Tony Stone was a very competent manager at his job. But the only weakness that man had was his overwhelming love for romance novels!
Ryan knew that his manager always spent his free time reading novels on his cellphone. If it weren't for Tony's abilities and vast connections, Ryan would have fired that man!
Even when Tony heard Ryan's sarcasm, he looked proud. The manager opened the door for the artist, saying, "What do you think I read those novels for? Of course, to make you the most popular singer in the world!"
"Tony…" Ryan glanced at the man in surprise. He did not think that his manager was so dedicated to his job. In his heart, Ryan apologized for making fun of Tony all this time.
"Oh yeah, I read a novel about the struggle of a singer to become a famous celebrity. That novel really moved my heart and made me cry! Tomorrow you can try to learn something from it!" Tony continued furiously, "I really want to see the main character of that novel in the real world!"
Ryan took back his apology to Tony, "So you just want to make me play the main character?! You novel maniac!"
*****
It was already 10 pm when Lilia arrived at the Lakeside Villas.
Lilia's stomach ached and was burning hot, probably because she barely ate anything at the club earlier. She winced as she rubbed her stomach to ease the pain.
When Lilia got out of the car, she automatically looked up to check the window of the villa. However, the entire building was pitch black, indicating that Jean wasn't home yet.
Behind Lilia, Merry took out her notebook containing the modeling work schedule, "Sis, tomorrow morning you have no work. There is only an awards ceremony that night, so I'll pick you up at 3 pm tomorrow." Merry reminded her.
Lilia turned to her assistant and nodded, "Alright. Be careful on the road, okay?"
She waited for the car to leave before entering the villa.
Meanwhile, Merry let out a long sigh after her task was finished for the day. She stretched out and said, "Shall we have a little fun tonight, Clifford? Let's go have a drink!"
Clifford shot Merry a cold gaze. Yet the young woman was so excited that she didn't notice his gaze. Merry moved to the middle seat and tapped the man on the shoulder.
"I heard there's a new bar opening nearby! People say, there's a famous DJ at the bar! Let's go there! I guarantee it will be a new, exciting experience for you, Clifford!" Merry tried to persuade him.
As a young woman in her early twenties, Merry loved to have fun in nightclubs and bars. Usually, she was always busy accompanying Lilia in her work until late at night so Merry was already exhausted when she came home. But tonight Lilia finished her job early, giving her a chance to have fun. Merry had been working hard for two days now and her soul was in dire need of entertainment!
But Clifford's words destroyed Merry's spirit.
"No. Miss Merry, I remember your father wouldn't let you go to such a vulgar place." Clifford said in an even tone.
Merry was stunned for a moment. Then she immediately frowned, "I do not know what you're talking about!" She said, annoyed by what she'd just heard.
Clifford sighed and pulled out his cell phone. His expression remained flat as he said, "Then, should I call Mr. Steve to make sure?"
Hearing that, Merry's face suddenly turned pale. She didn't think that Clifford was brave enough to threaten her now. It looked like that guy really didn't want her to go to a nightclub!
Merry crossed her arms and glared at Clifford, "No need to call my father. I just want to have fun, what's wrong with that? What I do with my life is none of your business, so you don't have to interfere!"
Clifford's hand gripped the steering wheel even tighter at that, but he still drove toward Merry's apartment without comment. Even though Merry kept scolding him, Clifford acted as if he didn't hear anything.
Twenty minutes later, Clifford stopped the car in front of Merry's apartment.
"Here we are, Miss Merry." Clifford said politely.
"Hmph!" Merry got out of the car and slammed the door shut.
The young woman entered her apartment and immediately changed clothes. She wore a tank top with a vest, combined with black mini pants. Merry tied her hair up before putting on heavy makeup. After she was satisfied with her reflection in the mirror, Merry left the apartment again.
She wanted to have fun and nothing could stop her!
*****
At the Lakeside Villa, Lilia was just walking in when the pain in her stomach got worse. Her body also felt heavy like she had a fever. She put her bag on the table and immediately changed clothes. Lilia hoped that the pain could be relieved by taking a bath in warm water.
When Lilia went into the bathroom, she left her cell phone in the bag. Because of that, she didn't notice that the cell phone was continuously ringing.
Lilia immersed herself into the big bath filled with hot water. She let out a sigh of relief as the pain in her stomach began to lessen. Lilia leaned her head against the head of the bath while enjoying the comfortable soaking sensation.
As time went by, Lilia's eyelids started to feel heavy. She took a towel and used it as a pillow to support her head. Lilia knew that she should get out of the bath and sleep on her bed, but she couldn't gather enough strength to do that. She closed her eyes and intended to rest for just a moment.
