The Mocked Miss’s Hidden Crowns novel Chapter 1994

Dawn broke, and the rain finally stopped.

The moment Charlotte opened her eyes, she was met with Anthony's strikingly handsome, yet slightly tired face.

Seeing her wake up, he leaned in and carefully helped her sit up. "Stella is awake."

Charlotte snapped to her senses, threw off the blankets, and hurried to the hospital room in her slippers.

The room was deathly quiet.

Stella was leaning against the headboard in her hospital gown, her face completely drained of color.

Roger sat beside her holding a bowl of plain porridge, looking just as terrible.

The silence between them was suffocating.

"Stella."

Noticing her strange behavior, Charlotte frowned and called out softly.

Hearing her voice, Stella slowly raised her deadened eyes and looked at her.

The utter emptiness in her gaze made Charlotte's heart clench in pain.

It was the exact same look she had back in the psychiatric hospital.

"I'll do it."

Charlotte took the bowl from Roger's hands. "You've been up all night. Go rest in the next room."

"I'm not tired."

Roger stood to the side, refusing to leave.

Charlotte looked at him, sighing in frustration, but didn't push the issue. She turned to feed Stella.

Stella shook her head, refusing to eat.

"Be good." Charlotte forced a gentle, patient tone. "Just eat a little bit, okay?"

Stella gave a wooden nod and opened her mouth.

But the moment the porridge touched her tongue, she gagged. She scrambled out of bed and rushed into the bathroom, throwing up violently.

"Stella!"

Roger's face turned ashen as he tried to follow her in.

"Roger."

"Let's go home," Charlotte said, taking Stella's hand. She gave Anthony a look, signaling him to leave first.

Right now, Stella was terrified of any man.

In the end, Charlotte drove Stella back to the apartment herself.

Stella sat on the couch, staring blankly at the container of cookies on the table.

She had baked those for Roger just last night.

Thinking of him only dragged the horrific memories of her past back to the surface.

Stella pulled her gaze away, her eyelashes fluttering as she whispered, "Charlotte, I want to go upstairs and rest."

"Okay."

Charlotte reached out to help her, but Stella shook her head. "I can walk on my own. I'm fine, I just want to be alone for a bit."

"I'll be right downstairs if you need anything." Charlotte respected her space, watching her walk away with a deepening frown.

Back in her room, Stella peeled off the hospital gown. Staring at the hideous scars covering her body, she grabbed a towel and began scrubbing them frantically.

The intense friction only made the scars flush a violent red, webbing across her skin like a cage that choked the breath right out of her.