Chapter 4

My voice was raw. It took everything I had just to keep it from shaking.

"Rainer, do you remember, three years ago, at that warehouse on the west side of the city, when I took a stab for you?" I managed to say.

We'd only just started seeing each other back then. His enemies came after him, and I stepped in and took the hit for him. I almost didn't make it out alive. The scar was still on my abdomen.

It was a mark that would never fade between us.

Rainer paused, his fork hovering over his plate.

He looked up at me, but there was no flicker of emotion in his eyes. There was only cold indifference, and a hint of annoyance at being interrupted.

Rainer cut me off, his voice icy and warning, "Don't mention old history between us. Lola doesn't need to hear that. Don't bring it up again."

He glanced at my pale face, his frown deepening.

He said as his eyes swept over my untouched plate with a tone that felt like charity, "The doctor said you need to rest and stop overthinking.

"We're not starving you. Just stay here and not worry about things. That's the best you'll ever get from the Thornton family."

It turned out that surviving and staying here was nothing but his charity.

My heart completely fell into darkness, with no hope left.

I lowered my head and said nothing.

The meal ended with me silent, while they chatted quietly among themselves.

A servant helped me back to that chilly, drafty room.

I was so thirsty that my throat felt like it had been rubbed raw with sandpaper.

I wanted to head out to the living room for some water, but the door was locked.

I couldn't help but let out a bitter smile. I figured that the servants were afraid I'd sneak out in the middle of the night and do something to Lola.

I muddled through several more days in that cold guest room in the annex, barely feeling alive.

Every day, all I could do was stare out through that narrow window, watching the main house glowing with light, picturing the cozy family scenes that were going on over there.

My body healed so slowly that it felt hopeless. Every time I tried to sit up, it drained every ounce of strength I had, leaving me shaking and soaked in cold sweat.

The servants came by on schedule to drop off food and change my bandages. They weren't rude, but there was zero warmth, just going through the motions, like I was another box to check off their list.

After days of silence, one afternoon, a soft knock sounded at my door.

Before I could even answer, the door was pushed open.

Backlit by the sunlight, a tall man in a light gray suit stood in the doorway, carrying a medical bag.

"Lena?" he called out.

His voice was tinged with uncertainty, but there was an urgency he couldn't hide.

I squinted, letting my eyes adjust to the light, and finally saw who it was.

It was Carroll Brown.

He was Rainer's friend from childhood and one of the top surgeons in the country.

Now, he stood in the doorway, looking at me curled up in that cold room, so thin I was almost unrecognizable. His eyes went red almost instantly, fighting back tears.

He strode in, ignoring the servant who tried to stop him, and crouched down by my bed. His voice was rough, barely holding back his emotions.

"They told me you were awake, but I never thought..." Carroll took a deep breath, as if the stifling air and darkness were suffocating him. He suddenly stood up, yanked open the heavy curtains, and flooded the room with sunlight.

He glanced around, taking in the bare, almost depressing setup. His fists clenched so hard the veins popped on the backs of his hands.

"They really made you stay here?" His voice shook with disbelief and fury.

I looked at him. My mouth opened, but no words came out. My nose stung, and my eyes burned with tears.

In this icy house, Carroll was the first one to show real pain and anger for me.

"Dr. Brown, this was all arranged by Mr. Thornton. Mrs. Lola Thornton said..." the servant mumbled nervously from the doorway.

"Shut up!" Carroll snapped, whipping around with a glare sharp enough to slice through steel. The servant clammed up instantly, frozen in fear.

He didn't waste another word. Bending down, he carefully avoided the IV in my hand and scooped me up.

"I'm getting you out of this hellhole," he said.

His hold was steady, carrying the faint scent of disinfectant and a warmth that made me feel like I could finally breathe again.

"Carroll!" Rainer's voice rang out from the doorway, cold and commanding.

He was suddenly there, his expression thunderous as he blocked our path. Lola hovered behind him, her eyes full of concern as she watched the scene unfold.

"Where do you think you're taking her?" Rainer's gaze swept over how Carroll was holding me, his eyes glinting with menace.