Chapter 4

Tears mixed with rain rolled down my face, my voice broken and hoarse.

"It hurts... it hurts so much..."

Airs's gaze finally fell on me.

He took half a step forward, but Vivian sweetly fainted in his arms, hooking his pinky finger and frowning in discomfort.

"Airs, my calf hurts so much..."

Crystalline tears fell onto the back of his hand.

Airs immediately withdrew his gaze. Even though he knew werewolves healed quickly, he still panicked and picked up Vivian.

"Sera, hang in there. I'll take you to the hospital right away."

Watching the man's heartless departing figure, I clutched the fragment of tombstone tightly in my palm.

As my consciousness faded, Mom and Dad affectionately stroked my head.

"Sera, you've done so well."

And I cried my heart out. "Mom, Dad, I will avenge you..."

When I woke up again, I saw a clean white ceiling.

Airs sat by the hospital bed, his chin covered in messy stubble, large dark circles under his eyes.

Seeing me open my eyes, he joyfully gripped my hand.

"Sera, does it hurt?"

I endured the pain and pulled out the IV needle from the back of my hand, forcing myself to get up and kneel at Airs's feet.

"I'm sorry, Airs. I didn't take good care of my body."

"I can be discharged now and go home. Vivian and Jack both need me."

Airs tenderly touched my burst and bleeding wounds, his fingers trembling continuously.

He reached out in anguish, and I instinctively covered my head with my arms.

"Sera, how did you become like this?"

I lowered my eyes without speaking.

The hospital room fell into an eerie silence.

It was Airs's urgent phone ringtone that finally broke the deadlock.

Through the speakerphone came Vivian's pitiful crying, accompanied by a baby's piercing wails.

"Airs, Jack won't stop crying."

"I haven't had a good night's sleep in days. Can you please have Sera come back to help me?"

Before Airs could answer, I'd already removed my hospital gown.

The scars covering my entire body were exposed to Airs's view. Something seemed to burn his eyes red.

The phone was abruptly hung up.

Airs's voice was terrifyingly hoarse.

"Sera, what happened to cause all these injuries?"

I quietly changed into regular clothes and gestured for him to handle my discharge.

"Airs, my duty is to take good care of Vivian and Jack. Please take me home."

Airs's shoulders shook violently as he lost control, cupping my face and roaring.

"Sera, what the hell did those people at the psychiatric hospital do to you?"

I responded with a polite smile.

"Airs, they only followed your instructions—teaching me how to properly serve Vivian and Jack."

I watched as all color drained from Airs's face, his lips trembling uncontrollably.

"But I just wanted you to be a little more obedient."

"I didn't..."

The phone rang again. I urged Airs to go home.

At the same time, the doctor outside the door secretly made a gesture to me.