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bChapter /bb55 /b

A voice shouted, “Get out of the way!”

Lily instinctively threw herself in front of Aria.

The entire room froze, their hearts skipping a beat in shock

“Uly!” someone cried out.

Then came the sickening sound of flesh bring pierced.

Blood poured from Aria’s hand, dripping onto the bfloor/b.

Aria intercepted the knife

Lily held her tightly. Feeling Lily trembling in her arms, Aria knew it was the first time anyone had unconditionally protected her

For a moment, Aria thought about pulling baway/b, about continuing her mission to track down ck Rose

But her body wouldn’t respond, her hand hanging limply at her side

Nathan snapped back to reality first. He kicked Leon aside with bforce/b, and teachers and students rushed forward to restrain himb. /b

Aria’s left hand dropped, the knife ttering to the floor with a sharp clink.

Blood was flowing faster now.

The assant had been subdued, but no one seemed able to process what had just happened.

They couldn’t understand why Leon had attacked Ania.

Lily, still numbb, /bslowly opened her eyes. When bshe /bpulled her arms away from Aria, her gazended on the blood staining her hand.

A familiar, haunting fear gripped her–a fear bom of years of babuse/b. Her voice shook, her body quivering in response. She took a shaky breath, exhaling slowly, trying to regain some semnce of control.

“You… You’re hurt,” s she bsaid/b, her voice barely above a whisper.

The air between them p grew heavy, an unspoken tension filling the space. No one seemed willing to interrupt.

Nathan’s suspicions were confirmed. Aria and Lily had met before.

His eyes dropped to the injury on bAria’s /bhand.

She looked strangely calm, as if she felt no pain at all.

He knew if this were Silvia, she would’ve been in agony

bNathan’s /bheart squeezed with an emotion he couldn’t fully identity.

It hit him so suddenly, so strongly, that he almost couldn’t catch bhis /bbbreath /b

Valerie was the first to act, rushing to bAria’s /bbside/b. She bquickly /bstripped off her jacket and bwrapped /bit tightly around her hand

“Let’s get you to the nurse, Valerie urged.

Larkridge High took student safety seriouslyb, /bband /bbtheir /bmedical facilities were fully equipped. The school had hired professionals to handle emergences

Aria noddedb, /bletting Valerie pull her toward the stairs.

Lily instinctively started to follow, but stepped herself halfway. Her pare ficked down to Leon, who was still pinned to the bground/b, and bhe /bdarkened with an anger she didn’t know she had.

She thought to bhersell/b, That was the perfect opportunity, Icould’ve just ignored him and let him freeze out there. What a shame!

Nathan took a few steps closer, his voice hesitant. “We you…okay!”

Their math teacher from Cypress ss, who also taught Maple ss, was well known for bhis /barrogance. He constantly boasted about his students, often looking down on others.

Ever since Lily imed the top spot in their grade, her ssmates had all been walking with their heads held high,

Nathan considered Lily a point of pride for their ss and thought everyone should protect her.

bLily /blooked up at him, her voice surprisingly steady. “Thank you. You’ve helped me again.”

bNathan/b, feeling ba /blittle smug, shrugged casually. “No big deal.”

“But…” Lily hesitated, her eyes narrowing sightly. “Your sister’s hurt. Aren’t you going to check on her?”

Lily had always been shy, and aside from her seatmates, she didn’t often speak to anyone else.

They hadn’t really exchanged many words over the past few months.

But now, her gaze wasn’t filled with shyness. Instead, it held bconfusion/b–and a trace of anger.

Lily was defending Aria

Nathan couldn’t find the words to exin himself.

If it were bSilvia/b, bhe /bwould have been concerned, but it bwas /bbA/b. He just couldn’t bring himself to care.

Aber a long pause,

Nathan muttered, his voice barely above a whisper, i don’t get along with her

“Why not?” Lily’s part

‘s gaze was intense. “Did she bully you?*

Nathan shook his head. “No.”

“Did she bully someone else?” she asked again.

He hesitated for a moment, then replied, “No.”

“Then why bdon’t /byou care babout /bher?” Lily pressed.

Nathan felt a weight settle on his chest. He swallowed bard, his wordsing out with more force than he intended. “Good rtionships go both ways. She ignores me, som not going to chase after he

Lily furrowed her brow, clearly not understanding. So caring is the same as chasing someone?”

Nathan didn’t bknow /bhow to answer.

bOsric/b, who had been watching the exchange, couldn’t hold back any longer. “Lily, bdon’t /bforget Nathan just saved you. Why are you being so harsh?”

His tone was sharp, and Nathan shot him a look, bsilently /basking him to stay out of it.

Two security guards arrived quickly, dragging Leon away, his furious eyes locked onto Lily

Nathan moved to stand in front of her, blocking her from Lean’s view.

Lily suddenly spoke, her voice low but firm. “You’ve helped me twice now repay you

Nathan scratched his head awkwardly, a sheepish smile tugging at his lips. “Don’t mention it.”

“But,” Lily continued, her eyes serious, “next time something like this happens, don’t help me. I don’t like you, and I don’t want your help

The others stared at her in disbelief, wondering if she was out of her mind

Nathan, for the first time, felt the sting of rejection. The smile on his face vanished, and he couldn’t find the words to respond

At the door to the nurse’s office, Ana stopped. “Miss Gibbs, the students are probably still shaken up. You should go back. I can handle it from here.”

Valerie thought, “How bcan /bforget that?”

Valene pped her forehead. “Ms. bSaxon/bb, /bif it’s seriousb, /byou need to go to the hospitalb./b”

“Okay.” Ana nodded.

Valerie hurried off.

Aria stepped into the nurse’s office, where ba /bwomanin a white cost and mask was waiting:

She immediately noticed the bandages around Aria’s hand and walked over with some antiseptic. “Your hand’s injured?” she asked, concem in her voice

“Yes,” Aria repliedb. /b

“I’ll disinfect it first. It’ll sting a littleb, /bbut you can handle it, right?” the nurse asked.

“Okay” Aria nodded.

A few minutester, the nurse asked, “How did you get hurt?”

Aria replied casually, “A madman broke binto /bthe school. He’s been taken care of”

The nurse exhaled in reliet “Was the weapon rusty?”

Aria raised an eyebrow, ba /bsmall, knowing smile on bher /blips. “I didn’t notice.”

The nurse stood up. “Just to be safe, give you a tetanus shot. bAre /byou allergic bto /bbany /b

“No Aria breplied/b.

medications?

The nurse prepared the injection, holding up the vial and bshaking /bit gently before drawing the liquid into the syringe. She sat beside bAria/bb, /bready to proceed. “We’re all set.”

bAria /bnodded, her expression calm.

Just as the needle was about to touch her skin, Aria suddenly askedb, /b“Who ced the order with the Blood Association?