Aldric Kensington's Pov.



Four words.

She is in hospital.

It took these four words to flip my world upside down. I don't know what happened when I got a call from Athaliah's number uttering those words. I am helplessly waiting outside her room where she is getting treated.

The hall is quiet, the sterile scent of antiseptic filling the air. Soft fluorescent lights flicker overhead, casting a pale glow over the rows of empty chairs. I stood up, my face tight with worry, and started pacing back and forth near the closed door of the treatment room.

I glanced at the clock on the wall, watching the seconds tick by, each one heavier than the last. My mind races, thoughts of my sister's bruised face. I just know one thing that someone put their filthy hands on my princess and my blood is boiling with anger and helplessness.

I stopped pacing for a moment, leaning against the wall, eyes squeezed shut as if willing the world to stop spinning. I wonder if she's in pain, if she's scared, or if she's lying there in silence, trying to be brave. The thought makes my stomach tighten.

I glanced towards my brothers, each with their own silent battle raging inside. Reuben, with a furrowed brow and clenched fists, is the first to break the silence.

"Why aren't the doctors telling us something?"

His eyes dart to the door, then to the clock on the wall. His impatience is palpable, and every time he shifts in his seat, his restless energy seems to echo through the room.

Beside him, Zephyrus rubs his hands together, the anger in his eyes barely contained. His fists clench and unclench, and every few seconds, his gaze flares up as if ready to charge at the world. I know he doesn't have much different thoughts than me, his chest tightens, muscles tensing like a coiled spring.

Kaelen, quieter than the others, sits a little farther back, his head resting in his hands. His pain isn't as outward as the others—he tries to stay calm, but his emotions are overwhelming him. He's the softest-hearted among us, and while we seethe with rage, I know, he might feel a profound sense of helplessness.

Royce is more stoic, some lost in his own thoughts. I know he is raging to know what happened and he will not waste a single second to the destroy the person responsible for it.

Ezekiel is trying to stay composed for the sake of his siblings. But all of us feel it—our sister is hurting, and we are powerless to change what happened.

I just want to reach my princess, comfort her, tell her everything will be okay. But I don't know how to fix this.

There is also another boy sitting with us. From what he told us, he is Athaliah's friend. My youngest brothers confirmed it. He told us that he saw Athaliah lying on the floor of chemistry lab, beaten and bruised. He immediately took her to the hospital and because her phone was ringing continuously, he picked up my call and told me to come here.

I was very worried when I found out that my little sister had not returned from school. I asked the twins about it, and they said they didn't know as well. I called her multiple times and after 17 calls, she finally answered. I didn't hear anything that she said or didn't say.

I started panicking after that silent call. When I reached my car to find her, I called her number last time which was answered by Zeus.

He is sitting quietly in the corner, his hands nervously fiddling with the hem of his shirt. His face is pale, eyes red-rimmed from the shock.

The door finally opened and the doctor came out. All seven of us didn't wait a second longer to reach out to him. Before I could ask, Zeus spoke.

"How is she? Is she alright? Is she awake?"

The doctor glanced at seven of us and answered,

"She is fine now. Heavily bruised, but fine. She has a black eye and bruises on her jaw and forehead. A minor concussion and a cut around her lips. Due to heavy blows on her chest, abdomen and back, those have livid bruises. Her hands have scratches. Her left foot is sprained. But there is no internal bleeding."

My princess has suffered so much and now this. I will tear that person apart who is responsible for her this condition.

"How long till she gains her consciousness?" Ezekiel asked.

"It will take a few hours. But I need to discuss something with her guardian first."

"I am her guardian." I replied.

Doctor glanced at me and said,

"Can you come to my office so we can discuss some things?"

I nodded and was about to leave with the doctor when I saw all of my brothers started following me.

"Just her guardian." The doctor said, eyeing my sibling warily.

"She is our sister. We are coming along." Reuben said.

