Chapter 234 - 37: You Have A Fever

My God. Kate cried out inside. Now? She was in such a state.

She could not do it now.

He grew impatient and came over to do it himself. He was an expert in stripping, and soon she was left in just bras and underpants. She held her arms against her c.h.e.s.t by instinct.

Tristan didn't continue and carried her to the bathroom. Tristan put her into the tub already filled with water. "It is cool." Kate hunched her shoulders and wanted to get out.

He pushed her back and said, "It is warm. You are almost frozen. Cannot use water that is too hot."

Kate touched her own knees, and they were freezing. But sitting in the tub almost n.a.k.e.d under the gaze of a fully dressed man, she felt comfortable somehow. She curled her toes, bent her legs, and hugged her knees.

Tristan pressed her flat so that she could all soak in the water. He raised his hand to push her hair back and combed her hair with his fingers. There wasn't d.e.s.i.r.e in his eyes, but his expression made Kate feel more awkward to look at him.

The next second, she gave out a low cry. Tristan asked, "What is wrong?"

Kate could not say it. It was probably because they had had s.e.x too vigorously. Some part below was wounded, and it hurt soaking in the water. Kate frowned and shook her head. She said nothing. This proved the water was warm, she thought.

Tristan squatted, watching her, and touched her to check her temperature from time to time. He went out to make a call, and when he returned, he brought a pair of men's pajamas.

After he confirmed that Kate had returned to normal, he allowed her to come out of the tub.

As the lingerie was wet, Kate had to put the pajamas on without u.n.d.e.r.w.e.a.r. The pants were extremely long, and she had rolled up almost to her feet to avoid being tripped over. Before she got out of the bathroom, she looked in the mirror. She looked like a kid wearing a.d.u.l.t clothes or a person in a bag.

Tristan showed up at the door of the dining hall and asked her to come over. Kate was surprised to see four courses on the table, "You made these?"

Tristan rolled his eyes, "I ordered it. There is a restaurant just downstairs."

He just sat there watching her eating. She thought he might reprimand her, but he just sat there quietly and even got her a cup of water. She was speculating inside that Tristan might act strangely tonight. Would he have an outburst later?

Even though the bed was strange to her, Kate was exhausted and fell asleep easily, surrounded by the familiar scent. Half-awake, Kate felt that someone was touching her forehead, her cheeks, and even reaching under her loose pajamas. It was strange that she didn't feel startled and woke up as before.

She slept deeply and had a dream that her home was on fire. She ran into the house to save her brother and sister, and then she thought of her grandma, who was still in the house. She wanted to run in again, but the beam fell down. She cried for her grandma until her dry and sore throat could not make any sound.

Then Tristan woke her up. She opened her eyes and met his. He put his hand on her forehead and told her, "You have a fever."

Tristan found the medicine kit and measured her temperature to be 39℃.

He got the water and let her take some fever reducer.

Kate heard him call somebody to get her an infusion while she was in a daze. She said, "Didn't I just take medication? I will be OK after some sleep. I had a harder fever than this before. Don't worry."

Kate hid in the blanket and just showed half of her reddened face, which looked piteous and funny.

Tristan smiled the first time that night. He scr.a.p.ed his finger along with her nose and said, "Your brain was burnt stupid that time?"

Kate frowned, "So you are saying I am stupid. I am not stupid."

***

It was a special night, not just for them.

Jessie woke up when the day broke. Her head was splitting. It didn't feel good to have a hangover.

When she moved, she realized something wrong. She turned back in alert and found a person lying beside her, with eyes closed and satisfaction on their face.

She scratched her head with remorse. She tried to put the pieces of her memory together, and then she cursed damn and got up. The person beside her soon called, "Jessica."

Owen rubbed his eyes and sat up, hugging her from behind, still n.a.k.e.d. "I will take responsibility for you…"

Jessie pulled her hands away and said, "We are all grown-ups. And I am drunk. Take it as a one night stand."

And then she got out of the bed naturally and got a robe. She put it on and then walked to the bathroom.

When she got out of the bathroom, Owen had dressed up and put on his glasses. He was back to the gentleman he looked like usually.

Jessie had also pulled herself together, "Don't think too much of it. We are not fit for each other."

She sat down to do her makeup. Owen looked at the woman in the mirror and said, "Do you think you still can possibly be with that guy? He dumped you for a waitress."

Jessie changed her face, "Owen, do you believe I could sue you for r.a.p.e? Taking advantage of others. You mean so little, Mr. Guy. At this point, Tristan is one hundred times better than you."

"But he has no interest in you."

"You shut up." Jessie threw what she had in her hand at him.

Owen didn't dodge, and the thing scratched along the corner of his eye. It dropped on the floor. It was a foundation brush. He frowned, "Don't have such delusions."

"Get out." Jessie roared and started to throw whatever on the dresser to him.

A few things hit the target, and Owen had to turn and left.

When he got downstairs, he touched the scratch on the corner of his eye and felt resentment inside. Whatever Jessie did to him, he wouldn't be angry with her, but he would put them on Tristan's account.

Fox, one day, I will disclose what you truly are and show it to her. Men like you don't deserve her love.

Kate saw Laura when she woke up. She touched her forehead to check her temperature and asked how she felt.

Kate thought she was back at the villa. She looked around. Laura said, "Mr. Fox called me and asked me to come here to take care of you. I have to call him now that your fever has gone."

For Kate, today was worse. After a night's sleep, her legs were still sore, and the soles had blisters. Today she was still very exhausted because of the walking and struggling in the snow the day before.

Tristan came back in the evening and saw her sitting on the couch with a newspaper in one hand and the other hand hammering her legs. He said it didn't work that way. He sat down and pulled her leg onto his l.a.p, rolled up the pants, and started to massage.

Kate was flattered and stiffened. He padded her calf and ordered, "Relax."

He was good at it. He kneaded her from ankle upward, inch by inch, with appropriate strength. It was comfortable but…

Kate grabbed a cushion and held it in her arms. It gave her some feeling of safety. She didn't know why but she felt the situation was strange. Looking at him massaging with patience and earnestness, she started to wonder how he got such expertise.

Did he practice on someone else?

Then she thought back to her talk with Jessie yesterday. Kate felt uncomfortable thinking of what Jessie had told her.

And back to days ago, when Tristan had asked her if she wanted to hang the painting, she bought in her study.

She had asked him instead what he wanted. And he said if she found it a disturbance, then just to put it away. She was puzzled and asked what disturbance. Tristan glanced at her and didn't say anything. 

She had never seen that painting ever since.