When Family Became a Place I Couldn’t Return To novel Chapter 283

When he asked if they could start over, she’d honestly wavered for a moment. But the second she returned to reality, saw Sheila standing there, and heard Brody’s condescending voice, it was like she snapped awake.

“Are you sulking?” Nelly let out a quiet laugh. “My rejection must’ve really gotten to you.”

Brody’s answer came without hesitation. He stared straight at her, his words slow and heavy. “Yeah. It got to me. A lot.”

Of course it did. Brody had never dealt well with being turned down by her. Sometimes, a man’s need to claim everything could be a scary thing.

“But I’m feeling great,” she shot back.

“You like seeing me miserable?” he asked, his brow twitching, gaze suddenly unsteady. His voice dropped, sounding almost wounded.

Nelly hid her right hand behind her back, her nails digging so hard into her palm it hurt. She lifted her chin and let her lips curl into a cold, cutting smile. “Yeah. Watching someone who hurt them struggle, who wouldn’t feel a little better about that?”

Before her words had even faded, Brody doubled over in a fit of harsh coughing. He was shaking so hard that blood welled at the corner of his mouth. He nearly lost his balance, catching himself against the wall. Sheila gasped and tried to help, but he pushed her away, rough and angry.

Nelly’s body tensed, almost as if she wanted to move toward him, but she stayed rooted in place and kept her eyes averted.

“Fine,” Brody managed between breaths. He dragged his gaze up to her, a twisted smile on his lips, but something wild and desperate burned in his eyes. “You said it. Perfect.”

Nelly’s breath caught in her throat. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw blood from his wound seeping through his shirt and dripping onto the floor. Dark red stains bloomed there, impossible to ignore.

“Brody, you’re bleeding a lot!” Sheila’s voice was full of panic. She couldn’t hide her fear at the sight.

Brody’s face looked ghostly, his skin almost translucent. He looked like he could drop to the floor at any second.

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