The Heiress Revived from the Ashes (Lauren Bennett) novel Chapter 53

Chapter 53 Smart Girl? Prove It, Willow

Finished

“When someone’s hyperventilating, they breathe out too much CO2. That throws off their body’s balance, causes the blood pH to spike, and boom–respiratory alkalosis. By covering his mouth and nose with a bag, he re–breathes the CO2 he just exhaled. That slows the loss, helps reset the pH, and gets things back to normal.”

She turned to Willow. “Didn’t you are every science class at Brightvale High Weren’t you in the top ten of your year? And you don’t know something this basic?”

Willow’s face turned beet red, her mouth tight, but she didn’t say a word.

A few minutes later, David finally started to come around.

He ripped the trash bag off his head and flung it to the floor. Then he staggered to his feet, looking like he was ready to take a swing at Lauren.

But Lauren’s voice cut through the air, cool and steady. “You’d be smart to calm down. Mr. David. If you trigger another episode, you might not get so lucky next time.”

You… you ungrateful little brat

Lauren shot him a deadpan look, scoffed, and turned to head upstairs.

David shouted after her, “If you’ve got that much attitude, don’t stay upstairs! Go back to the damn storage room where you belong!”

Lauren stopped halfway up the stairs and looked down at him. “Back then, I stayed out of that room because I didn’t want to owe you anything. Now? I’m staying because I saved your life. And as far as I’m concerned, your life is worth exactly one. room. If I wanted more, I’d take the whole house. This house would be mine–and the ones getting kicked out would be all of

you.

“You… you’re impossible!” David’s rage spiked again, and he looked like he was about to collapse.

Elliot jumped in, grabbed the trash bag off the floor, and quickly placed it back over David’s head.

David started breathing heavily, the bag sucking in and puffing out with each breath. He looked absolutely ridiculous.

Lauren curled her lips into a smile.

Now that I didn’t care anymore, I could go completely off the rails. Watching them this miserable? It felt damn good.

Back in her room, Lauren collapsed onto the soft king–size bed and let out along, tired sigh.

God, this bed’s amazing

If she hadn’t been stolen at birth, she probably would’ve spent every one of her twenty–something years waking up in a bed

like this.

She closed her eyes, letting the rare moment of quiet wash over her.

Ten minutes passed before someone knocked–three soft, evenly spaced taps. Just from the sound, she knew it had to be Marilyn. The Bennetts never knocked. They just barged in like they owned everything.

“Come in.”

Sure enough, Marilyn walked in holding a steaming bowl of noodle soup.

“Ms. Bennett, you should eat while it’s still hot.”

Lauren sat up and leaned against the headboard, taking the bowl from her hands.

Just like always, the noodles were perfect–warm, with crisp greens, a soft–boiled egg, fresh scallions on top, and a touch of sesame oil that made it smell incredible.

You only had a few bites earlier, Marilyn said gently. “You must still be hungry”

12-26 PM M

Chapter 53 Smart Girl? Prove It, Willow

Lauren’s eyes filled with tears. Thank you, Marilyn.”

In this house, Marilyn was the only one who’d ever treated her like a human being.

Finished

She looked out for her, made sure she had food, warmth, care. Every time someone laid a hand on her, Marilyn stood in the

way.

If it weren’t for her, Lauren probably wouldn’t have made it out of half the beatings alive.

“It’s because of you I’ve managed to stay alive in this place. Her throat tightened as she said it.