Chapter 136
Rhett was uncompromising when it came to Kristin’s health. “Down the medicine, then you can have breakfast,” he insisted, jostling her awake even as he lifted her in his arms.
After all, being sick meant she had to treat it promptly with medication and a good meal. Otherwise, her recovery would be slow due to a weakened immune system.
“I’m so tired…” Kristin murmured truthfully, yearning for sleep.
Sick and feverish, she felt heavy and continued to rest her head against Rhett’s chest.
With a sigh, Rhett carried her to the dining table, coaxing her to eat first.
Kristin was burning up her body, her breath hot against his skin.
Rhett felt a pang of guilt, but it was mostly self–reproach.
Had he been too rough with her last night?
“Mr. FitzGerald.” York called from outside, knocking at the door.
Kristin, groggy and startled, jerked upright so fiercely she nearly fell.
With a protective arm, Rhett steadied her and gave her hair a gentle ruffle. “Have something to eat and take your medicine.”
Kristin quickened her heartbeat, her cheeks flushing visibly. She was mortified. What had she just done in front of Mr. FitzGerald?
Seeing Rhett’s indifferent expression as he stood to answer the door allowed Kristin to breathe a sigh of relief.
“I’ve handled the hotel staff and found the leaders involved. It was Randall who coerced them into acting against us.” York whispered, wary of Rhett’s anger.
But Rhett was already fuming.
His own hotel should be a place
of comfort and safety.
“What about the receptionists involved? Are we firing everyone?” York asked tentatively.
“What use is there in keeping them?” Rhett’s voice was low.
“Kris, they were just following orders, you wouldn’t blame them, right?” York, ever the gallant despite his single status, felt for the weeping beauties at the front desk and turned to Kristin for support.
Kristin, her head heavy, looked up in confusion. “What?”
“As for the receptionists from last night who tried to stop you from entering the hotel, what should we do with them?” Rhett asked, respecting Kristin’s opinion.
“Last night… Kristin recalled the incident where she was suspected of being a whore and
barred from entry. “They were just doing their job and seemed quite dedicated.”
Rhett frowned, letting out a sigh. Being too kindhearted wasn’t always a good thing in the business world,
*Just say Kristin pleaded on their behalf,” Rhett instructed York to handle it.
“Thanks, Mr. FitzGerald,” York chirped, eyeing the breakfast spread. “Kris, you can’t finish all this by yourself. I’m starving after rushing back. Mind if I join you?”
Kristin waved him off hastily. “No, not at all.”
“I mind. Beat it,” Rhett warned York to keep his distance from Kristin.
York, unfazed, retorted, “Mr. FitzGerald, don’t be so petty. When Kristin’s sick, you run out to get medicine. I’m hypoglycemic here, let me have a bite.”
Kristin tightened her grip on her spoon and looked up at Rhett in surprise. Had Rhett personally bought the medicine?
Rhett met her gaze, his eyes intense.
Terrified, Kristin looked down and focused on her food.
“Eat up, you’re too thin.” York continued to fuss, offering Kristin some pancakes.
Kristin, with little appetite and feeling tense, refused. “I can’t.”
“I think you look quite spirited. Maybe you should accompany Vincent to supervise the desert project.” Rhett suggested casually.
He’d transfer York out of the first chance he
e got.
York choked and quickly stood, grabbing a few pancakes and leaving. “Mr. FitzGerald, I’m off to work. You can’t be without me.”
Once York had left, Rhett cleared Kristin’s plate and replaced it with lighter fare. “Don’t eat anything too greasy. Have some oatmeal and salad, take your medicine, then go to sleep.”
Kristin felt dizzy, unable to believe the tenderness Rhett was showing her.
Why was he being so nice? Was this a figment of her imagination, or was it real?
She was afraid to trust it.
After a few bites of salad and a bowl of oatmeal, she cradled a glass of water to wash down her
medicine.
“Is it bitter?” Rhett asked, noticing her reddening eyes.
“No….” she shook her head.
How could medicine be bitter?
Back with the Turner family, Kristin dreaded getting sick because it meant taking medicine.
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07:09
Chapter 136
She’d rather have an IV than swallow pills.
Every time she was sick, Clarence had to coax her for a long time before she’d retent.
Kristin at that time naively believed that medicine was the bitterest thing in the world until she left the Turner family and ended up in prison.
Only then did Kristin realize that medicine wasn’t bitter at all.
Living was far more so.
She gulped down the medicine and looked up to find Rhett offering her a piece of candy, sweet and milky, dissolving the bitter taste in an instant.
Her eyes burned even hotter, and she felt the tears threatening to spill.
“When it’s bitter, have some candy.” Rhett murmured soothingly.
Kristin stared at Rhett, panic setting in.
What was happening? She felt like she was in deep trouble.
She was really starting to have feelings for Rhett that she shouldn’t.
It seemed Hertha had seen right through her.
Avoiding his gaze, Kristin got up shakily and headed for the bed. “Mr. FitzGerald, you should rest. I’ll just sleep a bit and won’t delay the afternoon’s
bidding.”
“Kristin, my thing with Hertha six years ago was an accident. Does it bother you?” Rhett asked in a steady voice.
Now that he had been intimate with Kristin. As they were married, he intended to take responsibility for her..
But first, he needed to come clean about his past. As a matter of honesty and integrity.
Rhett broke the silence once again, “Other than Hertha, there hasn’t been another woman by my side, no scandals or anything.”
Kristin felt a wave of confusion. Why was Rhett bringing up Hertha all of a sudden?
Was he asking if she minded what happened last night? Did he think it was Hertha?
Sniffling a little, Kristin nervously spoke up. “No, I don’t mind.”
What right did she have to mind, anyway? Her role as ‘wife‘ was nothing more than a
transaction.
Rhett could disregard her feelings entirely and do whatever he pleased. Yet here he was, asking her, which seemed all the more cruel.
Rhett let out a sigh of relief, appearing to be in a good mood. “I’ll do my best to make it up to you” He trailed off.
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Chapter 136
Kristin didn’t mind his past with Hertha, which was a relief.
“If there’s anything I’m not doing right, you can tell me.” Rhett had no experience with dating, let alone jumping straight into marriage.
Kristin covered her head with the blanket, feeling incredibly vulnerable.
She desperately wanted to tell him that she was the one with him last night.
But if Rhett found out, he’d despise her so much that he’d want her gone.
“Mr. FitzGerald… I’m tired.”
She just wanted to get some sleep.
“Yeah, go to sleep.” Rhett settled on the nearby sofa with his laptop, as if planning to stay by Kristin’s side.
Kristin panicked. Wasn’t he going to leave?
“Mr. FitzGerald, aren’t you going back to your room?” she stuttered out, wondering why he hadn’t left yet.
“Isn’t this my room?” Rhett replied with a helpless chuckle.
Kristin shot up in bed, her heart racing. That’s right, York had booked the rooms. Rhett had slept here last night, woke up here, and must have assumed this was his room.
Then why had she come back here to shower and sleep?
Oh, what had she done!
“Mr. FitzGerald, I’m so sorry… I’ll just… I’ll go!”
She wished the earth’would swallow her up.
“Let’s just sleep together from now on,” Rhett said nonchalantly, his eyes still on his laptop.
