Rejected Their Broken Luna Chapter 82: Chap-82*The Burning Sensation.*

**Cynthia Dion:**

I just sat there in silence, even as he gently pushed my hair away from my face. It was like I'd forgotten how to move a muscle.

"Cynthia! Are you okay?" He seemed a bit puzzled by my shaken state. Given the strong dislike I'd shown him before, my sudden change must have surprised him. He probably expected me to push him away. However, I was so exhausted and frightened by everyone that I simply wished for them to be kind.

"I'm f---ine. Just please, don't leave me alone here." I clung to his shirt, drawing myself closer to him, as if I feared Atticus might snatch me away. It was an odd feeling that had come out of nowhere.

"Yeah, I won't," he gently held my face in his hands and planted a kiss on my forehead. Even though I still shivered in disgust, for some reason, I felt more afraid of Atticus than him this time.

"We can have lunch together after I get ready. Charlotte mentioned that you haven't eaten or left your room," he said before heading into the restroom.

As he disappeared from my view, I quickly checked the door to make sure he had locked it, and thankfully, he had.

Atticus decided not to join us for lunch. He had left a little while before Mr. Holt arrived, according to Charlotte, who had inquired about him.

"So, it really made me happy that you acted differently around me today," he said, smiling as he recalled the earlier moments. He was feeling lucky, but I was feeling repelled.

He remained unaware of how much I still disliked him. The demon in question today simply didn't seem as terrifying when compared to the other one.

"Cynthia!" Mr. Holt had clearly noticed the change in my body language now. "This fear of yours. I never knew you were so afraid of everything," he remarked.

"I am not--" I stammered, still not comprehending what sometimes happened to me. I acted completely unlike myself. I even blacked out, and then the memories of those hours never returned.

"These nightmares of yours seem terrifying," he commented. Of course, he assumed that the nightmares were too intense for my brain to grasp and distinguish from reality. It wasn't entirely untrue, though. Sometimes my imagination was so vivid that I had to double-check later if it was indeed a dream or if it had truly happened.

"Your father mentioned that you black out frequently, but he said you never used to have sleep paralysis or nightmares. So, what triggered these frightening changes?" He was truly brave to ask me that question rather than avoiding it himself. What he did to me on our wedding night still haunted my memory.

"Maybe it's just the change in environment and the stress," I replied, lowering my face. Then, something reminded me of the first round of the contest. "That day when I won, I was pitted against powerful werewolves. There were so many of them, attacking and biting me. I've never been so terrified before," I added, closing my eyes to push away the memories of that exact moment.

"Like a human caught between hungry animals?" He asked, and when I nodded, he took it upon himself to explain further, "You didn't win because of your strength. You won because of your courage and smart strategy."

"Maybe," I nodded faintly.

"Can I ask you something?" I inquired, and after receiving a nod from him, I adjusted my posture in the seat.

"Ma'am Maleeka, where is she?" My words softly voiced that question. I needed to learn more about her. I believed he wouldn't mind sharing because it wasn't particularly sensitive. She had just vanished as if she never existed.

"She is in the hospital," Mr. Holt mumbled, his words heavy with sorrow and anguish, after wiping his lips with a handkerchief and clearing his throat.

"But I was told she is in the mansion," I whispered under my breath, shocked.

"Is she okay?" I asked, losing my appetite.

Why do so many good people go through such hardships? I didn't claim to be one of the good people, only my mother and Maleeka at the moment.

"Well, this has happened before," he sighed, leaning his head back to relieve his tension. He didn't provide many details, but I was determined to pray to the Moon Goddess to make her well and whole once more.

"Just pray for her quick recovery," he said. I wasn't certain if the Moon Goddess would even hear my prayers.

"Can I go see her at the hospital?" I asked, hoping he might take me with him, as it was clear he had been visiting her in the hospital himself.

"I don't think that's necessary," he replied gruffly. He shook his head and rejected my request without much consideration.

"Why not? Maybe seeing someone from the mansion will bring her some joy?" I asked once more, not realizing how much I was getting on Mr. Holt's nerves.

"No, Cynthia, you can visit her when she returns home," he said, ladling some hot soup into his own bowl. He was hard for me to understand; what was wrong with him taking me to see her? She wasn't in some restricted area; if he could go, so could I.

"I promise I won't say anything to upset her," I reassured, really hoping he would allow me to go and see her.

"Cynthia!" He momentarily stopped eating to give me a stern look before saying, "I already said no, now finish your meal."

I pouted and gently rubbed my palms together, getting anxious as I really wanted him to take me to the hospital. I wanted to see her to make sure she is doing fine. He was being very secretive.

"You promised to take me with you everywhere," I reminded him of his commitment just a few hours ago when he had said he would take me to the practice ground as well. As he grew more irritated because I didn't stop talking after his initial warning, I realized I had gotten myself into significant trouble. I wish I had stopped. But it was too late now. I had already gotten under his nerves.

"I TOLD YOU TO SHUT THE F*CK UP, DIDN’T I?" He yelled and threw the hot, piping soup in my face.