But the phone call ended before I could make sure of everything, leaving only the distant echo of Sylus’s words.
What was more, I should apologize to the woman for whose sake I was gutted?
The absurdity of it all struck me like a cruel joke. But my body was too weak to react. My limbs grew heavier with each second and my mind dulled under the weight of exhaustion.
“Lily,” Xavier muttered as he stitched me back together with little care. “Consider today your lucky day. You have managed to survive once again.
“But if you are smart, you will get away from this family as soon as possible. Now that Charlotte’s back, your days are numbered.”
His voice faded in and out as consciousness slipped further from my grasp. I wanted to reply, to scream, to tell him I already knew my place, but my body refused to cooperate.
Xavier’s cold sneer was the last thing I saw before I lost the battle with darkness.
When I woke, a sharp slap across my cheek yanked me back to reality. My breath came in ragged gasps and my forehead drenched in sweat.
“Wake up!” The voice, sharp and impatient, belonged to Xavier. He stood in front of me, his eyes filled with disdain. “Stop wasting my time.”
I blinked, disoriented. I was no longer on the operating table but in the backseat of a car parked in front of the Fuentez family manor.
My stomach throbbed with the dull, relentless ache of fresh stitches pulling at my skin.
As I gathered my bearings, I noticed Julius Forbes, the butler, stepping out of the manor’s grand doors.
I forced a weak, sarcastic smile. So, that was it, the moment when I had to bow out and make way for Sylus’s true love.
“Get out,” Xavier growled, slamming his hand against the car. “I know you can still walk.”
Seeing I struggled to stand, even my legs trembling as I nearly collapsed upon stepping out of the car, Julius rushed to my side, gently grabbing my arm to support me.
“Are you all right, Madam?” Julius asked softly, concern etched on his face.
I nodded, though the effort to keep myself upright made the pain in my stomach intensify. Sweat soaked my skin, and I fought to stay conscious.
Behind us, Xavier sneered.
“Tch, pretending to be weak,” he muttered, his voice dripping with contempt.
Without waiting for us, Xavier strode toward the manor.
With Julius’s help, I took small, agonizing steps, each one a monumental effort.