I know for one thing that whatever the doctor is about to discuss, none of us are going to like. It will be difficult to handle the younger ones, so I said,

"Don't worry. I will tell you what this is about when I have everything discussed with her doctor."

"Either way we are getting to know. So what is the point of delaying it?" Royce said.

"The point is that our sister needs us right now. I don't want her to wake up alone. So, all of you will stay beside her till she wakes up except Ezekiel." Looking towards him, I continued, "You are coming with me."

I don't know how will I handle what I am about to hear. Therefore, I need support as well. Ezekiel can stay calm up to a limit.

I was about to leave when my eyes fell on Zeus. He has worrying lines on his forehead and is clutching the door of my sister's room firmly as if he is ready to barge in anytime.

"You all can go inside. But be careful." I said and then turned and followed the doctor to his cabin.

It didn't take Zeus and all of my brothers to barge into Athaliah's room.





Athaliah Kensington's Pov



"I don't know why you are even here."

"Well, I am her friend and worried for her."

"When will she wake up?"

"I am not leaving until—"

I heard voices. A lot of them. Too nearby. There are sounds of beeping, whirring, humming and so on. I tried to open my eyes. It's like they are glued. Slowly, I started feeling something pounding in my head. My eyelids flutter, the world slowly coming into focus. The light above me is harsh, almost glaring, and it feels like it's cutting into my skull. I blink rapidly, trying to clear the haze, but it only makes the throbbing in my head worse.

The voices stopped, all at once. I try to move, but my limbs feel slow, uncooperative. I glance down at my hands—pale, trembling—and then slowly, gingerly, I touch my face. I wince when my fingers graze over a bruise, sharp and swollen, my cheek tender to the touch. There's a cut above my eyebrow, dried blood crusted in my lashes, and I realize then that I'm lying in a hospital bed.

In a hospital.

No. I can't be back here.

I try to sit up, but the room spins, and a wave of dizziness crashes over me. I grip the edge of the bed to steady myself, but it's no use. I can't breathe right. I can't think straight. The memory's coming back in pieces, flashes of something dark, painful. The sound of fists hitting skin. Shouting. My body pinned beneath someone else's weight, helpless. And then... nothing.

I then, saw some faces. Five to be exact. Staring at me. Observing me. Slowly, I got a hold on reality. I recognize these faces. The Kensington brothers and—

Zeus.

"Are you okay?"

"Can you hear me?"

"Call the doctor, Royce."

"Do you know who I am?"

"I was unconscious. I didn't have a memory loss." I replied to the stupid question of Kaelen. My voice, hoarse.

In a few minutes, there was a doctor and his two nurses by my side. Aldric and Ezekiel also came with them. Both with gloomy faces.

"How do you feel?" Doctor asked.

"Like I have been hit by a truck."

He laughed.

"Seeing as your sense of humor does work, I think you will be fine. There might be a lot of pain, but theses medicines will help you with that."

No. I am not taking anything from the hospital ever again. Seeing Kensington brothers here was the only thing that kept me from instantly getting out of here.

But no meds.

"I don't need them. I am not in much pain anyway." I said.

The stupid doctor then slightly touched my foot.

"Ouch. That hurts." I lashed out, glaring at him.

"The reason why you need medicines." He explained the reason for his foolish act.

If I was not in this bed, lying, I would love to tell him how much it hurts.

"Stop throwing daggers at me with your eyes. You need medicine. Your body as well need a lot of rest at the moment." he explained while sighing.

I rolled my eyes and said,

"I am not taking any medicine without verifying it."

"Sure."

He showed me some medicines. These medicines are the basic pain relief.

I nodded.

"I am leaving after taking the medicines."

"I don't think I can allow that, young lady. You need to be kept in the observation for at least three days."

"No. I am leaving."

I cannot stay in any hospital for that long. The doctor sighed and looked at Alric.

Is he asking permission from him. Aldric might be my guardian but What I say, goes.

"Stop looking at him for permission." I snapped.

