Chapter 12 

Derick held Adrianna’s gaze for a long moment before releasing her abruptly with a sneer. “You don’t even realize you have a fever, do you?” 

He had felt the scorching heat when his thumb brushed her forehead. 

It was only then that Adrianna registered the wave of dizziness washing over her, with Derick seemingly 

blurred into double. 

She instinctively reached for his sleeve, but he caught her wrist instead. 

“Don’t move.” His tone was still cold, but his grip on her eased. 

The car started up again. This time, it headed toward the nearest private hospital. 

Adrianna leaned back into her seat, her consciousness fading. Through the haze, she heard Derick 

speaking into the phone. 

“Get some antipyretics and an IV drip ready… Yes, now.” 

Outside the car window, the neon lights blurred into streaks of color. And suddenly, she remembered that 

rainy night from her past life. 

She had been just as cold, lying in a pool of blood, and Derick had held her in his arms, his voice shaking 

as he called her name. 

“…Anna?” 

The voice in reality pulled her back. At some point, Derick had already parked the car and was now frowning at her. 

“Can you walk?” 

Adrianna wanted to say she was fine, but the moment she moved, her vision went black and her limbs turned to jelly. 

Almost immediately, Derick swept her up into his arms, and she could feel his presence closing in on her like a tide. 

“What a bother,” he murmured, but he held her tighter. 

In the VIP ward, the doctor had just finished his examination. 

“Her temperature’s already reaching 103 degrees Fahrenheit. She needs to be kept under observation,” the doctor said, adjusting his glasses. “Also…” 

The doctor hesitated and glanced at Derick. Derick caught on and followed him out into the hallway. 

“Ms. Quinnen has fresh puncture marks on her arm. Judging by their placement and condition, it’s likely 

Chapter 12 

she was recently forced to have blood drawn.” 

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The doctor continued in a whisper, “She also has multiple fresh-looking bruises and injuries. It’s… unusual.” 

Derick’s gaze grew icy. 

When he returned to the ward, Adrianna was already slipping into semi-consciousness, and her pale face burned red with an unnatural heat. 

A nurse was administering an IV drip. The moment the needle pierced her vein, Adrianna flinched 

instinctively. 

Derick stood by her bed, his gaze falling on her exposed arm. Besides the fresh puncture marks, he noticed several scabbed-over scratches, as if someone had pinned her to the ground and handled her 

roughly. 

His knuckles gave a sharp crack. 

“James…” Adrianna murmured in her fevered sleep. “Why…” 

Derick’s expression hardened once more. He turned to leave, but a burning-hot hand suddenly closed 

around his palm. 

“Derick…” Her voice was almost a sigh. “Don’t go…” 

He stopped in his tracks. 

Moonlight slipped through the gap in the curtains, pooling softly over Adrianna’s sweat-damp forehead. 

Derick stood watching her in silence for a long moment before finally lowering himself back into the chair 

at her bedside. 

Adrianna dreamed she had returned to her past life. 

James had his arm around Cecilia as he walked right past her without so much as a glance. Nolan and 

the others offered false words of comfort to her face while mocking her love behind her back. 

And lastly, the car crash. Blood pooled beneath her while, across the road, the four of them watched, their 

faces hard and unfeeling. 

“No…” Adrianna thrashed in her sleep. “Don’t…” 

A cool hand suddenly pressed on her cheek. 

“Adrianna.” Someone called out her name. It was a low, yet clear voice. “Wake up. 

She jolted awake and found herself staring straight at Derick. He was so close she could see every line of his face in the morning light, along with the faint shadows beneath his eyes. He had clearly stayed up the entire night. 

“You…” Her voice was hoarse beyond recognition. 

Chapter 12 

3/3 

Derick withdrew his hand, his expression returning to its usual indifference. “Your fever’s gone.” 

It was only then that Adrianna noticed the IV tape on the back of her hand. On the stand beside her bed hung an empty medicine bottle, and on the nightstand sat a cup of warm water. 

Her eyes suddenly burned. 

In her past life, when she’d been at her sickest, James had been too busy accompanying Cecilia to even send a single text asking after her. 

“Thank you,” she said softly. 

Derick was fastening his cufflinks when he paused at her words. 

“It’s nothing,” he replied without looking up. “I have a responsibility to make sure you’re healthy while we’re 

engaged.” 

Adrianna smiled, not calling him out on his true feelings. She noticed his suit jacket draped carelessly 

over the couch, still creased from where she had clutched it. 

“I had a beautiful dream,” she said suddenly. “I dreamed everyone abandoned me.” 

Derick looked at her. “Have you fried your brain from the fever? You call that-” 

“Only you came,” she finished softly. 

The air went still. 

For a fleeting moment, Derick’s expression faltered, but it quickly returned to indifference. He picked up his jacket and headed for the door, but stopped when his hand touched the doorknob. 

“Adrianna,” he called out without turning around. “How did you get those injuries?” 

Adrianna lowered her gaze, her fingertips absently brushing over the puncture marks on her arm. 

“If I told you James drew my blood for Cecilia, would you believe me?” she said as she lifted her head, a 

pale smile on her lips. 

Derick went rigid.