All Chapters of Pathetically Beautiful : Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

Frozen to my spot, I looked at the warden I had seen the first day I got her over a week ago. He still looked at me with the same sickening smirk everywhere I went. He was right there, always watching me with those cold, piercing eyes. I could feel his gaze burning into my back as I tried to walk away from him, my heart pounding in fear.As I quickened my pace, I could hear his heavy footsteps following behind me. Panic set in as I realised he was getting closer, and the thought of him touching me sent shivers down my spine. I couldn't let him catch me, couldn't bear the thought of his hands on me again.I focused all my energy on reaching my room, pushing through the crowd of people around me. But no one seemed to notice the danger that lurked behind me, the predator stalking his prey.Before I could get anywhere near my room, I felt his hand grab my arm, pulling me to a stop. His smirk widened as he looked down at me, seeing the fear in my eyes. "Where do you think you're going, Wil

The nurse did the bedtime check as she did every night. I sat on my bed, staring off into the darkness. When I could feel myself starting to panic, I closed my eyes tightly and tried to focus on my breath. But no matter how hard I tried, Steve's voice kept echoing in my head, taunting me with his words from our last fight."Willow, you're pathetic. You'll never be good enough for anyone," he sneered in my mind.I covered my ears, trying to block out the sound, but it was like a relentless storm that wouldn't let up. The air around me felt heavy and suffocating, making it hard to breathe. I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. I had cried enough over him.Suddenly, a wave of emotions washed over me, and before I knew it, I was screaming at the top of my lungs. The sound echoed through the room, piercing and raw. Lights flicked on and people rushed in, trying to calm me down. They touched me gently, but their presence only made things worse.I coul

Willows povThe doctor, Brax, and Miss Callie have been talking in circles for hours about what they think is best for me. Miss Callie looks over at me with sympathy in her eyes before standing up and speaking out, "I think that Willow should have a say in what she wants."The room falls silent as the doctor, and Brax turns to look at me, waiting for me to speak. But even though I've started talking again, I'm still not ready to open up completely.When I remain quiet, the doctor lets out a sigh. "There is no point in us making any choices because her mother and father are the ones who signed her in here. They get the final say."But I can't hold back any longer. "He's not my father," I blurt out, surprising myself with the sudden burst of courage.Miss Callie places a gentle hand on my shoulder, offering me comfort and support. "Willow, you have a right to speak up for yourself. Your voice deserves to be heard."I look down at my hands in my lap, not wanting to be part of this conve

Braxs povI drove as fast as I could, not caring about my own safety. All I could think of was getting to Willow. Even though she wasn't supposed to be in the hospital like the people who had called me thought, I still needed to get to her to make sure she was safe.As I rounded the corner, I saw the plume of black smoke billowing into the sky, highlighted by the glows of flickering flames. The hospital was up in flames, and chaos reigned around it. I slammed the brakes and jumped out of the car, my heart pounding like a jackhammer in my chest. My eyes scanned the panicked crowd, desperately searching for any sign of Willow."Where is she?" I muttered under my breath, frustration and fear knotting in my stomach.Then I saw him—Dillon. He was standing a few yards away, looking disoriented and terrified. I sprinted over to him, my breath coming out in ragged gasps."Dillon!" I shouted, grabbing his arm. "Where's Willow?"Dillon's face was filled with fear, his eyes wide and almost unsee

The sound of beeping machines filled my ears. It was a sound I had started to become familiar with. Feeling started to come back into my body, and with it, pain. An ache settled into my bones, radiating with each heartbeat. I groaned softly, trying to shift, but a weight held me in place.Something warm and heavy encased my hand. Strangely, it brought me a small measure of comfort, grounding me as the fog of unconsciousness began to lift. I forced my eyes to open, blinking against the harsh white light of the room. My vision gradually came into focus, and I saw him.Brax’s head rested on the edge of my bed. His strong hand was wrapped around mine. I struggled to find my voice, but when I did, it was weak and hoarse."Brax?" I managed to whisper.At the sound of my voice, his head snapped up. Relief washed over his face like a tidal wave, his eyes softening as they met mine. He sat up straight, still holding my hand firmly."Willow, thank god," he breathed, his voice thick with emotion