catching in my throat

mocking whisper. "Liam was so worried. He almost

e pain, from the sheer malice in

d, and Liam walked in, hi

ith terror, and she scrambled backward from her chair, trip

utching her ankle. "Ava!

n for me vanishing in an instant. He helped her

ll did you do

ispered, my voice hoarse. "She

just trying to see if she was okay, and she pushed me!

rmation. He held Chloe tightly, stroki

e, and I saw no love, no history, just cold, hard rage. "You a

my bed, his presen

apologize

ief. "Apologize? For wha

. Or should I make a call to the dean of Ethan' s academy? I' m s

, heavy and suffocating. E

out of me, replaced by a hollow, ac

r knees," L

' t move. I wa

, a fake note of pity in her voic

arm and hauled me out of the bed. The pain from my other injuries was so intense it made

en at the back. I felt ex

like ash in my mouth. I couldn' t look at either of

eavy, possessive weight. He stroked Chloe'

her, loud enough for me to hear eve

t of me as I knelt on the floor in my pain and shame.

dripping with false magnanimity. She patted my head

e. I remained on the

her, his arm wrapped protectively around

every inch of my body screaming in pain, but the deepest wound wasn' t one th

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