y

strong for you. P

-like a little boy calling out from far away. I remember

scream, to help him, but my body betrayed me. My head throbbed violently, my

wn on me. An IV line was stuck into my arm, piercing my pale s

harp scent of antiseptic. Instead... there was this sweet, delicate

efore. I just coul

ugh my thoughts. Soft. Relie

er crystal-blue eyes-the same eyes I inherited, the ones I'd always admired-looked clouded with worry

ce was hoarse,

d and held on tight. "You scare

t like sandpaper. "I... I had a

ickered in my mind: small dirty hands, a pair of wounded eyes, a fa

as her hands gently patted my cheeks. "Sweeth

ain to loosen its grip. When I open

ollowed by a docto

k, I knew-it was my f

uit fitting like armor. His presence filled the room-cold, commanding, lethal. Every step he took a

itation. He stopped at the foot of my bed, staring at

dizzy,"

ught words like "stable" and "complete rest." Then the doctor left. Now it was ju

Papa began, his tone making my he

at him,

gaze hardened-but not at me. It was like he was looking past me, straight at Rhett's shado

e a knife. Rhett. My stu

pa?" My voice wa

a split second. "Don't co

hett always-always does whatever the hell he wa

enough to shut me down. "You n

eyes, the way his fingers curled into a fist for just a second before relax

ap

ut the authority in it didn'

ked out. His black coat swept be

? I need to talk to him. End this. He punched that guy

messy hair back. "Sweetheart, don't think about h

urned with anger and frustration. Rhett always manag

s suffoca

pulled me into a soft hug. "You'r

nt hit me again-the same intoxicating fragrance from before. I glanced towa

hat there?

off earlier. No name. Just this." She picked up a sma

riting on

e world's not don

C? Who the h

, th

all shrug. "Maybe

new all my friends' i

box. "New phone. Yuna said your o

card. As soon as the screen lit up,

ell happened? Rhett

e minutes. T

zzed. A single r

s River. Lying on the campus infirmary bed. His h

e tightened until my knuckles hurt. The pain in my hea

... what the h