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Chapter_233
Skadi watched Father Cillian intently as he tended to her, her heart racing with every subtle motion he made. When he had ignored her initial ruse of feigning a headache, Skadi briefly feared that her little act had been seen through. Yet, Cillian had said nothing, and his dark, steady gaze only seemed to intensify her feelings, making her wonder if he truly noticed the way her eyes lingered on him.
His voice—so smooth, so magnetic—echoed in her ears as he quietly told her, “Once you’re done with your medicine, get some rest.” As he carefully fed her the bitter concoction, Skadi could hardly focus on the taste. Her attention was fixed solely on his elegant fingers as they held the spoon, bringing it to her lips. Her heartbeat quickened, and she couldn’t help but marvel at how his hands, those long, well-defined fingers, seemed to hold a kind of grace she had never known. She had always been drawn to nice voices, appearances, and hands, and here was a man who possessed all three.
For a fleeting moment, Skadi allowed her imagination to run wild. She remembered scenes from TV shows, where a man would feed medicine to an unconscious woman, lips close enough for a kiss. Would Father Cillian do the same for her if she pretended to be unconscious? A blush crept across her cheeks as she considered the thought. She even found herself staring at his thin lips, her throat tightening as she swallowed.
Cillian, however, seemed unaware of the turmoil he was causing within her. When he finally finished feeding her the medicine, he placed the bowl on the bedside table and rose to leave. “Miss Zabel, it looks like color has returned to your face, and you’re full of energy. Rest for a few days, and you’ll recover. I’ll take my leave first,” he said, his voice calm and composed.
But before he could fully turn away, Skadi’s voice echoed across the room. “Father Cillian!” she called, desperation creeping into her tone.
He stopped, turned, and his gaze softened as he watched her collapse to the ground, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth. His heart clenched, but he quickly approached her again. With a frown, he hesitated for only a moment before kneeling beside her, his hands shaking slightly as he tried to assess the situation.
The day passed quickly after that, with Cillian leaving the Zabels’ villa earlier than expected. Skadi’s body temperature spiked to an alarming 40 degrees after taking the holistic medicine, and Nash, ever the professional, reassured everyone that this was a normal reaction, a sign that the medicine was working its way through her system.
Despite his assurances, the atmosphere in the Zabel house remained tense, with Zakariah unable to quell the worry gnawing at him. Justin, who had promised to help fulfill Skadi’s wish, still hadn’t returned, and Zakariah grew more frantic with each unanswered call. The housekeeper prepared dinner, and those from Hero Martial Arts School gathered around three tables, the atmosphere heavy with unspoken concerns.
Just as dinner was about to begin, Nash’s phone rang, breaking the silence. It was Olivia on the other end. “Would you like to come to the Chateau Hotel for dinner?” she asked, her voice laced with worry.
Nash looked perplexed for a moment before replying, “I’m afraid not. I’m already having dinner now.”
“My grandfather isn’t feeling well. I’d like to ask you to take a look at him, Mr. Calcraft,” Olivia explained.
Nash sighed, setting his drink down as he considered the request. “I see. I’ll head over once I’m done with dinner,” he replied, glancing at Hera, who was seated beside him.
Hera, sensing the urgency in Olivia’s voice, immediately turned to Nash. “Mr. Lee wasn’t doing well when he celebrated his birthday last time. You should hurry over and have a look!”
Nash nodded, his mind already shifting gears. “Is the old man at the Chateau Hotel or the Lees’ residence?”
“The hotel.”
“Alright, then I’ll go over right away.” Nash took one last sip of his drink before excusing himself and leaving the Zabels’ residence.
The evening carried on, but a shadow of worry remained. After dinner, Brian continued to prepare more medicine for Skadi, determined to help her in whatever way he could. Lauren and Harrison, who had missed work that day, made plans to work overtime after thanking Zakariah for his hospitality. As the house emptied, Hera and Bianca took turns caring for Skadi, who was still burning with fever.
By midnight, Brian was busy concocting a new batch of holistic medicine. Hera, who had been by Skadi’s side, came downstairs looking pale and concerned. “Dr. Tanner, Skadi’s high fever hasn’t gone down. It won’t cause any complications, right?” she asked, her voice strained with worry.
Brian, his brow furrowed, did not immediately respond. The situation was growing more complicated with every passing hour. Skadi’s condition was fragile, and they were all at the mercy of fate. Would she make it through the night? Or would this fever be the beginning of something worse?