Chapter 1853

But finding her couldn’t be delayed-any delay might lead to trouble. So, they split up and began a thorough search of the rehabilitation center. “Wendy!” Karina called out the girl’s name as she searched every corner.
Suddenly, she heard a faint sound of sobbing ahead. The noise was soft and intermittent, almost as if someone was trying to hide it.
This facility was specifically for patients who refused to go to hospitals or psychiatric institutions, often people with unusual or complex conditions.
Karina’s mind raced with possibilities. Was it a mentally unstable patient? Someone with a fragile body or an unpredictable condition like epilepsy? Either way, it was unnerving.
Still, she gathered her courage and moved forward, thinking it could be the person they were looking for. “Wendy, is that you?”
As she approached, a foot suddenly shot out in front of her, as if trying to trip her.
This kind of trick might work in movies, but in broad daylight, it was hard to miss. Karina stopped in her tracks, her expression shifting to mild exasperation as she sighed softly. “Alright, Wendy, I know it’s you. Stop hiding.” “Ugh, so annoying!”
Almost as soon as the words left Wendy Collins’s mouth, she jumped out from behind her hiding spot, rubbing her eyes. Her red, puffy eyelids were a clear sign she had just finished crying. Wendy glared at Karina, her eyes filled with unmasked hostility and anger.
But despite her expression, her youthful face-still full of baby-like softness-made it impossible to take her anger seriously. Instead of evoking resentment, it only made her seem vulnerable. Karina’s tone softened instinctively. “Why are you hiding here all alone? Everyone outside is worried about you. If you don’t come out, they’ll be even more anxious.”
“Worried about me? Please,” Wendy scoffed. “Nobody cares. Not even my parents. All they think is how embarrassing I am.”
The last part came out in a barely audible mumble, but Karina caught it.
The words hit her like a sharp pang in her chest. At that moment, she didn’t think about anyone else just herself.
Wendy hadn’t said much, but those few words revealed so much.
She wasn’t valued at home.
It made sense. If her parents truly cherished her, would they have sent her to a rehabilitation center and then completely ignored her?
While searching for Wendy earlier, Karina had asked around about her situation. Over the past few days, it was as if Wendy had been forgotten. Her parents and even her
seven-year-old young Otten.
hadn’t visited once.
The thought made Karina’s heart ache. Wendy’s prickly attitude now seemed like a shield, masking her stubbornness and resilience. Karina slowly crouched down, leveling herself with Wendy.
“Even if it feels like no one else
cares, you still have to take care of yourself,” she said gently. “Even if it’s not for others, staying out here isn’t safe. What if someone with bad intentions finds you? Come on, let’s go back.”
Karina extended her hand, her expression radiating warmth and patience. In that moment, she was so gentle, even someone as guarded and bitter as Wendy couldn’t refuse.
And just like that, Wendy allowed herself to be led back.
*
“Where did you find her?” a nurse asked, clearly surprised when Karina returned with Wendy in tow.
Karina glanced at Wendy, noting the unease and nervousness flickering in her eyes. It was clear Wendy didn’t want her hiding spot revealed.
So, Karina gave a small, kind lie. “She was probably scared and just found a spot to hide. I happened to find her.”
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