"Princess, your body needs to heal." Aldric said, coming by my side.

"I don't care. But I can't stay in this unfamiliar place."

"It is just a hospital."

I was about to say something when Aldric interrupted again.

"A normal one."

It was like he knew exactly why I wanted to leave. Like he was assuring me that it was not some place his father sent me to.

"Three hours." I said.

Aldric raised his eyebrows.

"Three hours and I will get discharged." I said.

"Two days?" He bargained.

"One night and I will leave as soon as the sun rises." I said.

A small smile formed on Aldric's face, and he nodded.

"Do I have your word?" I asked. I want to be reassured that like his father, he will not dump me here.

Alric looked at me for a moment too long and said,

"I give you my word."

I relaxed a little bit and took the medicine that the doctor so eagerly wanted to shove in my mouth. With the help of the nurses, I sat up on the bed, my back propped against the pillows, though I still feel weak.

After taking the medicine, I looked around the room. Zephyrus stands near the window, arms crossed, his eyes scanning the room, his jaw tight with concern.

Aldric is sitting in a chair beside the bed, his hand resting on my arm, a silent reassurance as he watches me closely, as if to make sure I am still there, still breathing. Ezekiel stands next to Aldric.

Kaelen stands next to my bed, his hand clutching the edge of the sheets as he looks up at me with wide eyes, full of innocence and fear. I knew Kaelen was soft-hearted. He must be scared.

Royce and Reuben are in the corner of the room. Both have different expressions. Where one has a concerning look, the other has rage in his eyes.

Glancing one more time, I saw him—my best friend, Zeus. He's sitting on the edge of a chair, his posture slightly slumped, his gaze locked on me. His eyes are tired, filled with a heaviness I haven't seen before, but they soften when they meet mine. There's a comfort in his presence—something familiar, something safe—though it's still wrapped in a layer of uncertainty, of what might come next.

He came on my right side and asked,

"How are feeling, Sugar."

"I am fine. Did you bring me here?" I asked because it was the only explanation of why he was here, accepting the glares of the Kensington brothers.

He nodded.

"I was finding you for the last lecture when I heard something from the chemistry lab. When I got there, I saw you lying in the pool of your own blood."

There was a pain in his voice when he explained.

"Athaliah, what happened." Zephyrus asked, clenching and unclenching his fists.

"Someone's girlfriends cornered me." I said, staring at Reuben and Royce.

I know it was not their fault. But I couldn't help it.

"They will not bother you anymore." Reuben said in a menacing tone.

"You will not touch any single one of them." I commanded.

"How many were they?" Royce asked.

"Five."

"Sweetheart, we need to teach them a lesson. I will take care of it." Ezekiel said.

"No. You will just end their careers. But I will ruin their existence. So, stay away from them." I said with sheer determination in my voice.

"But I don't understand one thing." Zeus continued,

"I saw you take down seven muscled men, single-handedly, in front of me. What happened, Sugar?" Zeus asked in a soft tone. There was no hint of the playfulness that his eyes carry with him usually.

I looked away from their faces. I cannot tell them that I had a major panic attack. That I saw my whole life flashing in front of me.

"And what I don't understand is that why you are still here?" Reuben asked, getting irritated.

"Don't concern yourself. I am here for my Sugar."

"She is not yours." Reuben said, taking a step towards Zeus.

"He is my best friend. I want him to stay." I interrupted.

I don't want anyone to be rude towards the people I care for. And Zeus falls into the category of the people I care for.

Reuben. I am confused about what he wants. At one moment he hates me to the core and the next moment I see him pointing his gun at someone, claiming to be my brother.

I don't know if he will still do so when he gets to know the truth.

Aldric cleared his throat and said,

"You can handle them as you wish. However, their families will also be held accountable for their actions."

I sighed, my eyelids getting heavy.

"Take rest, bambina. We are all here for you." I heard Zephyrus saying and then I blacked out.

———🌸———

Here is the next chapter guys.

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