Chapter 96 A Night of Care
With the thermometer clamped between Ava's lips, her face a tableau of fatigue. Yet, her cheeks ballooned in a display of frustration, a sight that was both endearingly pathetic and heartbreakingly fragile.
After a sufficient amount of time had elapsed, Alexander gently removed the thermometer from her mouth, his eyes scanning the reading—101 degrees Fahrenheit. A low-grade fever. Despite the relatively mild temperature, Alexander's brow creased with worry. "We should get you to the hospital for some IV fluids," he suggested.
"I don't want to go to the hospital," Ava retorted vehemently.
"But you're running a fever, you need—"
"Why do you always insist on taking me to the hospital, Alexander?" Ava interjected. "You've given me a serious phobia of the place. Have you forgotten? It was because you took me there that I'm in this state. What more do you want?"
Ava's accusations were intentional. The mere thought of a hospital visit filled her with dread. What if they discovered her pregnancy?
Alexander paused, then proposed an alternative. "If you don't want to go to the hospital, that's fine. I can have a doctor come over to administer the IV."
"The butler already gave me some medicine, and I've taken it. I just want to sleep now.
"In truth, she had merely sipped the water, discarding the medicine into the trash can. Observing the empty glass on the nightstand, Alexander sighed and placed his hand on her forehead, whispering, "I'm sorry."
Ava brushed his hand away, turned her back to him, and lay in bed, biting her finger with reddening eyes, ignoring him. His apology was of no use now.
Alexander sighed again, sitting by her bed for a considerable amount of time. Only when he noticed Ava had fallen into a fitful sleep did he carefully cover her with the blanket and retreat to the bathroom.
Emerging refreshed from his shower, he noticed the onset of a storm outside. The windows had been left ajar, allowing the curtains to billow in the gusty wind.
The noise and the chill had roused Ava, who began to cough and shift restlessly under the blankets.
Alexander hurriedly closed the windows, shielding them from the fierce wind. He then returned to Ava's side, laying down next to her and pulling the covers around her. However, she seemed uncomfortable, her brow furrowing as she squirmed incessantly.
With no other options, Alexander lay beside her and held her close, wrapping the blankets snugly around her. He touched her forehead again, his eyes filled with growing concern.
"Honey," Ava mumbled suddenly, her voice a weary whisper, as if she were calling out to him.
"I'm here, Ava," Alexander responded, holding her hand firmly.
Ava's brows were furrowed, tears shimmering at the corners of her eyes as she snuggled into his embrace. "Honey, where are you?"
"Ava, I'm right here beside you," Alexander soothed, cupping her face and whispering gently into her ear.
"No, you're gone. You're always leaving!"
"Ava." A pang of pain twisted in Alexander's heart.
"I hate you. I hate you!" Ava's fists clenched, pounding on his chest. "I hate you!"
Alexander closed his eyes in resignation, planting a gentle kiss on her forehead, allowing her to vent her frustration on him.
"Ava, it's all my fault."He couldn't forgive himself for impulsively taking her out, which had resulted in her catching a cold and fever. He wished he could bear the sickness for her.
Eventually, Ava exhausted herself and collapsed into a deep sleep in his arms. After a while, Alexander rose from the bed and retreated to the bathroom.He returned shortly with a damp towel, draping it across her forehead to cool her down. He rinsed and wrung the towel several times, tending to her throughout the night.
It wasn't until the late hours that Ava finally found peace in her sleep. Alexander set the towel aside, lying next to her. He slipped his hand under her nightgown to check her temperature, then pulled her close against his chest.
