CHAPTER 331: CHAPTER 331: DOES HE HAVE HEART DISEASE?

"Knock, knock—" after the knocking sound, Simon Rhodes’s voice rang out, "I left the clothes by the door, make do with them for now."

Skylar Vance: "...Okay."

Simon: "Don’t soak too long, come out and have some ginger soup to ward off the cold when you’re done."

Skylar sat in the bathtub silently, just seeing a shadow bend down and leave something by the bathroom door, then walk away.

How long had it been since someone cared for her like this after breaking up with Owen Bellamy?

Even when she was dating Owen, he wasn’t this attentive.

She used to think it was just men’s thicker nerves, missing these details, but now it seemed it might have been because he didn’t care enough.

Standing up from the bathtub, she hastily covered her chest with her hand, then cracked open the bathroom door just enough to slide a hand out and grab the clothes left by the door, pulling them in before locking the door again.

She unfolded the clothes to take a look—it was a white men’s T-shirt, loose-fitting.

She compared it against her reflection in the mirror, noting it nearly reached her knees.

Hearing footsteps approaching, she quickly pulled on the T-shirt, only to find the shadow passing by the bathroom door without pause, continuing onward.

Skylar tugged at the shirt; although it seemed fine on the outside, she still felt a bit self-conscious about wandering around braless in a man’s house.

Hearing the footsteps return, she finally opened the bathroom door, poking her head out just in time to collide with Simon walking by.

He merely glanced at her, not breaking stride, saying, "Come out once you’re done."

With that, he headed toward the living room, and Skylar sheepishly slipped out of the bathroom.

Fortunately, the T-shirt was large enough, not awkwardly hugging her chest.

Entering the living room, she saw him carrying a bowl from the kitchen, extending it to her, "Drink this."

A mild ginger scent wafted toward her, not unpleasant at all.

She reached out to take the bowl, ready to drink, when Simon reached over to feel her forehead.

As Skylar flinched back, he withdrew his hand, turning to rummage through a drawer under the living room coffee table for a medicine box.

While sipping the perfectly warm ginger soup, Skylar glanced at Simon, secretly wondering if he was a hypochondriac for keeping so much medicine at home.

Thinking this, she saw him pop out two pills from a white bottle, grabbing a water glass from the table and walking over to her, swiftly placing the pills in her mouth and pressing the water glass to her lips.

The bitter taste of the medicine spread in her mouth. Frowning, Skylar gulped down water, swallowing the pills, but the bitterness lingered stubbornly.

This was probably the most careless way she’d ever taken medicine.

"Go wrap yourself in a blanket in the bedroom and sleep a bit, you’ll feel better by morning." As he spoke, he took the empty ginger soup bowl and water glass from her hand, heading for the kitchen, and added, "The bedroom is to the right."

Though she didn’t feel cold after her bath, her body was warm, and her head still spun, leaving her sluggish and weak.

Without the strength to resist, she headed in the direction he indicated, pushing open the bedroom door.

After a quick survey, the room seemed to contain just black, gray, and white tones, neatly kept. Her blocked nose prevented her from smelling the faint scent of incense.

Lying on the soft bed, wrapped in blankets, her eyelids felt burning hot as she closed her eyes.

Simon came to check on her after tidying up the kitchen, finding her asleep but seeming a bit uncomfortable in her sleep.

She seemed to hover between sleep and wakefulness, not deeply asleep but not quite conscious either.

Reaching out to touch her forehead, it still felt hot.

He brushed her bangs aside, seeing the wound on her exposed forehead, going to fetch medication and gauze from the drawer.

Gently cleaning her forehead wound and applying gauze, he placed an alcohol pad on her forehead for cooling.

After his own shower, he found her, once sprawled across the bed, now turned into a small curled-up shape. The alcohol pad had fallen onto the pillow, the alcohol evaporated.

He gently adjusted her back and replaced the alcohol pad.

Bringing his laptop over, he sat in a chair next to the bed, balancing work while watching over her.

In the first half of the night, her sleep was uneasy, drenched in cold sweat, her hair sticking to her face, a distressing sight.

Thankfully, her temperature gradually dropped, and by the latter half of the night, she was much more at ease.

Simon tiredly rubbed his brow, setting aside his laptop, confirming her fever had broken before switching off the bedroom light and resting on the sofa at the side...

By the next day, the rain had cleared, and after a night’s cleansing, the city’s air seemed much crisper.

Awakened by the chirping birds outside the villa, Skylar thought at first she was in her own room.

Only the familiar scent of roses was replaced by rosemary incense, and looking around the gray-hued room, she slowly recalled last night’s events.

In the haze, she knew someone was taking care of her, and she was well aware of who it was.

Sitting up in bed, she looked around, finding the room empty.

Sweat-soaked, her body carried a faint smell, feeling sticky and uncomfortable.

Leaving the room, she looked around but saw no one. A look at the living room clock showed it was past nine—he must have already left for work.

Alone in his home, feeling better than last night, she curiously explored his living space.

It felt like visiting a model home from some property show she once toured, tastefully decorated yet pristinely clean as if uninhabited.

One living room wall held a cabinet, one side filled with books, the other lined with ship and aircraft models.

Beyond this, there wasn’t much to explore, but remembering the drawer he dug through for medicine last night, she seized the absence to sneak a peek.

Most of the medicine names were unfamiliar, though descriptions revealed a few common cold remedies. Several, however, seemed related to heart treatment.

Could it be... does he have a heart condition?

Hearing a sound at the door, Skylar hastily shoved the medicine back and closed the drawer.

Simon entered, carrying several shopping bags, standing by the door, looking at her on the living room sofa, speaking gently, "Awake? Feeling better?"

Skylar nodded, pressing her lips as if to speak, but words eluded her.

He changed his shoes and walked into the room, handing her the bags, "Try these on, see if they fit."