The Abandoned Wife Dumped Him First (Victoria and Elias) novel Chapter 264

Victoria was stunned.

She couldn't figure out what game Elias was playing this time.

"Ahem... cough..."

Lost in thought, Victoria was startled when Elias suddenly covered his mouth with his fist and coughed several times.

She remembered that just the day before he'd been burning up with a high fever. Seeing his pale, sickly complexion, she hesitated for a moment before asking, "You didn't take your medicine last night?"

Elias suppressed his cough, his voice raspy. "The medicine was in your room."

His words made her realize that after Tobias had carried him into her bedroom to put him on an IV, the medication the doctor prescribed had been left on her nightstand.

She hadn't come out of her room since yesterday afternoon.

Which meant he hadn't taken any medicine since his fever broke.

A pang of guilt shot through her. "You... why didn't you say so earlier?"

Elias looked up, his gaze fixed on her, but he said nothing.

Somehow, Victoria could have sworn she saw a flash of helpless innocence in his eyes.

She had to be mistaken.

She shook her head slightly, dismissing the thought.

Elias took a sip of warm water to soothe his cough. "It's fine. I only missed two doses. You don't need to feel guilty. It's not like I'm going to die."

Victoria fell silent for a few seconds, then stood up, went into her bedroom, and brought out the medicine. She handed it to him. "Three pills per dose. You should take them now."

A glint appeared in Elias's dark eyes, and the corner of his lip curled into an almost imperceptible smile. He took the box. "...Thank you."

Victoria tore off a piece of bread and put it in her mouth. Hearing Elias thank her in that hoarse voice felt wrong.

Maybe because...

In her memory, Elias was not a man who ever said thank you.

Victoria looked around at the room full of stuffed animals and then at the man whose personality seemed to have changed overnight. She couldn't help but wonder if she was still dreaming.

His throat tightened, and the urge to kiss her flashed through his mind. He quickly averted his gaze, suppressing the impulse. "There are outsiders there. It wouldn't be convenient."

Victoria was puzzled. "...Outsiders?"

The Shawn Mansion was enormous, so large you could walk for two days and not see it all. Even though Old Mr. Shawn's three children and their families all lived there, their lives were largely separate.

"Yes. Gen has been visiting my mother frequently lately," Elias explained calmly.

Victoria froze. She had assumed he was talking about Justin Shawn's family, not Genevieve.

But weren't he and Genevieve close?

Victoria's tone was flat. "You and Miss Vale are going to get married eventually, so it shouldn't be that inconvenient, right? Besides, if she's there, she can take care of you."

Elias’s jaw tightened as he struggled to keep his temper in check. "Victoria, do you really have to push me toward another woman?"

Victoria looked at him and could clearly feel the man, who had been relatively stable just moments ago, turn cold and hostile at her words.

But she didn't understand why.