Stella arrived at the home electrical and appliances department pushing the little one in the cart. She
finally found the hairdryer after searching for two rows and took her a few minutes to select one with
good functionality and could last longer.
She headed straight to the check-out counter after that to meet Sherry and Daniel, made the payment,
and went home.
Stella bathed her son once they arrived home and he fell asleep soon after.
It was nearly eleven at night after she put the baby to sleep and tidied up toys in the living room.
Stella sat on the sofa looking at the unopened hairdryer, let out a sigh, and went next door.
There was no one in the living room, hence, she went into the bedroom, looking at the half-closed door,
and asked, “Clarence, are you asleep?”
“No.”
“I picked up a hairdryer downstairs, it looks fine and it’s in your bathroom now.”
There was no reply. When Stella was about to leave, the door was opened. Clarence stood in front of
her and said casually, “Nice pick.”
Stella remained calm, avoided his reply, “Why are you not wearing clothes again?” She asked,
frowning.
“I’m changing the medicine, having clothes on is inconvenient,” Clarence said.
Stella gaze at his wounded arm hearing that, the gauze was half removed and she could see the
wound was bleeding, it was quite terrifying.
“Can you manage it all by yourself?” She asked,
“Yes,” Clarence replied.
Stella looked up, staring at him, feeling unbelievable.
‘Why is he not pretend to be pity now?’
Since he said so, Stella didn’t say anything else, “Goodbye then, be careful not to get water on your
wound when you shower.”
Clarence nodded and said, “Good night.”
“Goodbye.”
Stella went back next door, staring at the little one sound asleep, she hesitated and went back to
Clarence.
Clarence was cleaning his wound in the bedroom. It was all swollen due to inflammation and it made
the wound looked even scarier.
‘Stella scared looking at these kinds of stuff, if she saw this, she might not be able to sleep well tonight,
it might even leave her some bad memories,’ he thought.
After cleaning up and sanitizing the wound, Clarence took the gauze, hold one end in his mouth and
wrap it around his arm clumsily.
The door was pushed open while he was doing this.
“Why are you back?” Clarence asked.
Stella didn’t say anything and sat beside him, looking at the gauze, “It’s a mess,” she said as she
began removing it.
Clarence stopped her by holding her hands, “It’s fine.”
“If the condition worsens, you might lose this arm,” Stella said.
Clarence turned silent.
Stella removed the gauze and sanitized the wound once again. When the cotton bud touched his
wound, she felt as if her arm was hurting.
Clarence looked at her and lowered his head slowly.
When his lips were about to touch her forehead, “I’ll kill you if I catch your cold,” Stella warned.
He couldn’t utter a word and slowly raised his head.
Stella wrapped up his wound after using the medicine, “Have you taken your pill?”
“Yes.”
She then cleaned up and threw the used items into the trash, “Go to bed now.”
“I’ve slept the whole day, can’t sleep now,” Clarence said.
“Do as you pleased, I’m going to bed now,” Stella rose.
Clarence pulled her hand, “Can you sleep here tonight?”
“What do you think?” Stella turned to him.
“I think you can.”
Stella took a deep breath and tried pulling her hand back, slightly annoyed, but Clarence held on tight.
“I took care of you today because you are sick, don’t overthink, okay?” She said.
“Can you accompany me here tonight because I am sick?”
Stella stared at him without a word, it was obvious that she was about to lose it.
Clarence quickly released her, “Good night.”
Stella went for a shower and went to bed soon after, she stared blankly at the ceiling.
She didn’t do much today but was exhausted. She turned to the side and shut her eyes.
Stella was half-awakened in the middle of the night, feeling dizzy along with a runny nose.
‘I catch a cold from that wretched man?’ She thought.
She quickly woke up and swallowed some cold medicine, but still woke up feeling sick the next day.
She took her temperature, no fever but the runny nose and sneezing were signs of a cold.
Madison opened the door and saw the little one rolling in the crib, struggling to get up, while Stella on
the other hand sat afar looking blankly at him.
Madison, “My God, what is going on?”
Stella, “I’ve got cold; I don’t want him to catch my cold.”
“You were fine yesterday, but now…”
Madison thought of something and didn’t continue. She shrugged and picked up the baby in the crib.
After Madison fed the little one, she said, “Why don’t you stay next door? The baby can catch your cold
easily if you stay here.”
“I’ll go to the office,” Stella said as she stood up.
“It’s Saturday, why would you go to the office?”
“Oh…” Stella was a little confused.
She took her stuff and said, “I’ll visit the hospital and find a place to kill time. I’ll come back after I feel
better.”
Madison put the baby on the mat, “Why won't you go next door?”
“I don’t want Sherry to catch my cold.”
“I meant Clarence’s place, he is sick too, both with viruses should stay together, don’t go out and
spread to others.”
Stella closed her eyes and felt the urge to sneeze, she quickly covered her mouth, “I’m going.”
Stella visited the hospital. The doctor said it was common flu and she would be fine after three days
with medication.
She must not get close to the baby under this condition. The baby had a weaker immune system and
easily caught a cold from others.
Stella sneezed a few times at the hospital entrance, she felt sick and uncomfortable.
And then the rain pour, it was such a sad and misfortune scenario.
She was thinking about renting a room in a nearby hotel when Sherry called.
“Stella, Mr. Conrad passed out due to fever? I knocked on the door a few times but no one answer, do
you want to come back and take a look?”
Stella took a deep breath, “I’ll be back right away.”
Stella went into Clarence’s bedroom and saw him lying on the bed. She then touched his forehead and
found that his fever had worsened. ‘Didn’t he had the medicine last night?’
She reached for her mobile, called Nathan, and asked for his personal doctor’s contact.
62fb1bb41dcb31934bd49bda