---- Chapter 12 Taken The moment his hand touched me, I fainted. When I regained my consciousness, I realized I was in a room. I blinked my eyes. No, it was not a dream. Then I sat up, and Lawrence spoke. " You're finally awake." Thad no idea what to say. The ability to speak seemed to have been lost to me. I see. Perhaps I did not deserve a better life, after all. The days I spent with Anthony felt like a dream, and that dream was over. It was time to go back into the darkness. I hugged the blanket and cried quietly. Lawrence waited for a long, long time, but I didn't say anything to him. He slowly got closer tome and sat on the edge of the bed. He was hesitating, but he wanted to touch me. "Don't touch me," I said hoarsely. "Every time ---- you do, you make me sick." Lawrence stopped. "Eve, I had no idea that call would-" I turned. Moonlight shone on his face, and I saw the shadow of guilt etched on it. 'What a hypocrite, 'T thought. "You had no idea?" I accused him. "No, you knew exactly what would happen. Anyone who fails their loan shark payment would get beaten up at the very least. Those people could've also broken my arms and legs! You expect me to believe you don't know that? "No, you knew. You knew and did nothing about it because Yvette's idea aligned with your interests. You played dumb because that would create a result that would stroke your ego!" Lawrence did not say anything, but his guilt intensified. "I'll make it up to you, I swear. Just... Just forget about Anthony, alright?" ---- Irested my chin on my knees and hugged my legs. Then, I started talking about unrelated stories. "My grandfather and I had a peaceful life before the Marlins found me. Yes, we weren't rich, but he would do anything to make sure I had everything the other kids had. The people around him said there was no point investing so much in a girl. He just had to make sure I didn't starve and marry me off when I was of age. "He told them he had to pour all his love for me, because my parents did not. I had no parents, really. The other kids had fast food as treats, but I never had the chance to get any, so he saved up for a long, long time and rode a bus into the city alone. "Tt was a long, long trip, but he eventually came back with a burger. It was soggy and didn't look nice at all, but it was the best burger I've ever had. When the Marlins took me back into their fold, I told him I'd come visit. He kept bowing to Dad and asked them to take good care of me. He said he