Vicious?
Madeline almost laughed out loud. She didn't even have the energy to argue.
Lucius couldn't bear to debate with her any longer. He turned on his heel and rushed out, genuinely terrified that Liliana might attempt suicide.
Liliana had been treated like a pampered princess her entire life. She would sob over a paper cut. She wasn't battle-hardened like Madeline, who Lucius realized he had almost never heard complain about physical pain.
Lucius ordered his security detail to watch Madeline closely. Since she was paralyzed from the waist down and nursing cracked ribs, she was entirely dependent on them.
He sped to the sprawling medical center in the neighboring state.
There, he finally laid eyes on Liliana.
She was covered in catastrophic contusions, suffering from multiple broken bones and internal bleeding. Her pale face was drenched in tears, her eyes wide and panicked.
The moment she spotted Lucius, she sobbed hysterically, weakly raising her arms and begging him to hold her.
Lucius didn't hesitate. He carefully scooped Liliana into his arms, holding her as gently as he would a fragile infant.
"Lucius, my legs... my legs are snapped in half. It hurts so much."
Lucius's face contorted with genuine heartbreak. He whispered soothingly, "It's going to be okay. I'm going to get you the best treatment. You're young, your bones will heal fast. You'll be fine."
"They won't heal! I saw them, the shattered bones were sticking right out of my flesh! My life is over, Lucius. I'm completely ruined."
Lucius stared down at the battered, unrecognizable woman in his arms.
Yet, unbidden, the haunting image of Madeline's deadened, despairing eyes flashed through his mind, piercing his conscience repeatedly.
He couldn't help but realize that his sudden departure must have shattered Madeline all over again.


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