?Chapter 194:


    Muchter, under the cover of night, Katie stretched out, a satisfied smirk ying on her lips as she admired the mischief she had set in motion. She was certain Christina was doomed this time.


    Smug and self-assured, she powered down herputer and headed off to wash up.


    Exhaustion soon overtook her, and she slipped beneath the sheets, falling asleep instantly.


    The first part of the night passed in deep, dreamless sleep—until a sudden, maddening itch struck her lips.


    Katie stirred, furrowing her brow as she began to w at her mouth in irritation. But no matter how much she scratched, the itch seemed just out of reach—buried beneath the skin. It was as if something was wriggling deeper, tunneling through her lips, sending waves of difort through her nerves.


    With every desperate rub, the sensation only grew, turning into relentless agony—like some invisible worm gnawing at her very nerves and marrow.


    She wanted to scream—her lips burned with the urge to scratch, the itching unbearable! The pain was overwhelming. It felt as though the searing itch and sharp stabs were conspiring to drive her insane.


    Snapping awake from the torment, Katie stared in horror at her bloodied hands—she had wed at her lips until they split open. Scratches crisscrossed her body, yet nothing dulled the twin assault of pain and itching that seemed to burrow even deeper. She couldn’t take it anymore. Each new wave of agony was more than she could endure. She fought to keep her hands away from her mouth, but the urge to scratch was stronger than her willpower. What kind of curse made her lips throb and burn like this?


    Sobbing uncontrobly, Katie rolled off the bed, dragging herself across the floor. “Somebody—please! Mom, help me! Brendon, where are you? It’s—oh, it’s too much! Please, make it stop…”


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    Katie’s anguished screams tore through the night, jolting the entire Dawson family out of bed. They stood frozen, paralyzed by the horrifying sight before them. Blood streaked across Katie’s skin, her lips torn and still oozing, crimson staining her nails. She begged for help, her eyes wild with pain, her entire appearance both heartbreaking and terrifying.


    “Mom… Brendon… Help me…” Katie whimpered, barely able to speak.


    Joselyn rushed to her side, frantic, pulling her daughter close. “Sweetheart, what happened? What did you do to yourself?”


    Brendon stepped forward, his face dark with concern. “We need to get her to the hospital—now!”


    In record time, they rushed to the emergency room, but despite a battery of tests, the doctors found nothing.


    Outrage surged within Joselyn. “What kind of doctors are you? Useless! Can’t you see my child is suffering? There’s clearly something wrong, and yet none of you can figure it out!”


    The attending doctor, not one to tolerate insult, snapped back, “If you’re so skilled, why don’t you take her home and treat her yourself?”


    Joselyn shot back, “If I could heal her, do you think I’d bring her to the hospital? You’d all be out of work!”


    The doctor, unwilling to argue any longer, replied curtly, “You’re free to take her to another hospital if you doubt our diagnosis,” before turning and walking away with the nurses.


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