A Journey from Bitterness to Truth (Matilda and Yvan) novel Chapter 476

```markdown

"I—!!"

Declan was so taken aback by Keaton's blunt retort that he was left speechless. "I... how was I supposed to know?"

"Ha!" Keaton scoffed, showing his disdain for Declan's feeble excuse. "All you guys are the same, just trash. How come a good guy like me, a warm-hearted doctor, doesn't have a girlfriend? You guys don't deserve one."

Declan frowned in irritation. "How many times do I have to say it? She's not my girlfriend."

Chloe, caught in a haze between sleep and consciousness, heard a particularly cold voice that felt like a steel nail being hammered into her brain.

"She's not my girlfriend."

That voice belonged to Declan.

Chloe didn't say a word; her eyelashes just fluttered. She was vaguely aware but couldn't muster the strength to stay awake. Soon after, Keaton pulled out a thermometer, and his eyes widened in shock. "A hundred and two degrees? Get some fever reducer, quick. Does she not have any common sense? Give her some anti-inflammatory and fever medicine first!"

Declan looked at Chloe's lifeless appearance and felt as if ants were gnawing at his heart.

A subtle, yet unmistakable, sting.

Keaton prescribed some medicine for Chloe, then asked her to open her mouth wide to check her throat. Sure enough, her voice was hoarse, and under the light, her throat clearly looked inflamed. Keaton clicked his tongue and turned to Declan, "What did you do to her?"

Declan crossed his arms. "What can a man and a woman do?"

"Wow, you've got some nerve, talking like you're in the right. You must be the first of your kind," Keaton said with a cold laugh. "If you wanted her dead, why call me? Just finish her off and be done with it. Keeping her hanging like this, you find it amusing?"

Keaton lifted Chloe's shirt slightly to check, and Declan panicked, "What are you looking at?"