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He removed the blanket and her clothes with careful hands He cursed when he sa rimly “You are certain this is only period blood?”

“Yes”

He shook his head, but didn’t say anything He sientle as he was, the ht on a wave of dizziness as pain overcaain

She moaned

He cursed “This cannot be normal, cara”

“Didn’t say it was norainst his shoulder

Strangely he didn’t ask what it was

“I’m surprised,” she said

“About?”

“You aren’t de answers”

“You do not have any idea how terrible you look, do you?”

“I look terrible?” she asked, a fresh spate of tears rolling down her cheeks “Ugly?”

“Ill, you foolish woman You are as white as paper and you look like even a ould blow you over”

“I hurt”

“I know” And he sounded like the knowledge was tearing hi

Why would he care if she hurt when he hated her?

Only the way he held her was not the cruel grip of hatred or even the ier He held her to him like she was precious in so to hi the comfort and too weak to pretend otherwise

She didn’t realize where they were headed until he stepped into the already steaotten naked, too He planned to hold her while she bathed Tears of relief seeped from beneath her closed eyelids as the hot water cascaded over her skin

He hadn’t left her alone to face her pain and she felt pathetically grateful She kept her eyes closed, not caring that sos, balancing her on his knee so he could wash the blood away