When They Beg, I Rise!

The room was a haven of silence.

Lemira opened her mouth as if to speak, but then, words failed her. At times like these, language seemed utterly inadequate.

After all, she had tried to explain herself countless times before, only to be met with disbelief from her brothers.

Lucian's Adam's apple bobbed slightly before he finally let go of her hand. His eyes filled with disappointment as he looked at Lemira, "If you keep going down this path, I can't protect you when Asher gets back. Think about what you're doing." With those words, Lucian left the room.

Lemira let out a sigh of relief, leaning back against her pillow.

What was there to think about? Bent over backward trying to please them, only to be kicked out and end up dying miserably in a mental institution like in her previous life?

Not a chance.

"Here, catch!"

Suddenly, there was a cold pack wrapped in a bandage before her.

Lemira took it, pressing the cold pack against her bruised cheek, stealing a glance at the man beside her. In a low voice, she said, "Thanks for earlier."

and distant, "Why

head, a bitter smile on her lips, "Would you believe me if I told you I've tried explaining so many times before, even showed them proof, and they still didn't believe me? They just thought I was

like explaining any further; most people didn't believe her anyway, just thought she

hard not to

was caught off guard.

his hand on her forehead, "Your

cool and soothing, making her feel much better. She glanced at the scar on his wrist,

to remove the

his back to Lemira. His profile was shadowed, making it hard to

one too,

him, "Right here, see? Looks a lot

thigh stood out against her fair skin, which made even more conspicuous by

and then quickly looked away, "Kid, don't just lift your skirt in front of

"But you're a doctor."

his throat, reminding himself he was also a man. Hadn't anyone taught her these

"That scar could be treated. Why haven't you fixed

dimmed, a wave of pain washing over her. Because Rowan had said that scar was a reminder of their parents,

her stigma for causing their deaths, he said, and she should remember that for life. At the time, she was devastated, even believing