Mr Billionaire's Regret Chasing His Irresistible Wife (Jared and Arielle) novel Chapter 225

(ARIELLE'S POV)

I tried to sit up again, but my body was hit by a jolt of cold sensation. I shivered terribly, and my teeth chattering in response.

Fear gripped me as I realized I was alone and helpless. I couldn't call for help, as my voice was cracked and hoarse.

Goosebumps invaded my skin as my mind raced with thoughts of how I ended up like this. I was fine the previous night, laughing and having fun with family and friends. Had I overexerted myself at the party? Had I stayed up too late, thereby stressing my body?

Tears brimmed at the corners of my eyes as I thought about Mom and Maverick. What if I didn't make it? What if I died in this bed, alone and unattended? Fear gripped me at the thought, and I fervently prayed, begging for someone to come and find me.

Just as I thought I couldn't take it anymore, a knock sounded on the door. Hope returned to me, and I tried to respond, but no sound came out.

"Arielle?" Mom's voice sounded behind the door.

I tried to respond again, but all that came out was a weak whimper.

"Arielle, are you not up yet? You'll be late for work," she said, and almost immediately, I heard the doorknob turning. Her concerned face soon appeared in the gap as her eyes landed on me.

"You're late.." she continued, but her words trailed off as she took in my appearance. Her eyes immediately widened in alarm, and she hurried over to the bed.

"Are you okay?" Her hand was reaching for my forehead now. But she withdrew it the instant they connected like it was a hot object.

"Oh my God, you're running a temperature!" she exclaimed.

I tried to respond, but my voice was feeble as usual. Mom's face was masked with worry now as she leaned over me, feeling every part of my body.

"Don't worry, baby, Mom's here now. It's just a cold, nothing serious."

With those words, she immediately sprang into action. She rushed into my bathroom and returned with a bowl of lukewarm water and a towel. Getting back in bed, she shed some part of my clothing and began to sponge my forehead, arms, and legs, all in a bid to bring down the temperature.

"It's okay, sweetie, Mom's with you. This will help bring down your fever," she cooed, palming my face softly.

I nodded as the cool sensation of the towel felt like a balm to my overheated skin, and I let out a sigh of relief. But at some point, it felt like a switch for more hotness was flipped and my body began to overheat again. The cool towel automatically felt hot on my skin, and no matter how much sponging Mom did, it only made my skin burn more, and my fever worsened.

"Mom...call...help," I muttered. The words felt like they were stuck in my throat, and I had to force them out. Her efforts alone were not enough, and I was getting worse by the minute.

Her expression deepened with more worry as the realization of that dawned on her, too. "Okay, dear, I'll call the closest hospital around to send an ambulance."

Quickly, she grabbed my phone on the bedside table and placed it in front of my face for face unlock.

The phone unlocked, and she began to tap away on the screen, probably scanning through the hospital's website. And then she was placing the phone on her ear, her expression tense.

I watched anxiously as she waited for someone to pick up. After a while, the phone was answered. "Hello?" She answered the phone. "We need an ambulance... My daughter has a high fever...Okay, how long will it take?"

My anxiety grew as I watched her listen to the response on the other end, her grip on the phone tightening. Her eyes widened in disbelief, and she bit her lip, jaws clenching.

"What do you mean two hours? That's a lot of time," her voice went off with frustration. "But that's Okay, fine."