Chapter 15 All for Nadine
Honk, honk!
Max pressed the car horn.
The car had already stopped.
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Tess slowly opened her eyes, disoriented. She realized they had arrived at the small road leading to the employee dorms.
“Thank you.”
She weakly pushed herself up–one arm protectively holding Layla, the other struggling to open the door.
What used to be an effortless task now felt like she had a thousand–pound weight strapped to her wrist.
Tess staggered toward the dorm building.
Max pulled off his mask and cap, his striking eyes locked on her fading silhouette as his brows furrowed with worry.
A man stepped out of the vehicle that had been trailing them at a distance.
It was Max’s assistant. He had been following behind, keeping
O cars apart the whole time.
He respectfully approached Max’s window and lowered his head slightly.
“Mr. Hunt.”
The window rolled down.
“Send her some fever medicine.”
Max’s voice was hoarse, his thoughts tangled as he recalled the pale, exhausted look on Tess’s face. It made his chest ache with suffocating discomfort.
How could his once–glowing Tess end up like this?
Max took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing heart.
His assistant promptly made a call to arrange a medicine delivery.
Meanwhile, Tess had no energy to consider what was going on outside. She swayed as she pushed open her dorm door.
Her head was spinning) but the first thing she did was change Layla into dry clothes.
After warming some formula and feeding her, she cradled the baby close, her vision flickering in and out.
“Layla, be good… Mommy’s just … really tired. Just a little nap…
Her voice trailed off, her consciousness sinking into a swamp.
“Waaah!”
”
Layla’s sudden wailing jolted Tess awake. She hadn’t even realized she’d passed out.
Knock, knock.
“Ms. Ember, your delivery.”
A firm yet measured knock came from the door. Tess realized the sound must’ve startled Layla awake.
Holding her aching head, she got up to answer it. A delivery guy stood outside.
“You must have the wrong place. I didn’t order anything.”
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10:42 PM
Chapter 15 All for Nadine
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“It was ordered by a rideshare driver. He said it’s for you–and here’s a hundred dollars that you apparently left in the car.”
He handed her the package and turned to leave.
Tess stood frozen at the door, a strange feeling welling in her chest.
It must’ve been that kind driver. He saw a sick mother and child and was willing to help.
She felt a deep, quiet gratitude toward the mute driver and quickly forced her aching body to prepare the medicine.
She couldn’t afford to be sick. Who would take care of Layla if she collapsed?
But something felt odd. How did he know her last name was Ember?
Maybe she had mumbled it while half–conscious.
After about two hours, her mind began to clear and the fever started to subside.
Tess let out a breath of relief and went to check on Layla. Almost immediately, her heart clenched.
It was already evening. Layla usually got fussy around this time, crying for milk. But today, she was too quiet.
Alarmed, Tess peeked into the blanket.
Layla’s usually rosy, chubby cheeks were flushed deep red, her tiny nose crinkled in discomfort.
Her breathing was labored. Tess touched her forehead, only to find it burning hot!
Tess jerked her hand back as panic seized her.
Layla had a fever!
Her breath caught. Without thinking, she grabbed her phone to book a ride, then dashed into the street to flag down a taxi.
Not far away, inside a luxury car, Max quietly watched Tess’s frantic movements. But he didn’t step forward.
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