Chapter 6

Rachel's POV

On the way to the hospital, my heart started protesting.

Probably because my emotions had fluctuated too much just now, plus I hadn't slept well from last night's ordeal, the aftereffects of the system's punishment began their backlash.

It was a dull-knife kind of pain, spreading from my chest to all four limbs.

I bit my lip, trying not to make a sound, but cold sweat had already soaked my back.

No good. I had to take medicine.

I always kept strong painkillers in my bag-black market stuff specifically for nerve pain.

Taking advantage of Xavier going to pay fees, I hid in the first-floor restroom.

My hands shook so badly I couldn't even unscrew the bottle cap.

Finally managing to pour out two white pills, before I could put them in my mouth, the restroom door suddenly pushed open.

Xavier stood in the doorway, his face terrifyingly dark.

"What are you doing?"

He strode over and grabbed my wrist. The pills that hadn't reached my mouth fell to the floor.

He bent down to pick up those two pills, then snatched the medicine bottle from my hand.

I'd deliberately put this medicine in an ordinary vitamin bottle to avoid suspicion.

"What are you taking?"

He stared at the bottle, his eyes sharp as an X-ray.

My heartbeat skipped. Forcing down the severe pain, I squeezed out a smile. "Vitamins. For skin care."

"Vitamins?"

Xavier laughed coldly, pouring out a pill and crushing it between his fingers.

"Poor as you are now, still particular about skincare? You really are-broke but still refined."

His mouth mocked, but his hand didn't release my wrist. He probably felt my pulse racing chaotically.

"Why are your hands so cold?"

He frowned, reaching to touch my forehead. All cold sweat.

"Does it hurt?"

That one word nearly collapsed my defenses.

How I wanted to throw myself into his arms and cry, tell him how much it hurt, tell him these five years I'd been living in hell every single day.

But I couldn't.

The system flashed a warning red light in my mind.

"Doesn't hurt. Just hungry."

I pulled my hand back, snatched the medicine bottle back and shoved it in my pocket, pretending nonchalance. "Done paying? Then let's go. Don't waste time."

Xavier stared at me for a while with that gaze that made me feel stripped naked.

Finally he said nothing and turned to leave.

I breathed a sigh of relief, secretly picking up those two dirty pills and swallowing them.

The bitter taste spread through my mouth.