Shen Xiao clenched his jaw, trying to remain composed. "You mean Shen Xuan? Should I call him?"
"No. Not him." A pause. "The other one."
His heart thudded in his chest like a warning drum. "There is no other one," he said carefully. "You never told me, Yueyao, if there was another pregnancy, another child....."
She turned her head slowly toward him.
And for the first time, her eyes truly met his; they were not vacant, not wild, but deeply piercing.
"If I told you, they'd come back and take her!"
"Who?"
She didn't answer. She shut her eyes again, and her body shivered despite the heavy blankets.
Behind them, the elder maid silently motioned for the younger to fetch the doctor.
But Shen Xiao raised a hand, don't. Not yet.
He moved closer, kneeling by her bed, voice shaking as he whispered, "You're not alone, Yueyao. Whatever happened… whatever they did… I will help you."
But she didn't reply.
