Chapter 6

I really did go to Benjamin.

After the fire, every time it rained, the scar on my back started hurting again. It hurt so much that I couldn't fall asleep.

The phone rang for ages before someone finally picked up.

I could hear someone crying on the other end.

Benjamin was quiet for a few seconds and then said, "Evelyn, I'm a bit tied up right now.

"Just ask the nurse for another painkiller shot."

Later, I found out that Elsie had been cornered by reporters in the hotel kitchen that day.

She said she was terrified of fire, and afraid everyone would hate her.

Benjamin never left her side the whole night.

I lay in my hospital bed, in pain until dawn.

The spoonful of soup was still hovering at my lips.

I asked, "Ben, do you think I tried to kill myself twice just so you guys would pity me?"

Benjamin's knuckles tightened. "Isn't that what you were after?"

I nodded. "So, did you pity me?"

His expression flickered, and then went cold again. "Don't test me like that."

"I'm not testing you." I glanced down at the bandage on my wrist. "I'm just curious."

The spoon tapped softly against the bowl. Benjamin set the soup aside. "You didn't use to be like this."

"What was I like before?"

"You were sensible, obedient, and knew how to behave." He looked at me. "Not like now, when you insist on pulling everyone into your drama."

At least Alex and Ryan still saw me as a rival.

But with Benjamin, I was just his troublesome little sister.

He said, "Come home with me."

I looked up. "Home?"

He avoided my gaze. "The hospital's packed. It's easy for rumors to spread.

"Go home and take care of yourself. Don't make the family worry about you again."

I asked, "Are you worried I'll get hurt, or just worried I'll embarrass you?"

Benjamin glanced at me. "Both."

He was so straightforward that I couldn't help but laugh.

"It's been ages since someone admitted they're embarrassed by me so openly," I said.

The System went quiet for a moment and then said, "Host, he's taking you back to the Lake residence."

I ignored it.

*****

The car was warm.

As soon as I got in, Benjamin turned up the heat, then grabbed a pair of soft slippers and placed them on my lap.

"Put them on," he said. "The floor's cold."

I didn't move.

When the light turned red, Benjamin reached over.

Whenever I had a fever before, he would always touch my forehead to check.

But this time, his hand paused midair, and then slowly drew back.

"Evelyn," he said, his voice lower. "Don't be so hard on yourself.

"Once we're home, you'll have to follow the rules."

I looked down at the slippers.

Back when my heels got rubbed raw from wearing high heels, Benjamin would complain about how much trouble I was, but his hands were always steady as he carefully stuck the band-aid on, bit by bit.

"If it hurts, just say so," he said. "It's not like I don't know you're in pain."

Back then, I really thought he got it.

But later, I realized he knew I was in pain, but he thought I could handle it.

*****

The Lake residence was just like I remembered.

The lights were bright, the dining room opened right into the kitchen, and the air was filled with the comforting smell of soup simmering on the stove.

As soon as I walked in, I stopped in my tracks.

The open flame was back in the kitchen.

Blue flames flickered beneath the pot, licking the rim and making a soft crackling sound.

The old scar on my back instantly tightened.

For a long time after I got hurt, just catching a whiff of burning oil and flame would leave me gasping for air.

Benjamin himself took out all the open flames from our kitchen.

He said, "From now on, we won't have anything that freaks you out."

But now, the pot was bubbling away on the stove.

Next to it were a few small bowls, each with a neat label. They read: [Low sugar. Easy on the stomach. No spicy food.]

On top was a sticky note in Benjamin's handwriting: [Elsie, eat this before your audition tonight.]

Benjamin followed my gaze, and then stepped in front of me, blocking the stove. "Elsie's stomach's been acting up lately. She's borrowing the kitchen for a few days."

I asked, "Where's my medicine?"

"What medicine?"

"The burn ointment, the allergy meds, and everything in the bathroom cabinet."

Benjamin paused. "I had them put away."

"Why?"

"Elsie can't handle the smell of those meds."

I echoed, "She can't handle the smell?"

Benjamin frowned. "I just put them away, not threw them out."

"What about the open flame?"

"Elsie needs to practice a pot dish for her audition. An electric stove can't give it that real flavor."

The blue flames flickered softly, but it felt like my old burn was flaring up all over again.

Benjamin's voice softened. "Elsie will only be using it for a few days.

"The doctor said you need to gradually go through desensitization."

I let out a bitter laugh. "So you brought my nightmares home to help me with desensitization?"

His expression turned icy. "Don't say that.

"Evelyn, Elsie's the face of Lake Group now.

"This audition means a lot to the company.

"Just put up with it for a few days, for the family's sake."

I nodded. "Alright."

I agreed so fast that Benjamin shot me a glance.