Chapter 2

That night, I was forcibly woken by a powerful suffocating sensation, waking in a daze.

I felt lips gently biting mine. After a while, I realized there was a person on top of me.

Suddenly awake, I instinctively pushed him away, crying out in alarm, “Liam Sterling!”

“Shh, too loud and you’ll wake Mom and Dad next door. Be a good girl, Ivy,” the man’s low, hoarse voice whispered, alluring and provocative.

My heart tightened for a moment. I quickly pressed down on his wandering hand. “Don’t…”

“What’s wrong? I kept you satisfied all day, and now you don’t care about me at night?” The man’s breath was hot, subtly laced with displeasure.

Normally, I wouldn’t resist, but now…

Forcing down my emotions, I shifted my body, lowered my gaze, and lied. “My period started before bed, so we can’t.”

The man on top of me clearly frowned, but after a moment, he lay beside me, holding me tightly.

He gently rubbed my lower abdomen. “Does it hurt, Ivy?”

Before, hearing him call me “Ivy” felt like a private endearment, but now the name felt grating.

Closing my eyes, I mumbled a response, pretending to be overcome with sleep and already asleep.

My phone vibrated beside me. Almost instantly, Liam picked it up and went out to the balcony.

Although his voice was very low, the bedroom was silent, and his slightly panicked voice was still clearly audible.

“Daisy, don’t be scared, I’ll be right there, wait for me…”

A few seconds later, as the bedroom door opened and closed, complete silence returned to the room.

I opened my eyes, staring at the crystal chandelier hanging above, my heart involuntarily clenching.

Daisy, the childhood sweetheart Liam’s friends talked about, she was back in the country.

I didn’t sleep well that night.

Half-asleep, half-awake, I developed a high fever.

By morning, cold sweat had almost soaked the bed.

When Liam returned, he saw me delirious with fever and hurriedly rushed me to the hospital.

When I groggily woke up and found my surroundings unfamiliar, I vaguely asked him, “Where am I?”

His face was filled with concern. “Did the fever mess with your head? We’re at the hospital. You’re a grown woman, why didn’t you say anything when you got sick?”

As he spoke, he reached out and felt my forehead. Seeing my temperature had dropped a bit, he sighed slightly in relief.

He stood up and said, “The IV is almost done. I’ll go call the nurse to change it for you. Just lie still, alright?”

With that, he stood and left.

I looked at the almost empty IV drip bag in front of me, somewhat dazed.

Could such urgent, genuine concern really be faked?

“Miss, you have blood flowing back. Do you need me to call a nurse?”

Someone next to me pulled me out of my thoughts. I then realized the IV was almost finished, and a good portion of blood had flowed back into the tubing.

Seeing no sign of Liam, I could only get up, holding the IV pole, and dizzily went to find a nurse.

Seeing the blood almost filling the bag, the nurse’s face went pale. “What’s wrong with your family member? I told them to keep an eye on it! How could they…”

I didn’t hear the rest of the nurse’s words. I just stared blankly at Liam not far away, whose face was filled with tender concern as he embraced a young girl.

“Liam, it doesn’t hurt, I just accidentally cut myself while peeling fruit,” the young girl’s voice was soft and delicate, her face beaming with happiness.

“Don’t touch sharp objects again,” Liam frowned and pursed his lips, his voice possessive as he rushed her to register, get checked, and pick up medicine.

The nurse, seeing me watching the two of them, changed my IV bag while grumbling, “Young girls nowadays are so delicate. That cut would’ve almost healed if she came any later. It’s different when someone truly cares, isn’t it?”

I lowered my gaze, looking at my swollen, purplish hand from the blood flashback, and couldn’t help but want to laugh.

Yes, it certainly was different.

Back in the infusion room, the nurse was afraid I might get drowsy from the medication and have another flashback.

She asked, “Where’s your family member? Or a friend or relative to watch you? Otherwise, another blood flashback could be very dangerous.”

I lowered my eyes and said calmly, “I can manage on my own.”

The nurse paused, about to speak.

Liam rushed in. “Ivy, is the IV done?”

Seeing him, the nurse frowned. “Are you the patient’s family member? Don’t run off like that. The patient almost had a dangerous blood flashback earlier.”

Perhaps seeing my bruised and swollen hand, Liam quickly took my hand, his face etched with concern. “I’m so sorry. Something came up, and I completely forgot for a moment. The second I remembered you, I rushed over.”

I pursed my lips, didn’t mention what I’d just seen, just hummed in response, and said nothing more.

The nurse gave her instructions and left. But a few minutes later, a soft voice sounded from the doorway.

“Liam.”

It was Daisy.

Seeing her, Liam quickly stood up and went to meet her. “Why aren’t you resting in your room?”

Daisy smiled faintly. “The doctor said I’m fine, no need to stay overnight. I’m heading back now.”

“I’ll take you,” he said, almost without hesitation.

Daisy paused, her gaze turning to me. “And who is this?”

“My sister-in-law. She’s getting an IV here. I just came to check on her. Come on, I’ll take you home.” With that, he grabbed his jacket, looked at me, paused for a few seconds, then said, “I’ll come back for you in a bit.”

I watched them leave, not saying a single word the entire time. My chest felt constricted, making it hard to breathe.

I had my IV for three hours at the hospital. When it was finished, Liam never came back. I couldn't decide whether to laugh or cry.

Dragging my weak, groggy body back to the Sterling home, I finally couldn’t hold on any longer and fell asleep.

It took me several days at home to recover.

During those days, Liam never returned. Mrs. Sterling asked me several times, wondering why he hadn't been home for so many days straight.

I just stayed silent, not saying anything, remembering how anxious and concerned Liam had looked with Daisy at the hospital.

I couldn’t help but find it ironic.

After fussing about him, Mrs. Sterling pulled me aside. “After you agreed to the blind date last time, Mom already set things up. I’ll invite him to come over to the house for a chat later, so you two can get to know each other?”

Since I had already agreed, I nodded and accepted.

That afternoon, he arrived.

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