Chapter 15

“Of course, I’ll stay with you. You’re not well, why would I leave?! I’ll lay right here beside you on the floor. Just say the word and I can get you anything you need.”

“This bed can hold two people. Come and lie beside me.” Even he was unaware of the longing look on his face.

Grace bit her lip and hesitated for a while before nodding. “All right.” She lifted up the quilt on the floor and lay down beside him.

She was astonished that she had agreed to sleep beside a man.

His scent enveloped her and his body radiated heat.

Not like a fever, just a warm, healthy body.

“Are you sure I can’t take you to the hospital?” She didn’t think he had insurance, but she could go on a payment plan. The cost was irrelevant, the only thing that mattered was his well-being.

“I’ll be okay,” he assured her. “Just stay with me.”

She held his hand and shifted on her side so she could hold one arm over his body in a loose hug. It was a novel feeling to comfort this man, and for her, it brought into acute awareness how long she’d denied herself any comfort or any connection to another human being.

Sure, she had her friends, and she loved them.

But this… this involved trust, and connecting to someone new. After all that she’d been through, she was glad she hadn’t lost all of her humanity.

She switched off the light and then it was just the two of them, holding each other and quietly breathing.

“Sister, will you stay with me forever?” Jay asked softly

“Of course! In the future, when you get married and have a family, I’ll still keep you company.” Bonds could be forged that were stronger than blood. Hadn’t she learned that? While her own father and half-sister had forsaken her, Jason had shown that he would be there for her. And she would be there for him.

Jason slowly shut his eyes. He felt assured by her voice and the pain gradually lessened.

“Get married…?” he mumbled. Ever since the death of his fiancee, Jason had never thought of getting married. However, Grace was already thinking about that.

you mean what you

“Yes,” she replied.

a small sound and then

which made her think that the pain in his stomach must have lessened. He looked peaceful and handsome. His strong, big body took up most of the bed,

edged away now, hoping to let him sleep a

was

woke you up,” Grace said. “It’s still early. Rest a little longer.” As Grace spoke,

pot of soup in the slow cooker and set out the medicine on the counter. “Try to eat something. And please don’t forget

the instructions,

again, Jason was left

buried his face in the spot where she had

still smell her, and feel the residual

and asked for nothing in return. Only

and his thoughts turned to darker

***

mobile phone. It was an old model, and it wasn’t to his

was surprised. But he didn’t question his boss’s

procured the SIM card in

the text message alert tone resounded, and his boss, who usually looked cold, smiled

the text message from the corner of his eyes and saw the name

Mr. Reed was an only

‘sister’ whom Mr.

its quarterly financial meeting. When everybody was listening attentively to the report, Jason’s mobile

saw Jason take out a cheap, old-model mobile phone and answer the call. He put the phone up to his ear and listened to the person

I will remember to eat,”

even more surprised than Terrence, by the way, their boss

the boss talking to?” William Sharf asked

to hear

said, “I need to go out for a while. Carry

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