Your Guise Is Slipping, Miss Pearl

Esther lay in the hospital bed, her breathing steady. It seemed like she was out of danger.

"James, you must be exhausted from looking after Esther. You should rest. She wouldn't want you to overexert yourself," Pearl advised, moved by James's dedicated care for Esther. "I'm alright. I managed to get an hour of sleep earlier."

"You've been here for a whole day and only slept for an hour?" Pearl sighed, concerned for James's well-being.

Before she could continue, she noticed Esther stirring. "Is Esther waking up?" she exclaimed, surprised by the sudden movement.

James, too, noticed it, feeling her hand tremble slightly in his grasp.

After a while, Esther opened her eyes.

"James..." Her voice was hoarse as tears welled up in her eyes at the sight of him, the man whom she had been missing day and night.

glass of water from the nearby table, put a straw in it, and offered it to Esther. "Here, have some water. Your throat must be

nodded and gratefully accepted the water, her spirits seeming to lift

Her gaze shifted to Pearl,

had us worried sick. You need to take better care of yourself when you're abroad," Pearl scolded gently. But guilt gripped her at the sight of Esther's pale face. Esther brushed off Pearl's concern with a smile.

Pearl's sadness deepened at Esther's

had some water, Pearl encouraged her to rest more. James shared her thoughts. He

gesturing to Richard and herself. She then informed Esther loudly, "James rushed over here after learning about your accident. He didn't even

his concern, Esther mustered her strength to grasp his finger gently.

to stay, shaking his head. "I can't sleep. I'd be too worried not

take care of yourself. If you

now, she could only lay in bed weakly. Even her voice sounded