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945 Words
Pain. Since she regained consciousness, Veronica felt nothing but pain. And she knew deep down that it wasn't just physical. The pain she felt came from within, from her heart.
No matter how many wounds she had on her body, they couldn't compare to the anger and hatred boiling in her chest. She vividly remembered how she ended up in this situation. How someone had tried to kill her. She clenched her fist, unconsciously crumpling the bedsheet of the hospital bed she was lying on. She felt her eyes heat up. She wanted to scream, to rage, and to report to the police the person who did this to her. Not a person, but a demon. But she knew no one would believe her.
Suddenly, the door of the ward room opened. She noticed that she was in a private hospital. There were no other patients with her, and the facilities were well-kept. She saw a nurse approaching her.
"Miss... the person who brought you to this hospital is here. They want to speak with you," the nurse informed her awkwardly.
She couldn't blame the nurse. Since waking up, she hadn't spoken. She hadn't talked to anyone. She didn't want to trust anyone. What if this hospital had connections to the demon who did this to her? She couldn't trust anyone easily. She had trusted someone once, and this was the result.
She felt a strong presence as someone new entered the room. It was a tall man, standing at least six feet tall. He had noticeable chocolate-colored hair, fair skin, and piercing gray eyes. His gaze was intense, and his fit physique suggested he kept up with regular exercise. He had an aura of confidence, and she could easily imagine many women had cried rivers over him. The nurse left them alone in the room.
She had to admit that she gasped when she saw the man. He had a presence that was impossible to ignore. He was the most handsome man she had ever seen in her life. He didn't seem real, more like a main character from the romance books she read. When God rained down physical beauty, she was sure this man was wide awake. He was the most blessed of all.
However, she needed to guard herself. No matter how handsome he appeared, she couldn't trust him. She didn't know him. He was a stranger.
She saw a corner of his lips lift in a smirk. "I'm glad I made a good first impression on you."
She felt her cheeks flush. "Wow, you're really full of yourself, aren't you?" she replied, embarrassed and annoyed.
His mischievous smile disappeared, replaced by a genuine grin. "Now, you can talk. I'm glad. The doctor and the nurses thought you were mute. But clearly, you're not," he laughed.
Her eyes widened. She hadn't expected that! She had just fallen into his trap. Since she regained consciousness, this was the first time she had spoken!
She was annoyed. Who was this guy? Even though she wanted to ignore him, she couldn't. She allowed him to talk to her.
"Who are you? I don’t talk to strangers," she asked cautiously, eyeing him suspiciously.
His smile widened even more. "That's good. You're a woman, and you should be careful with the people you interact with."
She raised an eyebrow. "And does that include you?"
He shrugged. "That's for you to judge. I don't make it a habit to sell myself to earn people's trust. They decide that once they get to know me."
Veronica felt irritated by his confidence. It seemed like her cold attitude wasn't affecting him. "Why are you here? What do you want?"
"I'm sure the nurse mentioned that I'm the one who brought you here. I mean, not just me. I was with my driver and my friend when we found you."
"The nurse did say that. Are you here to charge me for helping me? How much is my bill?" She wasn't sure how much her bill was or how many days or weeks she had been there. She didn't know if she could afford the expenses. While she wasn't poor, she wasn't rich either.
The man's brows furrowed. "What? Of course not. I'm not here for that. If your bill is all you're worried about, don't. I've already taken care of it."
She didn't believe he could be this kind and help her without wanting something in return. "How much? And what do you want from me?"
"Relax. Why are you being like this? I know it's hard to trust, but I'm not an enemy. I helped you not because I want something in return. When I saw you, helping you was the right thing to do. Not everyone you encounter has bad intentions. True, there are many evil beings in the world. Some wear masks and pretend. But not everyone is bad. There are still good people. Don't be so harsh on me. I'm here to help you," he said, his face becoming serious.
"I don't need your help!" she snapped, her irritation flaring up, though she wasn't entirely sure why she was angry.
"Of course you do. You need my help," he said with absolute certainty.
"If you're just talking about the bill, don't worry. As soon as I get out of this hospital, I'll pay you back."
The man took a deep breath. "I don't think you fully grasp your situation, do you?"
"W-What do you mean?" she asked, a hint of anxiety creeping into her voice.
His expression grew even more serious. "Look at your face in the mirror," he instructed, making her heart race with unease.
- Writer
