Even in Darkness She Chose to Rise (Tatiana and Jasper) novel Chapter 7

Night fell, and the “Trail” Bianca was brought home.

+8 Pearls

When the Lowell family didn’t see Tatiana come out to greet them, their expressions darkened.

Bianca said considerately. “Maybe Tatiana’s tired. She probably went to bed early.”

Xavier pressed his lips together, anger flaring. “What right does she have to sleep? She’s not the one who’s sick! She owes you–she should be the one taking care of you!”

With that, Xavier began searching for Tatiana. He finally found her curled up by the bed in her

room.

Her sleep was restless, her small face clouded with sorrow. Her eyes were shut tight, long lashes trembling like she was trapped in a nightmare.

She was so thin that the oversized clothes hung awkwardly on her body.

Earlier, she had coughed up a pool of blood and nearly fainted. It had taken everything she had to crawl back to her room to rest.

Filthy and afraid of causing trouble, she had hidden under the bed to sleep.

Now she slept deeply, as though in a coma.

Suddenly, a rough hand yanked her up.

She jolted awake from her nightmare, eyes wide in panic. “Xavier, Xavier…”

“Shut up! You’re no sister of mine.”

His grip on her wrist was painfully tight. She gasped, “Mr. Mr. Xavier, please, let, let go. It hurts!”

“Hurts? Can it compare to Bianca’s heart pain? Her treatment was delayed, and now she’ll never recover. Don’t you feel the slightest guilt?”

She opened her mouth, but nothing came out.

She hadn’t chosen to be switched at birth. She had only been a baby, with no right to decide anything..

And whatever guilt she had once felt had already been ground to dust in those four years.

“Say something! Or can’t you admit it? I used to think you were just spoiled, a little willful. I

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Chapter 7 She is Sick

never thought you’d be this jealous of Bianca.”

He dragged her out without hesitation, ignoring her pained gasps.

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From the attic on the third floor all the way down to the front door, he hauled her, then shoved her outside.

“Stay out here and reflect on yourself!”

“But I… I’m also—“The word “sick” was cut off by the slamming door.

Her hand dropped slowly from the wood. She sank down on the step.

It was late autumn, the night air sharp with chill. She wore only an oversized short–sleeved shirt. The wind slipped easily through the fabric, stripping away every bit of warmth.

Her battered body couldn’t withstand the cold.

The moment the wind hit her, she began to cough.

“Cough, cough, cough…”

The sound threaded faintly through the cracks in the door.

Xavier paused, a flicker of hesitation crossing his face.

Her complexion did seem too pale. Something wasn’t right.

But before he could act, Lauren’s voice cried out from the living room. “Xavier, quick! Bianca’s not feeling well!”

The thought broke. Xavier rushed off.

Night deepened. Clouds gathered. Rain began to fall.

Drip. Drip.

It poured through the night.

The next morning, when a servant opened the door to clean, she found no one on the steps.

Looking up, she spotted a figure curled inside the doghouse.

The servant sneered. “The fake young lady’s at it again, trying to win the masters‘ sympathy. Crawling into the doghouse, as if she has no shred of dignity left.”

“Exactly. With her shameful status, she should have been kicked out long ago if not for the real

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Chapter 7 She Is Sick

young lady’s kindness.”

“Don’t bother with her. Get back to work.”

48 Peano

They bustled around, not noticing that the person in the doghouse had barely moved for hours, her breathing faint and shallow.

By the time the Lowells woke, Xavier looked around. Not seeing Tatiana, his frown deepened. “She’s not here?”

He had assumed she’d sneak back in overnight. She had always been fragile, never able to endure hardship.

Chester’s voice was sharp. “Call her down. Making everyone wait on her is outrageous. She dares act spoiled even now!”

The servants hesitated.

Chester’s tone hardened. “Go get her!”

“Miss Tatiana isn’t upstairs. She… she’s outside!”

Xavier’s heart dropped. He rushed out and saw her slumped in the doghouse, motionless.

His pupils shrank. “Tatiana!!”

He pulled her out. The moment he touched her, her skin burned his hands.

She had a fever.

“Hospital! Now!”

Xavier carried her urgently to the hospital.

Bianca, seeing the look on his face, felt a sharp pang of unease. She immediately pulled out her phone and called her contacts at the hospital, giving instructions.

Tatiana’s fever had spiked to nearly forty degrees. A little longer, and she would have gone into shock.

Xavier, a doctor himself, knew ordinary rain wouldn’t do this. Her body was simply too weak.

He ordered a full set of tests and even asked a colleague in the diagnostics department to speed up the results.

Just as he began to waver, Bianca stepped forward, tears in her eyes. “Xavier, is it because of me? Is Tatiana refusing to come inside because I’m here? It’s my fault she got sick. I’ll move out.

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Chapter She is sick

After all, this is her home.”

+B Pearis

Immediately, Lauren snapped, “Nonsense! This is your home. You’re not going anywhere!”

Chester added, “How long is she going to keep making trouble? She just can’t stand Bianca! Serves her right to get sick!”

Xavier finally understood.

So that was it. Tatiana had stayed outside in the rain all night to guilt them into driving Bianca.

away.

All these years, she was still playing her mind games.

And he he had almost doubted himself.

“No need to move. You’re my sister. No one will drive you out.”

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