“No, it was just that…” Thinking of Matthew, Arabella couldn’t help but recall the moment she had been pressed against his chest earlier. She immediately gave her head a firm shake.
“What is it? Are you feeling alright?” Lucas asked, his concern evident.
“I’m fine,” Arabella said, forcing a smile and changing the subject. “What did the doctors say today during rounds?”
“Oh, all my vitals have improved a lot. If things keep progressing like this, I can be discharged tomorrow. After that, it’ll just be about taking it easy and following up,” Lucas replied.
“That’s good to hear.” Arabella felt a sense of relief. It was comforting to know he was on the mend.
“By the way,” Lucas began, thinking for a moment, “did you know Ruby is in the hospital too? She’s sick.”
‘How did you find out about that?” Arabella asked, puzzled. How would he, stuck in a hospital room, get news like that?
Lucas explained, “My uncle mentioned it. He said he wants to launch a full investigation into the school’s food services.”
‘What does that have to do with Ruby?” Arabella was somewhat confused by the connection.
‘Well, my uncle’s reasoning is that since I got sick from something at the school café, and now another student is sick too, he’s worried there might be a systemic food safety issue. He wants to get to the bottom of it for his own peace of mind.”
‘Ruby’s condition has nothing to do with the school,” Arabella stated flatly. “Unlike yours, which was directly caused by Ruby, but now the school’s café is taking the blame.”
‘That’s what I tried to tell him, but he wouldn’t listen. He’s stubborn. I’ll just let him do his thing,” Lucas said, sounding like he couldn’t be bothered to argue further.
Arabella wasn’t one to meddle in other people’s business either, so she let the matter drop.
‘Oh, about the drink situation… did you figure out what happened?” Lucas inquired.
“It was Ruby…” Arabella gave him a brief summary of what she had discovered.
Lucas was stunned. “Is she out of her mind?!”
How could anyone do something so reckless?
“It would appear so,” Arabella said coolly
“So, what are you going to do about it?” Lucas asked. Then, with a look of dawning realization, he turned to her. “Wait. Ruby being hospitalized… that wasn’t your doing, was it…?”
“What are you implying?” Arabella gave him a mildly scolding look. “Ruby’s illness hasn’t even been properly diagnosed by the specialists yet.”
“Oh, right.” Lucas scratched his head, a little embarrassed. For a moment, he had thought Arabella might have been seeking revenge on his behalf.
Sensing his train of thought, Arabella said with a faint smile, “You can think of it as… Instant karma,”
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1:59 am
Chapter 330 Visiting the Patient
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“Yeah, I guess so. She hurt me, and now she’s getting a taste of her own medicine,” Lucas complained. “You have no idea how much it hurt. I seriously thought I was a goner.”
Arabella nodded. Dying was unlikely, but the pain must have been intense.
‘Since you’re doing better, I should get going. I’ll come pick you up for discharge tomorrow,” Arabella said, standing up.
Lucas hesitated for a moment, looking like he had something difficult to ask. “Um… about that special soup you made… do you have any left?”
He was genuinely disappointed he hadn’t gotten to eat what Arabella had personally prepared.
‘I’ll bring you some tomorrow,” Arabella promised.
.ucas‘ face instantly lit up. “I’ll be waiting for you then.”
Are you five years old? Getting this excited over some soup,” Arabella said, an amused and slightly helpless smile on her lips.
‘It’s different.” It’s special because you made it.
Arabella nodded. “Good that you appreciate it. The tonic I prepare genuinely aids recovery.”
‘It helps when you’re sick, but what about someone like Matthew? He’s not sick. Isn’t it a waste for him to have it?” Lucas‘ tone carried a distinct hint of something–jealousy, perhaps.
It’s nourishing too,” Arabella answered honestly.
Nourishing?” Lucas didn’t quite follow.
Arabella thought for a second. “Think of it as… strengthening the constitution and building resilience.”
As soon as the words left her mouth, for some inexplicable reason, the memory of her hands clutching Matthew’s shirtfront looded back into Arabella’s mind.
Thinking about it now more clearly… the firm, defined texture she had felt beneath her fingers… those were well–developed pectoral muscles, weren’t they?
The realization hit her, and Arabella couldn’t suppress a soft, startled intake of breath.
Goodness, what on earth am I thinking?!
Instantly, she felt her cheeks grow warm. “I just remembered I have something else to take care of. I really should go.”
With that, she turned and hurried out of the room.
“Arabella, wait…” Watching her leave so abruptly, Lucas felt a twinge of worry.
What just happened? Why did she seem so flustered?
Once outside the room, Arabella took several deep breaths to steady her suddenly racing heart.
She lightly patted her warm cheeks, willing herself to calm down. Regaining her composure, she made her way out of the hospital.
Stepping outside, she saw it was still early in the afternoon. She pulled out her phone and dialed.
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