Lilia didn't know how much time had passed when she started to have difficulty in breathing. Her chest felt heavy, as if something was pressing on her. She wanted to find out what happened, but she didn't even have the strength to open her eyelids. Her ears could faintly hear someone's voice, but Lilia couldn't make out the words. Lilia's consciousness vanished again, swallowed up by sleepiness and tiredness.
Lilia was completely unconscious when her body was lifted from the bath and taken to the bedroom. Nor did she know that her body temperature had reached 38.5 degrees that night.
Half an hour earlier, Jean received a call from Clifford. The head of the security team reported that Lilia had arrived at the villa safely, but it seemed the woman had a stomach ache on her way home. Jean immediately called Lilia, but his wife did not respond. He called three times and all of his calls were not answered.
Jean immediately stopped the meeting he was participating in and returned to the villa. He became even more worried because no one else was there besides Lilia. Jean deliberately delayed placing a maid in the villa so that he could be alone with Lilia after their wedding. But now Jean cursed his selfish decision.
When Jean arrived at the villa, he found Lilia asleep in the bath. The woman did not respond at all when Jean tried to wake her up. He became even more panicked when he touched Lilia's skin, which was burning hot. Finally Jean got the woman out of the bath and led her to the room.
*****
"Young Master, she will be fine. She just has the flu. This fever is caused by that flu and will soon subside." Lucas, the family doctor explained to convince Jean.
The middle-aged man was summoned to the Lakeside Villas at night. Lucas thought that something happened to Jean so he came as fast as he could. However, it turned out that he was called to check on a young woman. Lucas was surprised when he found out the identity of the woman.
Lilia Pangestu, the woman chosen for contract marriage with Jean. Lucas did hear that Jean chose Lilia himself, but he was even more surprised when he saw that the man's dark blue eyes were filled with worry. Ever since Lucas arrived, Jean's gaze had been fixed on Lilia as if she was going to die if Jean took his eyes off her for a second.
"Alright." Jean breathed a sigh of relief when he heard Lucas's diagnosis, "What does she need to get better?"
Lucas cleared his throat, "Miss Lilia just needs a good night's sleep to recover. If the Young Master is worried about her fever, I can give her an injection so that the fever will subside immediately." the doctor explained.
Before Jean could answer, there was a weak voice from above the bed.
"… Don't want… the injection." Lilia muttered in a semi-conscious state. She didn't know what the two men were talking about, but she reacted immediately when she heard the word 'injection'.
"Anything… other than… injections." Lilia's voice was so soft, as if it could disappear in the wind.
Jean's heart ached when he saw Lilia lying weak and helpless. He didn't see the tough and independent self that Lilia usually showed. The man sat on the bed and leaned towards his wife. Jean brushed Lilia's hair that was stuck to her forehead before landing a soft kiss.
"Don't you want to get well soon? Listen to the doctor!" Jean coaxed her gently.
Lucas's mouth fell open at Jean's tenderness and patience towards Lilia.
"Not…!" Lilia stubbornly shook her head, "Don't want… injections…!"
In the end, Jean couldn't convince Lilia to get injections. Lucas left the villa after giving Jean cold medicine and vitamins. The middle-aged man stopped in front of the gate and looked back at the villa. He wondered, 'Does the head of the Widjaya Family know about the changes that have happened to Jean?'
*****
Lilia's breath filled the quiet bedroom. She dreamed that she fell into the sea and sank to the bottom. Seawater enveloped her body and suffocated her. Lilia struggled endlessly, struggling so that she could breathe again.
"It's hot…" Lilia muttered in her sleep.
She turned her head, her hair was drenched in sweat and it got stuck to her cheek. The temperature fluctuated and made Lilia sleep soundly. Her whole body was covered by a thick blanket to help reduce her fever.
From time to time, Lilia kicked the blanket off without realizing it. But whenever she did, Jean was always there to pull the blanket on her and wrap her up again.
The man had stayed up all night to care for Lilia who was burning in fever. He didn't even bother to change clothes. Jean was still wearing a cloth shirt and pants, even though his clothes were now wrinkled and wet after taking care of Lilia.
Lilia finally woke up when the morning sun fell right on her face. She frowned and slowly opened his eyes. Lilia moved her hand to remove the blanket covering her body, but her hands felt heavy and weak. Lilia's skin also felt sticky with sweat.
As Lilia was trying to remember what happened last night, she heard a familiar voice from beside her, "How do you feel, honey?"
Note:
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