Chapter 20

The smell of disinfectant stung Clifford's nostrils. He opened his eyes to see a stark white ceiling. When he tried to move his fingers, he felt excruciating pain shoot through his entire body. "You're awake, I see." Lorenzo was sitting by his bedside, slowly peeling an apple. His eyes seemed to reflect the cold glint of the fruit knife in his hand. "You seem to be a very lucky man, considering that even such an intense fire didn't kill you." Clifford's throat was dry. "Where's Beth?" "She's taking care of Magnus in the ward next door," replied Lorenzo, smiling sharply. "I deliberately started a fire, then drugged the both of you so that your limbs would be so weak that you couldn't run away. Beth immediately decided to save Magnus." The strip of apple peel snapped off and fell into the trash can in front of Lorenzo. "You should've seen how nervous she was," Lorenzo continued casually. "She stayed by Magnus' side the entire night, her eyes swollen from crying." Every word out o