Female Novel"Once you're up, you can head home. Doc says as long as the fever's down, you're good to go."
Carol's tone was nonchalant as she asked, "Can you walk on your own?"
He nodded, slowly peeling back the covers and standing up.
After days without proper food, even with IV nutrients, he felt weak.
He wanted to ask Carol for support, but considering she hadn't kicked him to the curb yet, he counted his blessings and shuffled towards the door on his own.
Carol grabbed her bag from the side and followed him.
He was moving slowly, and once inside the elevator, he caught a glimpse of his pale, almost ghostly reflection in the mirror. His lips, chapped from the fever, prompted him to unconsciously brush his hair forward, trying to hide his pallor.
In the car, Manny was driving, hesitating as if wanting to say something but ultimately staying silent.
Felix, after settling in the backseat, rummaged around and found a pair of sunglasses which he promptly put on.
Carol closed the car door and signaled for Manny to drive.
Midway through the ride, she couldn't hold back anymore.
"Are you out of your mind, wearing sunglasses in the dead of night?"
Felix just pursed his lips, silent.
Carol began to wonder if the fever had cooked his brains.
The car eventually stopped outside the Miller family mansion. Carol got out first, quickly entering the house to swap her shoes in the foyer, yawning from exhaustion. Felix, still weak, took his time with his shoes but kept the sunglasses on.
As Carol flopped onto her bed, she heard Felix's footsteps heading towards the closet - probably to get his pajamas for a wash.
"It's three in the morning, quit fussing and wash it after you wake up."
No reply came from Felix as he took his clothes to the bathroom.
Frustrated but too tired to argue, Carol thought, if he freezes, it's his own fault.
Twenty minutes later, the sound of a hairdryer emanated from the bathroom, and she couldn't take it anymore.
"Felix, have you lost it, blow-drying your hair at this ungodly hour?"
She flung open the bathroom door, and though she couldn't be sure, it seemed his lips had been moisturized, no longer cracked.
—
The past few days had been rough – getting soaked in the rain, the hospital stay, and his hair had turned grimy, with a lingering alcohol scent from being wiped down. Now, he smelled fresh and clean, his hair tidy.
Carol's anger subsided.
Damn it, for the sake of that face...
She took a deep breath, returned to bed, and drifted off.
In a daze, she felt the bed dip as Felix lay beside her, pulling her into his embrace. The scent of his body wash filled her nostrils, soothing her even in her sleep.
The next morning, Carol woke up to find Felix gone. She yawned and went to freshen up in the bathroom.
After showering, she went
downstairs and saw Felix sitting on the living room sofa, engrossed ina video conference. Running the Miller Group had truly consumed him especially since kneeling outside had piled up his workload.
Breakfast wasn't ready yet, so she went for a walk. Returning, she found the meal laid out on the table.
The maid called Felix to eat, but he pretended not to hear, focused on his laptop. The maid looked at Carol; Carol didn't care to intervene - his loss.novelbin
After breakfast, she went to the garden to check on her flowers.
Once she was out of sight, Felix finally asked Manny, "When will my throat be back to normal?"
His voice was rough, almost like a cracked bell.
"Mr. Brown, give it about three days."