Page 27 of Poison Aches

Nurse Marie, a poor woman who found herself in the crossfire because her granddaughter is pathetic.

The initial solution Syrus had was to permanently silence the girl and her family but when Syrus found out that Marie was an exceptional medical professional with incredible discretion, he changed tactics by promising to make the girl pay for “pushing” me over.

So now, thanks to my father, Marie comes to the estates every day to take care of me.

Syrus will do anything to keep me breathing and protect his power so only specific individuals that are tightly bound to keep the matter of my sick, blotched heart a secret are allowed into this mansion.

But why the hell is she here?

“So what?”

What’s it to this girl if I don’t say a word?

No one ever dares to defy me and ask me irrelevant, mundane questions.

“So... I was wondering if you want to talk… to me?” she whispers.

I stare at her, watching as she shuffles her feet nervously.

“Why would I want to do that?” I demand.

“Maybe you’ll feel better?”

At that, I can’t help but chuckle humorlessly, to which she frowns in obvious confusion.

“What’s so funny?” she demands, semi-glaring at me with her large, doe brown eyes.

“You’re fucking pathetic,” I mutter, looking away.

“You’re being mean!” she huffs.

“So what? Do you want to cry because of that?” I snap.

“No!” she snaps back, but then she frowns. “Well, yes!” I roll my eyes and she narrows hers at me. “Actually, I came to see if…maybe…I can help you feel better.”

“And how will you do that?”

“By spending time with you so you’re not lonely anymore,” she whispers softly.

The thing in my chest groans to a stop, but this time with an excruciating pain that takes my breath away.

I stare at her.

I know what it’s like being looked at with pity and sympathy.

I know how it feels being scrutinized.

Being the heir of the Easton family, I know how fucking exhausting it feels to always have all eyes on me and every action I take.

But I don’t know what this is.

Why is she looking at me so…brazenly?

“I’m being sincere!” she declares, then her voice drops to just above a broken whisper. “I don’t want you to be alone anymore.”

Jesus.

That right there stops everything in my world.

---