Page 143 of Ruin Me Gently

“Did you let him drug me again?”

She didn’t answer. Didn’t move. Didn’t flinch.

The rage turned violent, nails digging crescents into my palms. Tears pricked at my eyes, hot and stinging, but I wouldn’t cry. I refused. I let the fury hold me up instead, filling the space where something heavier threatened to settle.

“Fucking speak!”

My hand snapped up without thought, aiming to strike—to make her move, to make her react, to make her dosomething.

But—resistance.

Not like skin. Not like bone. Not like anything real.

It stopped me cold, my palm colliding with something unseen. Like hitting a wall. Like hitting glass.

“You’re a sick, twisted bitch!” The words tore from my throat.

Hands gripped my arms. Pulling me away into a body behind mine.

“Lilith, stop.”

Arms circled around me, holding me firm, locking me into place.

I tensed at first, my body rigid, breath coming too fast—but the scent hit me before the fear could.

It was familiar and warm. Something that shouldn’t have felt safe, but did.

I didn’t know why.

Didn’t know who.

Didn’t know where.

My forehead pressed against a chest, fingers curling into the fabric of a shirt, my body sinking without understanding.

“What’s happening to me?”

“Lilith, can you hear me?”

Soft cushions. Big plush couch. When did I sit down?

“Huh. Yeah.”

“Did you hear what I just said?”

I frowned slightly. My brain was lagging big time. “Uh… no. Sorry.”

The woman across from me didn’t seem bothered.

“That’s okay,” she said, folding her hands in her lap. “I’m Dr. Hayes. I want to make sure I understand how best to support you. To do that, I’d like to go over your medical records. That way, I can see what’s worked for you before and make sure I don’t suggest anything that might not be right for you. But I need your consent to access them.”

I nodded, barely thinking. “Yeah, sure.”

“Thank you.” She turned toward her laptop, typing something in, the sound of keys clicking filling the quiet.

I stared at the coffee table in front of me, the whole world was underwater today—like there was a thin layer of glass between me and everything close by.

“Lilith,” Dr. Hayes said again, drawing my attention back to her. “Do you give permission for Mr. Graves to be here while we discuss this?”

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