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She took a deep breath, yet even that was too painful as her entire chest cavity hurt. She’d tried so hard to avoid getting hit in her stomach but Sergio had still landed enough blows to make it hard to even exist.
Looking around the room, she noted she was in her own suite. The first thing she could think of was to force herself to cross the apartment and lock the door so that no one could come in. Only then did she allow herself to go to the bathroom and slowly shed the gown off her body, wincing at every little movement.
A wall-sized mirror reflected back all the marks on her body.
She was purple from head to toe. Her lip was split, crusted blood all around her chin. Her eyes were so swollen she could barely keep them open.
Slowly, she reached to her forehead where a big gash extended into her hairline.
Noelle felt like crying, but at that point, crying would only make her hurt more.
A low, howl-like sound escaped her lips as she held onto the sink so she wouldn’t crumble to the floor.
Is this why her family had sold her? To be beaten and abused like this? To be treated less than human?
She tried to climb into the bathtub and clean some of the dried blood on her body, but she could barely bring herself to touch the tender areas.
It took her a long time to clean herself. Between the cries of pain and the agony at having some wounds open anew, she knew she was close to her limit.
By some miracle, she managed to dry herself and change into dry clothes.
It was then that someone knocked on her door.
Dread accumulated in the pit of her stomach as she held herself still. She simply listened, afraid it would be Sergio—that he would come to punish her more.
“It’s me, Lucero. Can you please open the door?”
Noelle released a relieved breath. Still, she didn’t know whether she could trust the girl. She was a worker in Sergio’s house, so naturally she would be loyal to him.
Yet despite that knowledge, Noelle found herself limping to the door and opening it for Lucero.
She was carrying an armful of supplies, and as she entered the room, she headed straight for Noelle’s bedroom.
“I brought you something for the pain, and if you’ll allow me to clean your wounds, I have some salve and…”
Noelle stood still as she stared at the young woman before her.
“You don’t seem surprised to see me in this state,” she whispered as she took a tentative step towards her.
Lucero gave her a sad smile.
“I was the one who helped you to your bed and changed your clothes while you were out of it.”
Noelle blinked.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
“Don’t mention it.”
She went back to arranging her supplies, inviting Noelle to sit on the bed for her to assess her injuries.
“You’re knowledgeable about medicine?” Noelle asked.
Lucero nodded.
“From experience.”
Noelle frowned. Did Lucero mean what she thought she did? Was she talking about having experience with medicine, or was she saying that she’d experienced Sergio’s wrath too?
