Chapter 41
Yvonne had merely suffered a mild case of food poisoning, but the medicine prescribed by the doctor had a purgative effect.
She had spent the entire night running to the bathroom multiple times. She didn’t know if the toxins had been completely expelled, but she felt close to collapsing from exhaustion.
Since she was instructed not to eat anything for 12 hours, she lay weakly on the bed, feeling as if her body had been drained of all energy, not even having the strength to lift her hand.
The hospital called to follow up on her condition, and Yvonne, with great effort, mustered the energy to respond listlessly before quickly hanging up the phone.
She had originally planned to head to her next destination today but had unexpectedly encountered this misfortune. She fell into a fitful sleep once more, her consciousness drifting between wakefulness and dreams.
In her daze, she seemed to hear the clear ring of a doorbell. The sound was initially faint, as if it were drifting from a distant place, ethereal and barely perceptible.
Yvonne didn’t want to pay attention. She was in an unfamiliar place and didn’t think anyone would be looking for her. She dismissed the sound as an auditory hallucination brought on by her weakened state.
However, the doorbell was persistent, ringing again and again without pause. In the overly quiet room, the sound was particularly grating, like little hammers striking her already fragile nerves with each ring.
Yvonne struggled to get up and, with unsteady steps, made her way to the door, her patience wearing thin.
She peered through the peephole and was surprised to see Wesley standing there, holding a takeout box. His posture was upright, and he looked composed despite the unexpected visit.
Yvonne was taken aback for a moment before opening the door and croaking, “Dr. Godfrey? What are you doing here?”
Her face was pale as paper, her lips devoid of color, and her hair was disheveled over her shoulders. She looked weak and helpless, truly pitiable.
Wesley couldn’t help but think how alone she must have been, wondering how she had managed to get through the long night by herself.
“The nurse called during the hospital follow–up and said you weren’t doing well. She asked me to come and check on you,” he explained.
Yvonne’s mind was still foggy, as if enveloped in a cloud of confusion. Without questioning further, she stepped aside to let him in.
Wesley entered the room, placed the takeout box on the table, and looked around briefly before pulling up a chair. “Sit down. Let me have a look at you,”
he said.
Yvonne obediently took a seat, and Wesley continued, “Extend your hand.”
Yvonne slowly stretched out her wrist, which looked even more delicate and fragile at that moment. Wesley gently pressed his fingers to her wrist, feeling her pulse.
“Do you know traditional medicine?” Yvonne asked.
“Indeed. It’s a family legacy,” Wesley replied.
Yvonne nodded and fell silent, simply watching him.
His fingers were slightly cool, and as they lightly rested on her wrist, the chill seemed to seep into her veins through her pulse, causing her to shiver.
She looked at Wesley’s focused profile. His eyelashes cast a small shadow in the sunlight, and his eyes were intently fixed on her wrist. His earnest expression made her inexplicably nervous.
1/2
20:47 Mon, 7 Jül X
Chapter 41
76%
Fortunately, he soon released her hand and said, “The toxins are mostly out, but you still need to take good care of yourself. For the next few days, avoid greasy and spicy foods and stick to liquids. If you feel sick, let me know immediately.”
“Okay,” Wonne replied.
Yvonne turned to get her phone, Wesley noticed her movement and paused slightly before casually asking, “Why didn’t you tell your husband about this?”
As Yvonne opened PayPal on her phone, she replied calmly, “I’m divorced.”
Wesley was taken aback for a moment. Yvonne raised her phone towards him. “This isn’t the hospital. PayPal.”
Wesley gazed at her quietly for a moment.
“Dr. Godfrey?” Wonne’s voice brought Wesley’s attention back. He took out his phone and handed it to her. Yvonne instinctively tried to make a transfer, only to find herself on the “add friend” page.
“We’ve transferred money to each other so many times. Let’s just add each other as friends,” Wesley suggested,
Yvonne glanced at him, pursed her lips, and added him as a WhatsApp contact before transferring 30 dollars to him. Instead of confirming the payment, Wesley placed his phone face down on the table and began unpacking the takeout box.
“You’ll be able to eat in about half an hour, but for now, stick to semi–liquid foods,” he said as he arranged the contents of the box on the table.
“Got it,” Yvonne replied.
Inside the takeout box was a bowl of steaming cereal. Wesley set it aside to cool and then took out several other dishes from the box, placing them neatly on the table.
2/2
