Chapter 43
Sure enough, the next second, Sabrina and Sebastian sat down right beside Valeria.
Valeria’s foggy mind cleared instantly. She dropped her head lower, tucking her chin into her jacket and turning her face to the side.
The stuffy air hadn’t changed, but his sharp, cool scent wrapped around her like an invisible thread, tightening every one of her nerves.
Her nose was stuffy and her throat sore, yet somehow, she could still pick up the faint trace of his cologne. Her body, it seemed, had a memory of its own. It was sensitive to everything
about him.
She glanced up at the IV bag, silently willing it to finish faster. However, it was the mannitol drip-slow and steady, meant to ease her pounding headache.
…
Sebastian glanced down at his phone. Martha had messaged, inquiring about Sabrina’s well- being.
That morning, Sabrina and Jessica had gone to visit Martha, who had been resting at home with a sore throat and a lingering flu. Even though it was the flu, many had visited her.
Sabrina hadn’t stayed long before she started feeling unwell herself. Martha was certain she had passed it to her.
Since Sebastian was on the night shift that evening, he brought Sabrina to the hospital.
He replied, telling Martha not to worry and to focus on resting.
“Sebastian, I’m really sorry,” Sabrina apologized. “I just meant to stop by and check on your mom. I didn’t expect to come down with something myself.”
“Just stay hydrated and rest up after the drip,” he replied.
“Okay. Thank you, Sebastian.” She was soft and sweet around him, nothing like at work. The
Grant and Lawson families were well-matched.
…
Valeria heard the latest gossip from Lindsey and the rest of the office lately—a marriage was impending between Sebastian and Sabrina.
Time slowed to a crawl around Valeria. She shifted ever so slightly, sneaking a sideways glance at Sebastian, who was right beside her.
Coincidentally, he was wearing a black windbreaker too, making him look extra cold.
Judging from the material, their windbreakers were different in many ways. Hers had been a discounted rack find during a storewide sale, while his had to be one that was worth five figures.
She diverted her gaze, always knowing how far apart their worlds were.
To her left, a woman with her daughter had just finished her IV. She called over a nurse to have the needle removed.
Valeria rasped, “Can you take mine out too?”
Her voice was hoarse. Selena had said she sounded like a duck.
Even Valeria smiled at how she sounded. This flu was ruthless, especially on the throat.
The nurse glanced at her. “There’s still a long way to go. If I take the mannitol drip out now, it’ll be wasted, and it won’t work nearly as well.”
Valeria nodded, but she wanted to get out of here, so she muttered, “It’s an emergency at
home.”
“What kind of emergency makes you pull a drip halfway through? If you faint at home, what then? Let the ambulance bring you right back here?” That cold, familiar voice cut through the
noise.
Valeria didn’t know whether Sebastian was talking to himself or referring to her. Her brain stalled at the knowledge that he meant her.
She hadn’t thought he would recognize her, so she didn’t even look in his direction. She merely kept her gaze glued to the floor.
She was bundled up so tightly. It was impossible for him to recognize her. Did Sebastian have X -ray vision or something?
