NovelOnline
Chapter 0338
It didn’t make any sense. Unless Jane was trying to cut out that part of herself that loved Elva. Maybe
she saw Elva as a weakness that needed to be purged,
Go ds, either way, it was just too sad. Not just for Jane, who had truly become a monster, but also for
Elva, who nearly became a victim of her own mother’s love.
“This can never happen again,” I said to Nicholas.
“It won’t,” he vowed. “I will protect you both. Even if that means…’
He didn’t say it, wouldn’t for my sake. But I knew what he meant.
To protect Elva and me, he would kill Jane himself.
Everything was just so sad. Tears welled in my eyes.
“I’m sorry,” he said, misunderstanding.
I shook my head. “My sister has been dead a long time. It’s her as a little girl that I mourn now. The one
who stitched rocks into her pockets and gave me a friendship bracelet. I feel like that photo was the last
hold the person she is now had to the person she was. And now it’s burned away.”
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtNicholas tightened his hold. I buried my face in his chest to hide my tears.
The doctor took her time inspecting Elva, then gave her more medicine. By the time she was ready to
address Nicholas and I, I had shed most of my tears and was ready to face the world
again.
“She’s going to be okay,” the doctor said, and no, I lied. I definitely had more tears to cry. They were
happy ones this time, at least.
“Thank you. Oh, thank you.” I pulled the doctor into a quick hug, unable to help myself. I jumped back
as soon as I realized I had done it. “I’m sorry,” I said.
She smiled at me. “It’s fine. Honestly, I am so relieved. All our tests returned inconclusive. I wasn’t sure
what to think. But she’s a strong little girl. She’s a fighter.”
“She is,” I agreed.
The doctor left some medicine with Charlotte and then saw herself out.
By now, Elva was fast asleep once more. I crawled onto the bed beside her and held her in my
arms.
“Do you mind if I stay?” Nicholas asked.
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I motioned him closer and he sat on the bed beside me.
Julian yawned. “I’d like to stay too. Not on the bed of course, but that couch over there looks
comfortable.”
He hadn’t slept either. He’d been so worried about Elva. It seemed unfair to send him away now, when
the matter was mostly resolved. Adrenaline was giving way, and everyone was exhausted.
“It’s okay,” I told him. “You can stay.
In the end, only Mark saw himself out, but I imagined that was to go see Susie.
Charlotte stayed in the room as well, taking watch on the chair near the sewing machines.
Nicholas wrapped his arms around me, and I felt sleep calling me.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmSoft snores already sounded from the other side of the room.
“Sleep,” Nicholas said.
“Only if you do, too.”
“I promise.”
My eyelids were too heavy to keep open much longer. Soon, sleep pulled me over.
I slept a full night without dreaming.
In the morning, I awoke with Nichola s’s strong chest pressed against my back. His arms were wrapped
around me and Elva both. Across the room, Julian snored where he was on the couch. Charlotte’s
head had dipped down onto her shoulder from where she sat on the chair.
Warmth filled my chest. This was my family.
A bittersweet feeling surged at the thought.
I had them now, but for how much longer?
Too soon, we’d be ripped away from each other.
I tried to live in the happy now, but dread lingered, just under the surface.
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