Chapter 274

"Ah! It burns! Nathaniel—stop!" Evelyn's voice quivered as she clenched her teeth against the pain. Her face drained of color, her body swaying dangerously.

Nathaniel froze mid-motion, his brows furrowing. He hadn't even touched her yet. This was supposed to be just playful retaliation for her sharp tongue earlier.

"Where does it hurt?" His voice dropped an octave.

Evelyn's lashes fluttered, eyes watering. "My hands—"

Nathaniel's gaze snapped to where he'd pinned her wrists against the mirror. His breath hitched. Both hands had swollen to twice their size, the skin an angry crimson.

"What happened?" His fingers traced the inflamed skin gently. "What did you do to yourself?"

Evelyn shook her head weakly. "Nothing... I didn't..."

The burning intensified, like molten lava beneath her skin. Beads of sweat dotted her forehead as her throat constricted. The last thing she heard was Nathaniel's urgent voice calling her name before darkness swallowed her.

When consciousness returned, sterile white walls greeted her. An IV drip hung beside the hospital bed, its rhythmic clicking the only sound. Her mouth tasted like cotton, her bandaged hands useless lumps of gauze.

The empty room triggered memories—being seven years old, abandoned in another hospital ward while her mother vanished forever. She watched the IV fluid drip, counting seconds until—

"Evelyn! You're awake!" Sophia burst in, relief painting her features. "I just stepped out for five minutes. Why are you crying?"

Evelyn forced a smile. "Just... slept wrong." Her voice scraped like sandpaper.

Sophia adjusted the pillows. "Should I call the doctor?"

"No." Evelyn eyed the water glass longingly. "Help me sit up? I'm parched."

With careful movements, Sophia propped her up and held the straw to her lips. Evelyn hated being helpless, but her mummified hands left no choice. The cool water soothed her raw throat, but the humiliation burned hotter than her injuries.