xaggerating, Kristen was crumpled on the cold marble floor, her skin pale and her breath shallow. For a

to his knee

shaking her shoulde

ghed nothing, like she was fragile glass and he was terrified of breaking her. His fingers trembled

car," he barke

into a sterile office after examining her.

n time," the doctor said as

the chair, his face unr

elling and pain. But that's not all. She's also severely dehydrated, and her blood

blink. "Will

on, and she'll need regular icing for the ankle. But she'll need time and

f was not an emotion he welcom

said flatly before get

he told himself. He just didn't want the girl dying on his watch-not yet. He still had pla

erile scent of antiseptic filled her nose, and the white ceiling above looked almost too clea

ed, dropping her head b

until her voice cracked. Hobbling around that cursed room u

e thought bitterly. Then she snorted. "Probably did

for any sign of him.

en stay," she muttered t

ache in her chest. Her life had been hard before but manageable. Carolina's constant

ed the moment Don Carlo

this!" Kristen had begged

t in front of her father in their living room.

is eyes were rimmed red with guilt, his s

"If we don't give him what he wants,

d, grabbing his arm. "Please, Dad. He w

hurt more th

ched like a satisfied queen, arms cr

her whispered, as if that would mak

r father. Just another pawn in Carolina's game. Just a

from the painful memory. A young maid entered, ba

e to bring you this

ke it away. I don't want anyt

the tray to the floor, the sound of

like a prisoner, and now he sends food like it

e knew better than to disagree with the boss. He

aid quietly. "But you need t

t anything from him. But the hunger gnawed at her. The pain in he

ded. The maid gently helped her sit up a

t long after, the medica

ld wiggle her toes again. The swelling was going down. She had physical

t was fin

re anyway. Just a job d

nside her not sadness, but a kind of hollow ra

The only kind voice she heard each day. The

Kristen's hair. "But maybe... not heartless. Y

t. I'm special. I get to

e door. Kristen blinked awake, confusion mudd

e in! My daught

lood ra

Da

test. Through the gap in the door, she saw the ou

," one of them said. "Bos

his orders! That's m

her palms. Her jaw clench

w da

her off like property. Now he wa

Kristen s

ed over from th

t. I don't wan

s, ma

hadn't seen Kristen's face in days, hadn't spoken to h

, the door cracked open and there she

ir ey

ed with re

d. Empty.

door c

eral more minutes before

ed her head to the pill

" she sai

"Y

ank you... for k

s widened. "You.

e first thing he's done th

Her leg throbbed, her throat burned wi

orgive. Not Carlo. Not