6: Cooling You Down

Pretentious?

Lillian paused, a scoff rising silently in her heart. "Surely, I can't compare to your understanding Serena."

The words slipped out before she could stop them.

Oliver froze.

Lillian froze too.

What was she saying?

While Lillian was regretting her misplaced words, Oliver had already tilted her chin up, forcing her gaze into his deep, ink-like eyes.

His eyes narrowed like a hawk zeroing in on its prey. "Are you jealous of her?"

Lillian's brow twitched with a mix of alarm and annoyance as she tried to push his hand away.

"What nonsense are you talking about?"

But her attempt was feeble, her strength failing her.

Oliver quirked an eyebrow at her weak resistance, a smirk playing on his lips as he caught her wrist. "This weak?"

"Weak your head," Lillian retorted, yanking her hand back so fiercely she toppled backwards into the couch, unable to get up again.

No strength left.

Oliver stood over her, his eyes a complex mosaic of emotions, before he dropped a stoic "Wait here," and left to fetch a plastic basin and towel from the restroom.

Returning, he soaked the towel in cold water, wrung it out, and set about dabbing Lillian's sweaty forehead.

"What are you doing?"

As he approached with the towel, Lillian instinctively tried to dodge.

Oliver pinned her shoulders down, his handsome face marked by a frown. "Stay still. I'm trying to cool you down."

Lillian wanted to refuse, but when the cold towel touched her skin, sweeping away the fever's heat, she couldn't resist the relief.

She was burning up, and cooling down couldn't wait.

With resignation, Lillian let him continue.

Oliver wiped her forehead, then her cheeks. As he did, something crossed his mind. His lips curled slightly, and he murmured, "Lillian, you really are my ancestor."

Her eyelids twitched at his words.

"What?"

Oliver's eyes were dark as obsidian, he scoffed lightly. "Playing dumb? I've never wiped down someone like this before. If that doesn’t make you my ancestor, then what does?"

As he spoke, his hand, which was on her shoulder, moved to loosen her collar, exposing a swath of porcelain skin. He then aimed the wet towel inside.

Lillian's face flushed, her hands pressing down on his. "What are you doing?"

"Wiping you down," he replied with all seriousness.

Embarrassed and flustered, Lillian tugged her collar back, "No, no need, I can do it myself."

But Oliver's eyebrows knitted tighter at her struggle.

"What's wrong with you?"

His hand remained still, the wet towel positioned suggestively on her chest. From certain angles, it looked... compromising.

If someone else were to see...

"I'm not angry; I can do it myself."

His frown persisted, a mixture of irritation and concern in his gaze.

"Are you..."

Bang!

Before he could finish, a loud noise came from the door, drawing both their eyes.

It was Serena, clumsily picking up items she'd dropped.

Oliver's hand stilled, his expression unreadable.

Lillian lay there, her lips curling with irony.

Serena quickly recovered her composure and entered the room with a gentle smile, as though nothing had been seen.

"Sorry about that, I just dropped something. Didn't mean to startle you."

Oliver's lips pressed thin, about to speak when Serena reached out, "Let me do it."

He handed the towel to her reluctantly.

"Derek's given me all the instructions. You can trust me with Lillian," she assured him.

Hearing this, Oliver glanced at Lillian, lying motionless like a lifeless body, and finally nodded, "Alright."

He then left the room.

The door closed, and silence enveloped the room. After a while, Serena washed the towel, approached Lillian, and offered, "Let me wipe you down?"

Lillian was indeed powerless and needed help, but...

"Maybe we should call a nurse? It's too much trouble for you," she suggested.

Serena's smile was soft and reassuring. "It's no trouble at all. I'm more thorough than any nurse. As long as you don't mind being seen."

With no other option, Lillian could only nod.

With her eyes closed to avoid the awkwardness, Lillian didn't notice Serena's scrutinizing gaze as she undid her buttons.

Serena's expression soured slightly, recalling the moment she saw Oliver with the wet towel, even opening Lillian's collar.

When had their relationship become so intimate?

Considering the things she might not know that had happened during her absence abroad, uncertainty knotted in her stomach.

Unaware of Lillian's exceptional physique, even just lying down, Serena bit her lip, struggling with jealousy, and finally broke the silence, "I owe you thanks, you know."

Lillian's eyes fluttered open, meeting Serena's striking gaze.

"For what?"

Serena nodded, "Yes, even though it seems like Oliver married you fictitiously to help you, I know that your presence has shielded him from many unwanted advances these past two years. So, thank you. It would've been troublesome if I had returned to find him surrounded by bad company."

Lillian was taken aback by the layered meaning in her words.

Serena's gratitude acknowledged her role while reminding Lillian of the fake marriage, hinting at her own status as the true woman in Oliver's life.

Lillian pressed her lips together and remained silent.

After more wiping and rebuttoning Lillian's clothes, Serena helped her sit up and asked tenderly, "Feeling better? Need some water?"

Lillian did feel thirsty, "Yes, please."

Serena fetched her water, and Lillian drank, feeling her throat finally soothe.

Looking up at Serena, Lillian decided to clear the air.

"Actually, you don't have to worry about Oliver and me. His heart has always held a place for you, the woman who saved his life. No one can compare. I won't forget your kindness to me either."