Turning Of the Tide by Diana Sander

Chapter 150

Entering the room, Ethan stood silently by the doorway, watching the two doctors examine Natalie. The doctor began by checking her temperature and reported, “39.5 degrees.”

In the grip of a high fever, Natalie murmured incoherently, her words indiscernible. Ethan’s anxiety grew, prompting him to ask, “How is she doing?”

The doctor replied honestly, advising. “Miss Natalie has a dangerously high temperature. She requires an intravenous saline solution. After administering the injection, I will have a nurse stay with her. As both of us are males, it would be inappropriate to remain in the room. Furthermore, her inability to speak means she won’t be disturbed.*

Ethan understood the reasoning. He could see Natalie’s discomfort from his vantage point at the doorway. Her brow furrowed in pain. Recognizing his limitations as a male attendant, he realized it would be impractical for him to assist with tasks such as body care. If he attempted to do so, he could risk compromising his well–being for the following day. “In that case, please make yourselves comfortable on the living room sofa. Wait until Miss Natalie’s temperature subsides, and then you can leave.”

The doctor nodded in agreement, saying, “Very well, I will start the saline infusion. As he began the procedure, he instructed the mute nurse, “You can stay in the room and attend to her. Wipe her arms and forehead with a damp cloth to help lower her temperature and make her more comfortable. Her fever is quite high.”

The tall nurse listened attentively, nodding in understanding. Satisfied with the plan, Ethan followed the doctor out of the room and closed the door behind them. The room became tranquil, leaving Natalie in the nurse’s care.

By closing the door, Ethan intended to ensure privacy, especially if there was a need to attend to Natalie’s physical needs.

The woman on the bed occasionally furrowed her brow and turned her head. Her murmured words were indiscernible. Her cheeks, flushed with fever, had resembled a delicate blush, revealing her discomfort. In response to her distress, the nurse entered the bathroom and filled a basin with warm water. She dipped a towel into the soothing liquid and gently wiped the woman’s forehead. Her movements had been delicate and cautious, as if she had handled a fragile treasure with utmost care. Natalie’s body radiated intense heat. In her search for comfort, she reached out her pristine arm. The nurse delicately clasped her tiny hand and offered a comforting grip. Starting from the wrist, she carefully wiped the arm, proceeding to the palm. Her gaze remained fixed on the woman lying on the bed, unwavering in her care. After the gentle wiping, she tucked Natalie’s arm under the blanket, ensuring she was warmly wrapped.

After approximately half an hour, the saline solution began to take effect. The rosy flush on Natalie’s cheeks gradually subsided, and the furrow between her brows relaxed slightly. With her eyes closed, she softly murmured words that were difficult to discern.

Drawing closer, the nurse reached out to arrange the stray strands of hair on Natalie’s face. She gently smoothed the creased brow, soothingly whispering, “What do you need?”

Natalie found the voice peculiar yet strangely familiar in her fevered state. Although her mind was clouded, she struggled to make out the person before her. With effort, she half–squinted her eyes and repeated, “Water”

As the nurse prepared to fetch water from the kitchen, her gaze fell upon a hot water bottle on the bedside table.

Quickly grabbing a cup, the nurse filled it with water and placed it on the bedside table. Sitting by the edge of the bed, she carefully lifted Natalie’s upper body and cradled her against her own. With a gentle touch, she tidied the stray strands of hair from Natalie’s forehead. She tenderly offered her the cup of water using her free hand, ensuring each movement was soft and delicate. However, in Natalie’s groggy state, she only drank half of it, spilling the rest onto the bed, leaving a damp patch.

The nurse grew slightly anxious. Slowly lowering Natalie back onto the bed, she reached for a tissue and delicately wiped the corners of her lips. She then proceeded to dab away the damp spots on the sheets. Once the tasks were completed, her gaze returned to Natalie’s face, noticing her slightly dry lips. Determined, she rose and opened the bedside drawer, searching for straw. To her disappointment, none could be found. Briefly pausing, she fixated on Natalie’s parched lips before deciding.

She stood up and quietly locked the bedroom door. In the living room, Ethan immediately reacted to the sound, preparing to enter the master bedroom. The composed middle–aged doctor reassured him. “No need to be alarmed. We wouldn’t be able to leave this room if we had any intentions My apprentice is simply assisting in physically cooling down Miss Natalie. Locking the door prevents an awkward situation for all of us. Let’s remember, she is a woman, after all”

his seat. Yet, his gaze remained fixated on the door leading to

of relief Natale responded, parting her lips willingly as the cool water trickled in. Once Natalie had taken her fill, the nurse took a sip, then leaned down again, sealing their lips together. The water flowed again,

any lingering droplets from the corners of Natalie’s lips. Her palm, broad and comforting,

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Chapter 150

remorseful voice, the whispered. “I’m

curtain a gentle glow across the

recover. As she raised her food, the noticed a

she had a fever, but the details seemned hazy. She recalled gimpers of a marked oran tending to her. offering water and whispering apologies in fragmented phrases.

of

emerged, only to be swiftly dismissed

her. Was there something wrong with her lately? How could the

a comdorable dorms.

observed Natalie’s complexion closely and nodded in approval. “Didn’t want to disturb your rest, so Jening took harni downstairs

longer! Besides, she wasn’t ne to

calling the dorse your tempen had wared to nearly 40 degrees. I was truly alarmed when I heard about in Mr. White

in her mind, leaving her with lingering questions. “Tera, two

sleep. She had already prepared we cral for trade in ter was another doctor, a remarkably tall woman. Id say the must have been around 59 Som tall. She was en taller than Mr White, and had a sturdy build. Mr. White thoughtfully arranged for a female doctor to take care of you. They didn’t bother waking us two old folks. But Mr.

the mute nurse lingered in Natalie’s mind,

an

her senses

genders, and Ethan was not one to fabricate stores. If Lera sad a woman, then it must be so. She had let her imagination run wild, but such a un ition would never occur with Erhan was simply the ramblings of a fevered

in Sherri’s room, she hard spent the entire night contemplating her confesion Seated at the dining table, she absentmindedly fed Ruby, stealing occasional

had mustered the courage to condes the previous night but

he was bere

fixated on your father and now you’re staring at me If