septic. Julian turned his back on Seraphina, his hands

t you?" he murmured, his v

see the lack of tears. "I was just resting... and she burst in

head slowly to look at Seraphina

ze," he

ms over her chest to stop them from shaking. The p

she

p. "You assault a defenseless patient in her hospital

them to take a statement. Maybe they can analyz

r at the red stain. "Look at

hick, and oddly glossy. It didn't oxidize into that rus

g the sheet up to cover it. "My topical hematoma treatment! D

le?" Seraphina scoffed. "And the piz

ng from under the pillow. A glimm

es," he stammered, defen

tic. You're so desperate to be the hero

-the willful ignorance, the desperate need to believe Caroline's lie-she realized it wouldn't matter. He wo

e pulled ou

ved the phone in Julian's face. It was the photo Carolin

o me ten minutes before I arrived. While you

ssing. He looked at the bedside table. It

Unlocked it. Went

e it

't see the fragile waif. He saw the grease on her chin. He saw the fra

n whispered. "

his hand. "I was just checking to see if it was broken! I didn't se

an paused. He looked at Seraphina, then back

hurting..." She swooned dramatical

Seraphina re

lian stepped aside this time. He didn't block her. He

he one wrapped in a thick ace bandage,

e damage," Se

s infected!" Caroline sh

he edge of the clip and ripped the

led, falling to t

e, and utterly unblemished. Except for one tin

t's the hemorrhage. That's why you n

e frantic phone call from Caroline an hour ago, screaming that she w

and exhausted, her own arms covered in the faint, s

him so hard he had

to pull her sleeve down. "It healed f

whisper, but it carried the weigh

She felt lighter. The bu

There was no hate in her eyes anymore. Just pity. "The law

nd walked ou

es station, past the security guard. She walked out the fr

s buckled. She stumbled, catchin

dialed the one number she had been forbidden to call f

ang

aphi

ommanding, and laced

been holding since her wedding day. A tear fi

e choked out. "Pl