Don't Mess with the Girl with Candy novel Chapter 1843

All she could do was watch helplessly as Ari writhed on the ground, entirely engulfed in flames. He slowly lost consciousness until the fire consumed him completely. By the time they found him, his body had been reduced to a charred husk.

She covered her face, breaking down into hysterical sobs.

"Miss!"

"Miss!"

Watching her grip the sheets, drenched in sweat and trapped in a nightmare, Channing kept calling her name.

"Coralie, Coralie..." He pulled her trembling body into his arms, whispering in her ear, "Baby, wake up!"

She snapped her eyes open, locking onto his face.

She froze, looking around in a daze.

He wasn't here.

Ari wasn't here.

So she had another nightmare. Another dream about the fire at the Haven Orphanage.

So many people died.

She was supposed to die too, but Ari saved her.

He traded his life for hers.

"What's wrong?"

Resting on one knee beside her, he held her close, asking softly, "Did you have a nightmare?"

When he first came to work for her, she used to have nightmares all the time.

Coralie stared at him, a few seconds passing before she pushed him away, saying weakly, "I'm fine. I want some water."

"I'll go get it."

He immediately went downstairs, and she opened her nightstand drawer.

She took out her psychiatric medication disguised as vitamins and popped one into her mouth.

By the time he returned, she was leaning against the headboard, her color improved slightly, though she still looked a bit out of it.

"It's warm. Drink it straight." He helped her drink the water, then took a hot towel and gently wiped the cold sweat from her face. "What did you dream about? Can you tell me?"

She shook her head, leaning quietly against his chest without saying a word.

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