The Abandoned Wife Dumped Him First (Victoria and Elias) novel Chapter 26

Sure enough, Victoria developed a fever again.

When Anne brought the hangover pills and warm soup in, she found Victoria submerged in cold water, her delicate face completely devoid of color, like a lifeless doll.

Elias hadn't left after storming out of the master bedroom; he'd gone to the study.

Hearing Anne's urgent knocking, his expression changed.

He quickly barked into the phone, "I don't want to see Ronald in this city ever again," before hanging up and striding back to the bedroom.

He lifted the unconscious Victoria from the water and carried her to the bed.

Her body was burning hot, her brow furrowed in discomfort.

Elias's gaze fell on her open palm. The red mark had been washed pale by the water, leaving only a faint indentation. His eyes darkened slightly.

Shortly after, the family doctor arrived. He took Victoria's temperature—102.7 degrees Fahrenheit—and immediately started an IV drip.

"When will the fever break?" Elias asked, his expression unreadable as he watched the medicine flow into her vein.

"I've given her a fever reducer. Normally, it should start coming down in about half an hour," the doctor replied.

Anne, standing by the bed, was still worried. "But the last time Mrs. Shawn had a fever, it didn't break all night. I don't know about this time..."

"A fever? When did she have a fever?" Elias looked at Anne.

Anne hesitated before explaining softly, "It was on the fifteenth. Mrs. Shawn came home soaked from the rain and developed a high fever that night. I... I called you, sir, but the calls never went through."

The fifteenth? That was the night of the family dinner.

Elias's lips tightened. He had been with Genevieve that night. Although she was fine, she kept saying she felt anxious. To be safe, he had stayed and worked on his laptop outside her room. He'd put his phone on airplane mode so as not to disturb her.

He had seen the missed calls the next morning but hadn't thought much of it. He had even come home.

But he never knew Victoria had been sick all night from the rain.

At the thought, a strange tightness bloomed in Elias's chest, a suffocating and uncomfortable feeling.

"She drank an entire bottle of liquor tonight. Will that affect the fever reducer?"

"An entire bottle of liquor?!" The doctor's face showed his shock. He instinctively glanced at Victoria, but immediately felt two cold glares on him.

Sure enough, Victoria's fever broke not long after.

But the alcohol had sent her into a deep sleep. She didn't stir until the next afternoon, waking up famished.

"Anne." Victoria came downstairs and walked to the kitchen counter.

"Mrs. Shawn, you're awake! Are you feeling unwell anywhere?" Anne was cleaning but turned around at the sound of her voice, her tone full of concern.

Victoria placed a hand over her stomach. The burning sensation hadn't completely subsided; there was still a dull ache.

"No," she said, shaking her head. "How long was I asleep? Is there anything to eat?"

"You've been asleep for almost a full day and night, Mrs. Shawn." Anne put down what she was doing. "I made some nourishing soup. You had a fever after drinking last night, so you should eat something light. I'll get you a bowl."

"Okay, thank you. You must be tired now." Victoria replied faintly, pressing her cool fingertips to her temples.

"It's no trouble at all! If anyone's tired, it's—Sir! Are you heading out?" Anne was ladling the soup when she looked up and saw Elias coming down the stairs.

Victoria's back stiffened instantly. She turned to see Elias, dressed in a tailored suit, standing not far from her.