Chapter 7

Charlotte's POV

On the third day, the rain fell even harder.

My leg started hurting early in the morning, and I couldn't straighten my back.

I'd planned to give Xavier the documents before he left for work, but Mandy was calling from the rehabilitation room early saying she was cold.

Xavier didn't go to the office and stayed in the room to keep her company at breakfast.

I stood at the top of the stairs and watched him cool Mandy's milk for her, then separate her pills one by one onto a tissue.

That desk used to hold my rehabilitation records.

Now it held Mandy's aromatherapy diffuser, cups, and snack boxes.

I didn't go in. I put the envelope back in my bag and turned to go downstairs.

The painkillers were in the living room table drawer, still several steps from the sofa.

I held the stair railing and went down. When I reached the table, my left leg suddenly gave out.

I braced myself against the sofa and bent down to pull the drawer, only to find it locked.

The key used to be right on the table.

Now it was gone.

I looked up and called to Xavier.

"Help me get the spare key."

Xavier leaned out from upstairs, his face full of impatience.

"What now?"

"The painkillers are in the drawer. My leg hurts badly."

In the rehabilitation room, Mandy coughed softly.

Xavier glanced back, then turned around again.

"Find it yourself. Mandy just took her medicine. Don't disturb her."

I said. "The key is missing."

Xavier's voice turned cold. "With so many people in this house, your medicine is the most troublesome."

I leaned against the table for a while, then went to the entrance cabinet to find the spare key myself.

Halfway there, my left leg suddenly seized up.

I crashed into the corner of the cabinet, my knee hitting the floor hard.

A dull thud sounded in the entryway.

Xavier finally came down from upstairs.

His first glance went toward the rehabilitation room.

"Did Mandy get scared?"

Mandy stood at the doorway wearing a cardigan, saying.

"I'm fine... Charlotte seems to have fallen."

Only then did Xavier see me kneeling on the floor.

He walked over, frowning.

"You can even fall looking for a key?"

I said.

"Leg cramp."

Xavier didn't help me up.

"Stop making yourself look like this, as if the whole family owes you."

I braced myself against the cabinet door and slowly stood up.

My knee was scraped, a bit of blood seeping through my pant leg.

I reached for the spare key.

Xavier saw the blood and his expression shifted slightly.

Mandy suddenly held onto the doorframe, her voice weakening.

"Xavier, I heard that sound just now and thought of the old building that day. My heart is racing."

Xavier immediately went to help her.

"Go back and sit down."I got the keys and opened the drawer myself, taking out the painkillers.

My hand wasn't steady when pouring water. The pills dropped onto the floor.

Xavier passed through the living room helping Mandy and saw me crouching on the floor picking up pills. He only said.

"Don't dirty the floor."

I picked up the pills into a tissue but didn't take them.

After the living room grew quiet again, I threw those pills in the trash.

I didn't treat the wound or look for new medicine.

I returned to my room and took out the envelope I'd prepared long ago.

The old building compensation division form was on top, the rehabilitation room usage confirmation and personal property transfer list pressed in the middle, and the family risk waiver tucked in the back half of the stack.

I rechecked each signature line, then placed the page showing Mandy could receive compensation in the most prominent position.

Upstairs, Xavier was coaxing Mandy.

"I won't let you hear that kind of noise again."

I fastened the envelope and placed it by the door.

When Xavier came downstairs, I would hand him this envelope of documents.

I could leave him soon.