Watching them, I felt a strange emptiness, as though the energy had been drained from my body. Maybe it was the fever, or maybe it was the ache in my chest at seeing him care for her more than me. My knees shook, and I had to lean against the wall, saying nothing.
Caleb didn’t even glance at me again as he carried Marina away. It didn’t seem to matter that I was sick. It didn’t seem to matter at all.
No matter how perfect Caleb appeared, around Marina, his true emotions always slipped through—betraying the illusion he maintained. And he didn’t even realize it.
I forced a bitter smile, turning toward the doctor’s office to attend to my fever alone.
Sure enough, the thermometer confirmed it: 41.3°C. The burn on my wrist had become infected, worsened by emotional stress, and now a viral infection had taken hold. The doctor instructed me to drink boiled herbs and a medicinal infusion.
Out of habit, I reached for my phone to call Caleb—but stopped before even dialing.
Habit was dangerous.
I chuckled at myself softly, put the phone away, and headed to the patient lounge, carrying my herbs and infusion alone.
The morning dragged on endlessly as I painstakingly finished the herbal infusion and medicinal concoction the doctor had prescribed. Dizziness swirled through my head, making each movement a challenge, and I nearly lost my balance more than once, gripping the edge of the sleek marble counter to steady myself.
I picked up my phone to call Caleb, only to feel my chest tighten when I noticed there were no messages from him—not a single text checking in, not even a brief note about where he had gone. My stomach twisted with disappointment.
With a sigh, I pressed his number, trying to keep my voice steady. “Caleb, I’m still at the clinic,” I said, forcing calm into my tone.
There was a pause on the other end, and then he spoke, his voice faltering slightly. “I… I was planning to come back for you after I dropped Marina off, but… she wasn’t feeling well. Her stomach… started acting up.”
Wait. He took Marina home?
Before he could continue, a sharp, cheerful voice rang out in the background: “Sir, your lunch is ready! Please enjoy your meal.”