Chapter 53 Smart Girl? Prove It, Willow
Finished
“When someone’s hyperventilating, they breathe out too much CO2. That throws off their body’s balance, causes the blood pH to spike, and boom–respiratory alkalosis. By covering his mouth and nose with a bag, he re–breathes the CO2 he just exhaled. That slows the loss, helps reset the pH, and gets things back to normal.”
She turned to Willow. “Didn’t you are every science class at Brightvale High Weren’t you in the top ten of your year? And you don’t know something this basic?”
Willow’s face turned beet red, her mouth tight, but she didn’t say a word.
A few minutes later, David finally started to come around.
He ripped the trash bag off his head and flung it to the floor. Then he staggered to his feet, looking like he was ready to take a swing at Lauren.
But Lauren’s voice cut through the air, cool and steady. “You’d be smart to calm down. Mr. David. If you trigger another episode, you might not get so lucky next time.”
You… you ungrateful little brat
Lauren shot him a deadpan look, scoffed, and turned to head upstairs.
David shouted after her, “If you’ve got that much attitude, don’t stay upstairs! Go back to the damn storage room where you belong!”
Lauren stopped halfway up the stairs and looked down at him. “Back then, I stayed out of that room because I didn’t want to owe you anything. Now? I’m staying because I saved your life. And as far as I’m concerned, your life is worth exactly one. room. If I wanted more, I’d take the whole house. This house would be mine–and the ones getting kicked out would be all of
you.
“You… you’re impossible!” David’s rage spiked again, and he looked like he was about to collapse.
Elliot jumped in, grabbed the trash bag off the floor, and quickly placed it back over David’s head.
David started breathing heavily, the bag sucking in and puffing out with each breath. He looked absolutely ridiculous.
Lauren curled her lips into a smile.
Now that I didn’t care anymore, I could go completely off the rails. Watching them this miserable? It felt damn good.
Back in her room, Lauren collapsed onto the soft king–size bed and let out along, tired sigh.
God, this bed’s amazing
If she hadn’t been stolen at birth, she probably would’ve spent every one of her twenty–something years waking up in a bed
like this.
She closed her eyes, letting the rare moment of quiet wash over her.
Ten minutes passed before someone knocked–three soft, evenly spaced taps. Just from the sound, she knew it had to be Marilyn. The Bennetts never knocked. They just barged in like they owned everything.
“Come in.”
Sure enough, Marilyn walked in holding a steaming bowl of noodle soup.
“Ms. Bennett, you should eat while it’s still hot.”
Lauren sat up and leaned against the headboard, taking the bowl from her hands.
Just like always, the noodles were perfect–warm, with crisp greens, a soft–boiled egg, fresh scallions on top, and a touch of sesame oil that made it smell incredible.
You only had a few bites earlier, Marilyn said gently. “You must still be hungry”
12-26 PM M
Chapter 53 Smart Girl? Prove It, Willow
Lauren’s eyes filled with tears. Thank you, Marilyn.”
In this house, Marilyn was the only one who’d ever treated her like a human being.
Finished
She looked out for her, made sure she had food, warmth, care. Every time someone laid a hand on her, Marilyn stood in the
way.
If it weren’t for her, Lauren probably wouldn’t have made it out of half the beatings alive.
“It’s because of you I’ve managed to stay alive in this place. Her throat tightened as she said it.
Marilyn’s heart broke at the sight of her glassy eyes. After a pause, she said quietly, “Ms. Bennett, maybe… maybe you should just sneak out tonight.”
Lauren blinked, warmth rising in her chest despite everything. Her voice shook just a little. “Marilyn. I know you mean well. 1 do. But I can’t leave.”
“Why not? Don’t tell me you’re still holding onto this place.” Marilyn’s voice cracked. filled with pain and frustration. “Ms. Bennett, you have no idea how coldhearted he really is. Your shoulder just got stitched up yesterday. The anesthesia hadn’t Jeven worn off, and he still dragged you back here–just so he could marry you off to that Brooker family guy”
Marilyn just couldn’t wrap her head around it–how could any parent treat their own child with that kind of cruelty?
Sure. Ms. Bennett wasn’t raised under their roof but still–they shared blood. Wasn’t that supposed to mean something? Even if they didn’t love her did they have to go out of their way to hurt her?
She’s been dealt a brutal hand, Marilyn thought.
What she didn’t say out loud was that David wasn’t just cold–he was completely out of his mind.
Yesterday at the hospital, Lauren was out cold, not responding
Instead of checking on her or showing concern, he grabbed her by the arm and yanked her out of bed, throwing her straight to the ground like she was nothing
The fresh stitches on her shoulder tore open again. Blood soaked her gown. She had to be wheeled back into the OR for emergency stitches.
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