Riyana held her breath.
“And?” she pressed.
“And lack of nutrition,” he finished.
Her shoulders dropped before she could stop herself.
Oh.
So it wasn’t what she had feared.
She didn’t know when that fear had started growing inside her, but it had been there, heavy and quiet. Now it eased, just a little.
Jabco scooped up a spoonful of porridge and held it near her lips. “Eat.”
She hesitated, then opened her mouth.
The porridge was warm and plain, almost tasteless, but her stomach accepted it without protest. Jabco didn’t rush her. He waited patiently between each spoonful, watching her face, her breathing, the way her hand rested limply on the bed.
“You didn’t eat anything last night,” he said quietly. “Not at the gala. Not properly at the restaurant.”
“I wasn’t hungry,” she replied.
“That’s not the same thing as being fine,” he said.
She didn’t argue. She was too tired for that.
He fed her slowly, one spoon at a time. She hated how weak she felt, hated that she needed this, but she didn’t pull away. Part of her didn’t have the strength. Another part didn’t want to.
When the bowl was half empty, she shook her head slightly. “That’s enough.”
Jabco studied her for a moment, then nodded. “We’ll finish later.”
He placed the tray aside and picked up the small box of medicine.
“You need to go to the hospital today,” he said.
Riyana’s head snapped up. “No.”
“It’s just a checkup.”
“No,” she repeated, firmer this time.
Jabco’s jaw tightened. “Riyana, you fainted.”
“I said I’m fine.”
“You threw up, collapsed, and lost consciousness,” he said, his voice rising despite himself. “That’s not fine.”
She turned her face away. “I don’t want to go.”
“Why?” he asked. “What are you afraid of?”
She swallowed. “I just don’t like hospitals.”
“That’s not a reason.”
“It is to me,” she snapped back.
Silence stretched between them.
Jabco ran a hand through his hair, frustration clear on his face. “You can’t keep brushing things off like this.”
“And you can’t force me,” she replied, her voice tired, not angry. “Please. Not today.”
He looked at her, really looked. Her face was pale. Dark shadows rested under her eyes. She looked smaller than usual, fragile in a way that unsettled him.
“You’re stubborn,” he said quietly.
She gave a weak smile. “You already knew that.”
He exhaled slowly. “At least promise me you’ll rest. And eat. And take the medicine.”
“I promise,” she said.
Reluctantly, he nodded. “But this isn’t over. If you feel even a little worse, we go. No arguments.”
She didn’t answer, but she didn’t refuse either.
That was the best he was going to get.
Jabco stood up and adjusted the blanket around her shoulders. His movements were careful, gentle in a way she wasn’t used to from him.
“You should sleep,” he said. “I’ll be outside.”
Riyana hesitated and nod.
She watched him walk toward the door, then stop.
He looked back at her. “Call me if you need anything.”
“I will,” she said.
When the door closed, the room fell quiet again.
Riyana lay back against the pillows, staring at the ceiling. Her body was exhausted, but her mind wouldn’t slow down. Elara’s words echoed faintly in her head. Jabco’s worried face replaced them.
She pressed a hand to her chest.
Something was wrong.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABEL
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: My Husband's Affair My Anniversary Gift (Lily and David)