Page 198 of Her Wicked Plan

The only time I’ve felt this was when it was towards a person who I hated. This? It’s different in the sense that I don’t hate Leo. This new emotion was for the creature that took a wonderful woman from this Earth. Many people deserve death more than she did.

I needed him to help die down the rage but without him, I was a loose cannon.

I tried so fucking hard to shove the emotion down, only to be defeated. The red of the rage took over, and I stalked out the person I wanted to hurt the most—the woman whose hair color matched the color that had been lining my vision.

Scarlet.

Seeing as I couldn’t go to her ward, I had to wait until she visited ours. For two days, I sat around, hoping that day would be the day until finally, it was. She had come down to speak with Dr. Bennett about something. Maybe it was about that patient Olivia, who was joining us.

I waited outside the doors to the office hallway, and she saw me as she made her way down. She slowed her steps as she saw me standing with my back against the wall. Her eyes had glanced at the other door, the one that led to the bedrooms, which had another exit at the end of that hall. Wavering her options, she straightened her back and pushed forward.

Stupid woman.

As soon as the door shut behind her, I pounced. I had no hesitation as I brought my hand from behind my back. The hand that was holding the paperweight Edith kept hidden behind her desk.

The blow caused Scarlet to stumble, and with her steps faltering, I shoved her to the ground. A frightened scream came from her mouth as I straddled her and lifted the weight again in my hand. I crushed it into the side of her head twice before her arms shot up, attempting to stop me.

Her hands had grabbed my wrists, using all her strength to hold my hand back. I clenched my teeth and grunted from the lack of movement I had. Blood trickled down from her temple, her eyes glossy with tears.

Whether it’s from the pain she was enduring or from being attacked, I’m not sure. Probably both. I used my free hand to rip hers off of me. Being free from her grasp, I brought the weight down one more time.

Her body relaxed beneath me, head falling to the side, allowing me to appreciate the gash in her temple. My hold on the paperweight was tight, making me worried it might break or maybe my fingers would break around it. My eyes dropped to her chest, where I saw the slightest movement. She was alive. That wasn’t how I wanted this to end.

When I raised the weight again, the blood on it caught my eye. Edith is going to be angry about her precious paper holder. I’ll make it up to her.

Before I could take another hit, a large hand was wrapped around my wrist, stopping me. They squeezed my arm as hard as they could, which made my grip loosen and allowed the weight to fall with a yelp. The paperweight fell to the floor; a hiss sounded through my teeth.

The next thing I knew, two men picked me up and hauled me to solitaire.

“You will stay here until Dr. Madden returns. Then, he will escort you to Ward R.” Dr. Bennett had told me. The disappointment in his eyes seared through my chest. “You had one chance, Veronica. I am sorry that it has to come to this.”

That was about two hours ago. I think. Time doesn’t exist down here.

My eyes have grown tired once the adrenaline subsides, but I refuse to sleep. My eyes remain forward, staring at the wall I can’t see through the darkness. There is a raw spot on my thumb where I have been nervously chewing.

Only two things are on my mind.

One, Leo’s mother died.

Two, I’m being sent to Ward R.

The pain in my butt has turned into numbness from how long I’ve been sitting in this bed. It could be the next day for all I know, and I have yet to move. Someone brought me food, although I didn’t eat it.

I barely even glanced over when they slid it through the slot. Thinking about eating makes me want to vomit. Instead, I sit here and patiently wait while my stomach grumbles, begging for the food I know I wouldn’t keep down.

Seconds turn into minutes. Minutes into hours. When I think all hope is lost of Leo coming soon, the door creaks open. A figure steps inside the room, dull eyes immediately finding mine. The dim light out in the hall cascades over the side of his face. Leo sighs as he steps back, gesturing for me to leave the darkroom.

Slowly, I peel myself away from the bed, bones aching from lack of movement. I walk past him, eyes on the ground the entire time we make our way to his office.

I look at him only when he shuts the door and sits at his desk. His elbows are resting on the surface, his hands in front of his face. His pointer fingers are steepled, the tips hitting the edge of his nose. He shuts his eyes, inhaling a deep breath.

“Leo…” I say quietly, unaware of what type of mood he is in.

He unhooks one hand from the other, holding a finger up to stop me from speaking. His eyes are still shut when he says, “I talked with Dr. Bennett. You just needed to behave, Veronica.”

His voice is exhausted. Had he slept while he was away? “I know. I’m sorry. I went blind with rage. Your mother... Dr. Bennett told me there was a family emergency. That’s why you weren’t coming back yet.”

Leo opens his eyes, misery flooding the bright greens, turning them darker. It’s almost like he doesn’t want me to see how he hurts. Those sad eyes drop to the desk. “She passed.”