Chapter 2

The next day, I woke up in the hospital.

Cindy was by my bedside, her eyes full of concern and anxiety.

"Why didn't you tell me you were feeling unwell? The doctor said you have a high fever. Does it hurt anywhere else?"

She reached out to touch my forehead.

I instinctively recoiled, my gaze sweeping over her neck.

There, several bright red hickeys remained, sharp and painful to my eyes.

Cindy noticed my gaze and tried to cover them up by pulling up her collar.

"You didn't come back to the room last night, so I was the mosquitoes' only target."

Why would there be mosquitoes in the dead of winter?

Her lie was so clumsy. She couldn't even be bothered to make up a better story.

I remembered last summer, it was really hot. There were many mosquitoes, and she was bothered by them. Therefore, I sprayed mosquito repellent on my body and lay down next to her naked so that she wouldn't get bitten.

But red marks still appeared on her body from time to time.

I thought it was because I wasn't doing a good enough job, but thinking back now, those marks were clearly left behind by Duncan.

Cindy asked me kindly, "What would you like to eat?"

I didn't answer. I closed my eyes, ignoring her.

Just then, Duncan came into the ward carrying a thermos.

"Jeremy, I heard you got sick, so I made this soup to nourish you."

He put down the thermos and deliberately removed his coat to reveal a low-cut undershirt that showed off a lot of skin. His chest was adorned with suggestive scratch marks.

"My skin is sensitive. I accidentally scratched myself and it became like this. Cindy said your skin is tough, so you shouldn't have this kind of problem, right?"

He meaningfully fiddled with the herb in the soup, and the smugness in his eyes was obvious.

I clenched my teeth and could taste blood on my tongue, but it couldn't compare to the pain in my heart.

Duncan smiled, bent down to feed me soup, and whispered in my ear, "You heard what we did last night, right? Cindy clung to me so tightly. She even helped me clean up afterwards, saying she hadn't had enough. Have you ever enjoyed that kind of treatment from her? I chose to do it in your bedroom on purpose. Cindy rolled all over the bed. She was so stimulated her whole body went limp..."

Now I know why they were so brazen. It turned out that Duncan wanted me to see it!

He was obviously trying to provoke me by telling me about Cindy's performance in bed!

I couldn't stand it anymore, so I pushed him away.

He used that chance to spill the hot soup and adopt a hurt expression.

"Jeremy, I just wanted to feed you something nutritious. If you don't want it, just say so. Why do you have to do this..."

Cindy, who had just finished a phone call, frowned and held Duncan's hand with concern.

She then turned to me and slapped me without hesitation, obviously furious.

"Did the fever damage your brain, Jeremy?! Duncan is kind enough to make soup for you, but you attacked him. Are you crazy?!"

Before I could speak, Duncan lowered his eyes pitifully.

"Cindy, it’s okay. Jeremy is sick, so it's understandable if he's feeling a little irritable. It's my fault for being insensitive and coming over to disturb you guys. Don't blame him."

"He deserves it!" Cindy's eyes were like cold blades. "Apologize to Duncan right now!"

Duncan humiliated me and framed me, yet Cindy wanted me to apologize to him.

Of course I refused. "Dream on!"

Cindy was enraged. She violently yanked out my IV drip.

"How dare you?! I know you're still angry about last night, but you brought that on yourself. Why are you attacking Duncan?! Since the cold water couldn't clear your head, go stay in the warm room instead!"