Chapter 16
Isolde thought, Beth’s just an ordinary person with no family background. How dare she use that tone
e with me?
It seemed that Isolde would have to teach Beth a lesson so she would understand the consequences of offending her.
Meanwhile, Marcus was reviewing documents on his phone in his hospital bed when he noticed that Celeste had returned, even though she’d only left a short while ago. Marcus raised an eyebrow and asked, “I don’t recall calling you back.”
Celeste took a seat on the couch and replied. “There’s a crazy woman outside snapping at people, so I thought Id hide out here for a bit,”
Marcus looked puzzled, wondering, A crazy woman‘ Who?
Marcus didn’t ask further and continued reading the documents on his phone, while Celeste leaned back on the couch, closed her eyes, and rested, listening to music.
The two stayed in their own spaces quiety, not disturbing each other.
Around five in the afternoon, Celeste woke up and saw that Marcus was asleep. Celeste went to the cafeteria, bought oatmeal for Marcus. and called out softly, “Mr. Hale, it’s time to eat.
But Marcus didn’t respond, his forehead covered in sweat. Sensing something wrong, Celeste touched Marcus’s forehead. “Why is it so hot
Marcus was running a fever. Celeste wondered if it was because she’d wiped him down earlier, possibly causing him to catch a chill, or maybe his wound was infected, leading to the fever.
Then Celeste lifted Marcus‘ shirt gently to inspect the wound and noticed some redness, a sign of inflammation.
Celeste took out a homemade ointment from her bag and applied it to Marcus wound, trusting it to be more effective than the hospital’s medication.
After applying the ointment, Celeste took out a fever reducer and placed it in Marcus‘ mouth, but he didn’t swallow. Frustrated, she tried giving Marcus some water, but Marcus wouldn’t drink.
With no other options, Celeste drank a sip of water herself, leaned close, and transferred the medicine to Marcus‘ mouth by pressing her lips to his.
Marcus‘ throat moved as he swallowed the pill, and in his dazed state, he saw Celeste kissing him. Am I just feverish and imagining things?‘ he wondered.
After feeding him the medicine, Celeste used a tissue to wipe the water from Marcus lips. Then she went to the bathroom, brought a basin of water, and began cooling his forehead with damp cloths.
As time passed, Celeste’s phone vibrated at eight in the evening. After checking his forehead and confirming the fever had lowered, Celeste answered the call, “Hello?”
“Celeste, it’s eight o’clock. Are you still not back? Does something happen?” Amara asked,
Since as far back as Celeste could remember, Grant and Eleanor had never been ones to check on her whereabouts. The sudden concer from Amara felt a little unfamiliar.
“Don’t worry, Mom. Everything’s fine. I just have something I need to take care of, so I won’t be coming home tonight. You should rest early Celeste reassured her.
Amara wanted to ask where Celeste would be staying if she wasn’t coming home, but held back.
As parents, if you worry too much, they’ll start pushing back, Amara thought. ‘Celeste’s old enough to take care of herself now. As long as Celeste’s safe, I don’t mind where she is.
Then Amara said gently, “Alright, stay safe, and call if you need anything.”
“Okay.” Celeste replied.
After ending the call, Celeste looked up to see Marcus awake and watching her. Putting her phone down quickly, she asked, “Mr. Hale, you’re awake! How are you feeling”
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Chapter 16
Marcus hoarse throat caused him to cough. “Alright, he managed to say.
“You must be hungry,” Celeste said. I bought some oatmeal this afternoon, though it’s probably cold now. I’ll warm it up.
With that. Celeste got up, took the cold porridge, and put it in the microwave in the comer.
The VIP hospital suite resembled a luxury hotel room, equipped with a couch, a phone, closets, a microwave, and even toiletries.
Once the carmeal was wa
warm, Celeste returned to Marcus‘ bedside and prepared to feed him. Marcus, still pale, looked up at her and said, “Give it here. I can eat on my own.”
Then Celeste nodded and handed Marcus the oatmeal. She added, “Your body’s weak from the surgery. Once your wound heals a bit
I’ll bring something nutritious. But for now, oatmeal will have to do.”
more
As Marcus ate, he kept looking at Celeste, saying, “It’s late. You should go home.”
“You’re running a fever. Even though it’s down now, it might come back. So I’m staying tonight to keep an eye on you,” Celeste replied. With that, Celeste reached over to feel Marcus‘ forehead again. “Still a bit warm. Rest a while, and I’ll give you some more medicine later, she said.
Then Celeste pulled her hand back and told Marcus. “Go ahead, finish eating
Marcus noticed how naturally Celeste cared for him, the familiarity in her tone and actions. It was strange.
Though Marcus had known Celeste for a year technically, the two had hardly interacted So why does Celeste’s presence feel so familiar?” he thought.
Celeste didn’t care what Marcus was thinking. While he was eating, she went to sit on the sofa.
After he finished eating, Celeste moved back to the couch to wait. Once Marcus was done, she gathered the dishes, tidied over a basin of water, and helped him wash up briefly.
“Rest a bit, and I’ll wake you u
up to take more medicine later, Celeste said.
Then Celeste went to the couch, set an alarm, and covered herself with a blanket before closing her eyes to rest.
When the alarm sounded, Celeste got up and approached Marcus to give him more medicine,
up, brought
Since Marcus had slipped into another fever, unable to take the medicine on his own, Celeste leaned close again and transferred the medicine to his mouth. After that, she continued to cool his forehead with damp cloths.
The night passed slowly, and as dawn approached, Celeste checked his temperature one last time. And she saw the fever had finally down.
y gone
Finally, Celeste set the cloth aside, leaned against the edge of his bed, falling asleep there.
Marcus woke up to the light of morning, feeling exhausted, with a scratchy throat. Turning his head slightly, he noticed Celeste, who had fallen asleep at the side of the bed.
Has she taken care of him all night? Marcus thought. His cough woke Celeste, who opened her eyes tiredly, looking toward him. “You’re awake! Want something to eat? I’ll go get it for you,” Celeste asked. Then she stifled a yawn, her tired eyes bloodshot and filled with fatigue.
Seeing this, Marcus s
spoke softly. “You stayed up all night to look after me. You should head home and rest now.”
Celeste realized she had little time left, with the upcoming entrance exam and Chloe’s press conference later. So there’d be no time to
Suddenly, Celeste’s phone began to vibrate. Seeing Chloe’s name on the screen, she answered the call.
“Celeste, the press conference is about to start. Where are you?” Chloe asked, her voice anxious.
