Chapter 54: I promise
Roman began applying the medicine on her back, tracing each welt with gentle, calculated strokes to avoid hurting her further.
"Hmm..." Patricia winced when the ointment touched the most painful spots, a strained sound slipping from her throat. But almost immediately, a soothing relief followed as Roman leaned in and blew softly against the raw skin. His warm breath against her back made the pain tolerable, almost bearable, and without realizing it, a faint smile tugged at her lips. She felt a flicker of comfort, grateful for the treatment.
Not even doctors at the hospital treated patients like this. She was getting VVIP care, tender, deliberate, and quietly reassuring.
"You will be given sleeping pills to help with the pain," Roman said, his voice low and steady. "And once you wake up, you will be bathed with warm water."
He closed the small bottle and stepped out from behind her. Then, gently, he helped her turn over and eased her down to lie on her chest. Patricia clutched the pillow, adjusting slowly until she found a position that didn’t hurt.
Later that day, Zara, who had heard what happened, sat beside Patricia. She wasn’t sad, but she wasn’t happy either. Her expression was unreadable. A storm of thoughts passed through her mind, but the loudest one was how she would get back at her family for this. More importantly, how to make Roman pay for not protecting Patricia like he promised.
She should have never trusted him. What could he possibly do, anyway? He didn’t even love Patricia. Why had she ever believed he would protect her?
"Hey," a soft voice called.
Zara looked up instantly. She knew that voice. Patricia was awake, her tired eyes meeting Zara’s.