Stand Me Up? I'll Marry His Billionaire Uncle novel Chapter 144

"Stellan?"

"Here." His deep voice drifted from inside the room, low and almost ghostly.

Sunny stepped in, clutching the insulated container, and found Stellan half-sitting up in bed, his face pale and drawn.

"Are you alright?" she asked, concern tightening her voice.

He shook his head. "I'm fine. Just… a little cold, that's all."

Ignoring decorum, Sunny set the container down and took a seat right at the edge of his bed. She pressed the back of her hand to his forehead.

Her brow furrowed. "You're burning up, Stellan. You've got a fever."

He was burning, all right.

Burning inside.

With a dry tongue, Stellan licked his lips. "Really? So what now? Am I going to die?"

Sunny stared at him, then huffed, irritation flickering in her eyes.

"Don't talk like that. Don't even joke about it."

Clearly, the fever had fried his brain; he was talking nonsense now.

"Stellan, you need to go to the hospital."

"No." Stellan turned his face away, stubborn.

"You don't have a choice. If you don't, your brain'll be mush by morning."

He only gave her a look.

"I won't get worse. Just let me take some medicine, I'll be fine."

"Do you have a medicine kit here?" she pressed.

"It's under the coffee table, downstairs."

Without another word, Sunny hurried off, thumping down the stairs. She found the fever medicine, poured a glass of water, and rushed back to his room.

"Here. Take your medicine."

Stellan opened his mouth just a little, clearly expecting her to feed him.

Sunny hesitated, thrown for a moment. But seeing how colorless his lips were, she didn't argue. She popped the pills into his mouth and carefully helped him drink.

Half-leaning against the headboard, Stellan murmured, "You even made me soup. You're too good to me."

Sunny realized she'd almost forgotten the soup. "Want me to help you sit up and have some before you go back to sleep?"

He shook his head, lips barely twitching. "Don't have the strength to lift my arms."

The implication was obvious.

Sunny pressed her lips together. "…Then I'll feed you."

"Okay."

He agreed so quickly, as if she might change her mind if he waited a second longer.

He'd forgotten—he thought that was tomorrow.

"I'm sorry."

His apology caught her off guard.

"Stellan, it's okay. You don't have to apologize."

Her grandmother had been gone for over a month now. Sometimes, the sadness would still sneak up on her.

And she still hadn't made the people responsible pay.

Stellan reached out a hand. "Come here."

Sunny hesitated, puzzled, but her body leaned in of its own accord.

He wrapped an arm around her waist, drawing her gently into his embrace. With his other hand, he softly patted her head. "There, there. It'll be alright."

Sunny's eyes stung.

Her grandmother used to do that—stroke her hair, gentle and comforting.

"I… I'm fine," she said, voice catching. "I just miss her, that's all."

Stellan's hand moved slowly through her hair, soothing. "I know. I know you do."

From now on, he'd protect her—just like her grandmother had.

"From now on, you have me."