Chapter 6
When Aurelia came to, she was staring up at those harsh fluorescent hospital lights that made everything look like death.[]
Cassian was crashed out in the chair beside her bed, looking like he’d been hit by a truck. Bloodshot eyes, five o’clock shadow, his usual perfect hair a complete mess.
The second he noticed she was awake, he practically launched himself at her.]
“Jesus Christ, you’re okay! Baby, you’re finally awake!“[]
Aurelia went stiff as a board and shoved him off with whatever strength she had left.[]
When you’re dead inside, nothing hurts anymore. []
Looking at those hands that had killed her while she was calling for saving–she felt absolutely nothing.[]
she didn’t say a single word. Just stared at the water stains on the ceiling, figuring out how to escape this place and get to the cops.[]
For the next three days, Cassian turned into her personal housekeeper, hovering over her 24/7.[]
He was doing everything–washing her face, feeding her bland hospital food, reading her articles from magazine, cracking jokes that weren’t funny.]
[rying so damn hard to get some kind of reaction out of her.[]
3ut she was done reacting, the heart had been died at that moment.[]
Finally, she looked at him with dead eyes. “You can stop the act now. Just leave.“||
Cassian looked like she’d gut–punched him. “Aurelia, shit, I’m so sorry. I was stuck in board meetings all day, my phone was on silent…”
Aurelia actually started laughing–this hollow, broken sound that turned into tears halfway through.
His phone was on silent? Bullshit! He’d deliberately ignored them.[]
‘Right.” She wiped her face with the sleeve. “So what’s your plan to make this right? What
are
you
gonna do about Verena?“[]
Cassian’s whole face shifted, suddenly looking uncomfortable as hell. “Look, she’s just a young girl, you know? She doesn’t understand something…”
“Come on, babe. Can’t you just let this go? For me? I promise, she’ll never come near you again.”
Aurelia stared at him like he’d just told her the earth was flat.]
She’d nearly been murdered, and her own fucking husband was making excuses for the psycho bitch
who’d ordered the hit?
“So that’s what this is.” Her voice was ice–cold. “You’ve been playing housekeeper for three days just to butter me up so I’d forgive your side piece?”
Cassian started talking fast, trying to backtrack, but she could read him like a book now. 0
Chapter 6
“GET OUT!” The scream tore out of her throat. “I don’t want you here! GET THE HELL OUT!“]]
He reached for her, probably thinking he could calm her down with his touch, but she shoved him so hard her stitches ripped open. Blood immediately started seeping through the gauze.[]
The pain was like getting stabbed with hot knives, but she kept screaming anyway.]
“I SAID GET OUT! NOW!“[]
Cassian backed toward the door with his hands up, probably planning to try again tomorrow.[]
Once he was gone, Aurelia collapsed into her pillow, her whole body shaking.
It felt like someone was crushing her ribcage with their bare hands.
After a few minutes, she managed to grab her iPhone off the nightstand.
she was about to call the NYPD to check on her missing child case when her phone started buzzing.
“Mrs. Thornwell? Detective Rodriguez here. Got some fantastic news for you–we’ve tracked down your kid’s location and we’re moving in tonight!”
“Oh my God, are you serious?!” Aurelia’s voice cracked, tears streaming down her face.[]
That call was like someone had just injected pure hope into her veins.[]
She didn’t give a damn about the pain anymore. She immediately started making calls.[]
First, the Swiss embassy to get emergency papers for her son.[]
Then her brother Silas, to start collecting evidence of Verena’s kidnapping and assault.[]
She was getting her real baby back, and then she was getting out of this place forever.[]
♡ (2)
