Sidney had texted, "She’s not my girlfriend."Maria shut off her phone without replying and went to change her clothes."Does it even matter?" she muttered to herself.He had defended that girl in public, and it had irritated her. Now, with this half-hearted explanation afterward, it felt completely unnecessary."If she’s not your girlfriend, then why step in?" she thought. He even apologized on her behalf, acting like they were close—what was the deal with that? The whole thing left Maria feeling restless and annoyed. She opened a bottle of wine and began drinking straight from it.With an empty stomach and no food to cushion the alcohol, it didn’t take long for her to feel a dull ache creeping through her stomach. Sitting on the couch, her gaze drifted into the distance, her thoughts swirling.Looking back, she realized how happy she had been before Sidney entered her life. She had gone wherever she wanted and done whatever she felt like doing. When she was in a bad mood, she’d b
Maria stared into Herman's eyes, noticing the sincerity and warmth in them. There wasn’t a hint of deceit. She smiled and said, "Whoever you fall in love with is going to be very lucky."Herman smiled back and clinked his glass with hers. "I think that’s the least anyone deserves. Every person is an individual, free in their own right. Love shouldn’t be something that traps or binds you. It should make both people better, not something that drags them into endless suffering.""Well said!" Maria clapped her hands, downing another glass of wine.Herman watched her, his brows knitting slowly. After a pause, he asked, "That man earlier... you know him, don’t you?"Maria nodded, "Yes. He used to be a designer in my studio. Now, he’s my business partner."She drank a bit too quickly, and the alcohol hit her fast, a rosy blush creeping onto her cheeks."At first, the way things started between us wasn’t great. It was full of calculations and ulterior motives. I thought once everything ended,
Maria’s eyes were half-lidded, her cheeks flushed as she gazed at him through the haze of alcohol. "You... you're really good-looking," she murmured, her words slurred.She was definitely drunk.Herman gently grasped her wrist, removing her hand from where it lingered. "Thanks, you're not too bad yourself," he replied with a small smile.When he stood and put some distance between them, Maria blinked and asked, "Why are you getting up?""You should rest," Herman said softly. "If you need anything, call me. I’m heading out."Taking advantage of someone in this state wasn’t his style. He wouldn’t do something like that—especially when Maria clearly didn’t have feelings for him.He tucked the blanket around her, adjusted the air conditioning to a comfortable level, and quietly left the room.As the door clicked shut, the room fell into silence. Maria stared blankly at the ceiling for a moment before slowly closing her eyes....When Herman stepped out of the room, he spotted someone sta
Maria forced herself to stand and open the door. Sidney was already there, his eyes narrowing in concern when he saw her pale face and the way she was hunched over in pain.“What happened?” he asked as he stepped forward to steady her.Maria leaned into him, her voice weak. “My stomach... it hurts a lot. Take me to the hospital.”"Alright," Sidney said, his tone serious. He helped her sit down in a chair, quickly grabbing her phone and bag before lifting her into his arms and hurrying out of the room.As they reached the hallway, Tiana happened to return and immediately blocked their way. "Hey, where are you taking her?""Move," Sidney said, his face dark with urgency.Tiana looked at Maria, noticing how pale and sickly she seemed. She was clearly in bad shape.Without further argument, Tiana stepped aside but followed closely, her voice filled with concern. "Maria, do you still know what's happening? Do you know who’s carrying you?""Yes," Maria whispered softly.Hearing that, Tiana b
Tiana sighed. "Of course we’re worried! What happened? How did you end up with a stomach perforation all of a sudden?""It’s nothing, I just had a bit too much to drink," Maria explained, her voice light but tired."That’s my fault," Herman interjected, his face filled with concern as he looked at Maria. "I should’ve made sure you ate something."Tiana’s eyes widened as she turned to her brother. "Wait, you were with her when she was drinking?""Yeah," Herman admitted.Tiana immediately gave him a light punch on the arm. "Why didn’t you stop her? Drinking on an empty stomach is dangerous!""It’s my fault," Herman said quietly."Stop arguing, I’m fine now," Maria said, waving her hand weakly. "I’ll be more careful next time."Tiana crossed her arms. "I don’t care. It’s my brother’s responsibility to take care of you until you’re fully recovered. If not, I’ll tell Mom and Dad that he’s been mistreating girls!"Maria was taken aback. "That’s really not necessary..."Tiana shook her head.
Maria blinked a few times, then said, "I’m feeling a bit thirsty."Herman shook his head gently. "You can’t drink water right now. How about this—I’ll use a cotton swab to moisten your lips. It’ll help a little, alright?"Maria was silent for a moment before asking, "When can I drink water?""In 24 hours," Herman replied.Immediately, Maria’s expression turned despairing, and she closed her eyes, looking defeated. "I’m really thirsty..."Herman didn’t say anything more but turned and busied himself. Moments later, Maria felt something cool and moist on her lips. Startled, she opened her eyes to find Herman sitting at the bedside, holding a cup of water in one hand and a cotton swab in the other, carefully moisturizing her lips.His expression was focused, his eyes resting solely on her lips, without any other intention. The room was brightly lit, casting clear lines across his handsome features. His calm, attentive gaze made Maria pause for a moment.It was a strange feeling, unfamil
"Alright, alright, best friend, I’ll give you a certificate of excellence!" Maria laughed.Tiana grinned cheekily, "Forget the certificate—just be my sister-in-law."Maria gave her a sideways glance. "If I become your sister-in-law, your carefree days will be over.""Why?" Tiana blinked her wide eyes in confusion."Because I’d team up with your mom and start arranging blind dates for you," Maria teased."No, please!" Tiana groaned dramatically, "I’m still young! I don’t want a boyfriend yet—don’t be so cruel!"Maria chuckled. "Then you better stop meddling in my love life."Tiana paused, then said, "Wait a minute. Does that mean you don’t like my brother?"Her eyes gleamed as she added, "Do you like that pretty boy?”"Huh?" Maria was caught off guard."You know, your business partner. He totally looks like a pretty boy—no real talent, just a bad attitude. You know what they call guys like him? A 'social climber!' And let me tell you, social climbers are not to be trusted. “Their ego i
Maria had been cooped up in the hospital for a week, and today she finally had the chance to stretch her legs with a walk around the artificial lake. Her body felt stiff from lying down for so long, and the cool breeze against her skin was a welcome relief from the heat.Herman walked beside her and asked, "Are you thirsty?""A little," Maria replied."Wait here, I'll grab some water," he said, turning to leave."Okay." Maria smiled, watching him walk away before turning her attention back to the lake. The hospital grounds, usually weighed down by an oppressive atmosphere, seemed lighter with people around, many of whom were also enjoying the fresh air."Ha, what a two-faced woman," a snide voice suddenly interrupted her peace.Maria turned to see Diana standing a short distance away, glaring at her with hostility."Are you talking about yourself?" Maria asked, blinking innocently. "That's quite an interesting self-reflection.""I’m talking about you!" Diana snapped, storming closer. "