The Returned Heiress Who Never Fit In

If she kept squirming like that, something serious was bound to happen. Victor’s rough, low voice–stern and slightly hoarse–froze Tessa in place.

But just a heartbeat later, she turned her head, looking up at him with wounded eyes.

Maybe it was the fever; her eyes shimmered wet and glassy…

And that sight cracked open something inside the man who’d always been cold and unyielding.

His hard expression softened. “You have to take the medicine, sweetheart. Be good.”

Victor, who had never in his life known how to coax a woman, somehow found the patience to speak to Tessa in the gentlest way imaginable.

At last, under his persistent care, Tessa sipped the medicine little by little until she finally finished it. It took nearly half an hour to drink just that small cup–half an hour of grimaces and protests.

If it had been anyone else, Victor would’ve kicked them halfway across the room for being so slow.

But the truth was–he wasn’t incapable of gentleness; he’d just never had anyone to be gentle

with.

And now that he had someone who’d carved out a place in his heart, how could he ever bring himself to be rough with her? Even if she made a fuss all night, he’d still hold her and soothe her until she quieted down.

When the medicine was gone, Tessa pouted, whining softly, “It’s bitter… I want an orange.”

She looked up at Victor with pleading eyes.

“An orange?” he repeated.

Tessa sniffled pitifully. “Orange. I want an orange.”

“You’ve got a cold; you can’t eat something that cold.”

“I want it!” she insisted.

much to drink, she always craved oranges. Only

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Chapter 81

up–shivering one moment, searing the next, like she

I’m drying out from

the front desk to send up some oranges, along with

fruit.

everything else–she only wanted

held out her

full of that blissful satisfaction that only came from something she truly

the bowl beside them. “You sure you

If I eat them, my cold will

was true or not, Tessa said it with total confidence–she’d say anything if it meant getting another

didn’t quite buy

her have her way earlier–insisting on cooking soup

he pulled out his phone and searched whether people with

oranges.

internet assured him

did he let

that second orange

“That feels so good.”

cool, tangy flavor washed away the dryness in her mouth; for the first time all night, she

shaking his head with a helpless

still

useful out of Tessa,

2/4

Pact was already in total

hundred kilometers; if he didn’t at least manage to ease the conflict within the faction, the whole trip would’ve been for

come all the way to Echo Peak