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CHAPTER 13
~Spring's POV~
Rose stilled when Rhys said those words. Her eyes widened as they darted between him and me. "No. I… It can't be."
Rhys took a step toward me, and to my surprise and Rose's, his arms wrapped around my shoulders as he gently hugged me.
For a second, I couldn't breathe. I forgot how to as the strange warmth and action made my heart skip.
But then, it wasn't just the contact. It was the weight of everything crashing down, the sudden warmth of being believed, finally, after all the screaming and pretending and silence.
Someone finally believed me and not her.
Rose's voice rang out in a shrill cry from the corner of the room. "Rhys?"
He turned slowly to face her, his eyes narrowed at her, and his expression as stoic as ever.
"I know what you did," he said simply.
Rose's whole body stiffened. "H-Huh?"
"I heard it all," he continued, his voice quiet but cutting. "Spring never looks for trouble. You do. And it seems like you've been lying from the start. You told me Spring gave you the laptop."
"I…" Rose's voice cracked. "She gave it to me."
I didn't even hesitate. "Did I?" I asked, stepping closer now, my gaze locked on hers. "I remember—very clearly—how you took it without asking. And when I confronted you, you laughed and said you'd rather break it than hand it back. That's why I left it for you."
Rose's mouth twitched, but she didn't deny it.
Rhys shook his head, disappointment plain on his face. "Rose… you need to stop. Learn how to act properly. You already have our love. You don't need to keep trying to tear her down to feel like you matter."
For a moment, Rose looked like she might lash out again. Her fists balled at her sides, her cheeks flushed. But instead of yelling, she dropped her gaze. Her voice was small. "I'm sorry."
"To me?" Rhys asked, raising a brow.
Rose's shoulders slumped. "I'm sorry," she muttered. "I won't do it again."
"Don't apologize to me," Rhys corrected her. "Apologize to her."
She turned to me reluctantly. "I'm sorry, Spring," she said through clenched teeth, her eyes already welling up again.
I didn't answer.
She ran out the next second, tears trailing behind her like a storm cloud she couldn't outrun.
The room was quiet again. The silence wasn't uncomfortable this time—it was just... still.
I bent down, brushing a shaky hand over the shattered pieces of my laptop, the one I'd pined over all these years. I reached out to pick up the top shell, but the jagged edge caught my finger.
I hissed as pain flared across the pad of my thumb, and a drop of blood welled up almost immediately.
Rhys was beside me before I could blink. "Careful."
He gently took my hand in his, pulling it away from the debris. When I tried to hide the cut, embarrassed, he shook his head softly.
He brought my hand closer.
And then, without saying a word, he bent his head and took my bleeding finger into his mouth.
His tongue moved gently around the wound, slowly and not rushed, as he rolled his tongue around my finger in his mouth.
I flinched, but then surprisingly, I didn't find this awkward. It was almost natural… careful and warm.
By the time Rhys pulled back, the bleeding had stopped. He met my gaze, and something bitter flickered behind his eyes.
"I'm sorry," he apologized, his voice rough now. "I didn't know. I… I was angry. I thought you didn't care about the gift. That it didn't mean anything to you after everything you said."
I gave a small smile and reached out with my free hand, curling my fingers around his. "I would never not care. It was from you."
I didn't know if I was the one saying those words or Spring's body just wanted to, but I found this moment natural, like it had once been for the original Spring.
Rhys nodded slowly, squeezing my hand. "I know that now. Let me get you a new one. Something better."
I tilted my head, teasing, just a little. "Another big promotion salary?"
Rhys chuckled softly in a way that made him seem carefree and cute. "No. I don't need one of those anymore."
"Why not?"
"Because," he said, smiling now, "I own my hospital." My eyes widened slightly. "I know I kept it from you the past year. I'm sorry."
But before he could say anything more, I reached up and pressed my hand gently over his lips.
"Then let me gift you something instead. When I earn my first income."
Rhys blinked, caught off guard. "You…?"
I just smiled and nodded. "Thank you. For stepping up for me today."
"It's nothing," he murmured. "Always."
Just then, the door creaked open again and Eryx stepped in.
"What the hell happened? Why is Rose…?"
He barely finished his sentence before his gaze dropped to the shattered laptop. Then to the thin trail of blood on my finger.
He moved fast.
"What the heck happened in here? Are you hurt, Spring?" he asked, kneeling beside me, eyes scanning me from head to toe.
I smiled up at him. "It was a mistake. The laptop slipped."
Eryx tsked, clearly not buying it. "You need to be more careful," he muttered, taking my free hand in his as gently as Rhys had.
"I'm sorry," I said. "It's just… I was careless. If it is okay with you and you do not mind, can I borrow your laptop?"
"Borrow?" Eryx echoed, raising an eyebrow. "Spring, one word from you and it's yours. In fact, I'll get you a brand new one. Something that suits your taste."
Rhys snorted. "Are you trying to show off?"
Eryx smirked. "No. Just pampering our baby sister."
"In that case, she can take mine," Rhys countered. "I already said I'd get her one."
I looked between them, warmth blooming in my chest despite the chaos. In my past life, I had a brother, and he was just as doting.
I could imagine the pain he'd be in just thinking of my death. Somehow, just recalling my brother, my father's little thunder, made me smile at the similarity between Spring's brothers.
This was how siblings should have been and not the other way around.
"You're both fighting over a laptop," I said with a laugh. "Fine. Let Eryx get it. It's more his field anyway."
Rhys pretended to sulk, lowering his gaze. I gently nudged him with my elbow.
"But," I added, "I still want to fix this one. If I can."
They both looked at me.
"Even if it never turns on again," I said, "I want it reassembled. I'll keep it. I'll treasure it still."
Rhys's eyes softened again, and something like joy flickered across his face. "You can still get me something else, though," I said, glancing at him.
Both of them perked up immediately. "What is it?" they asked in unison.
I smiled. "Just be my big brothers. And Rhys… Eryx… please teach me."
Eryx pulled me into a hug almost immediately, pressing his chin to the top of my head. "As you wish, little genius."
Rhys reached out, ruffling my hair gently. "Always. I will teach you about my field too."
And for the first time in a long while, I felt safe. Not because everything was perfect—but because I wasn't standing alone anymore.
And I knew Spring, wherever she was, would feel happy, and as for Rose... we were just getting started.