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. "
Sidney replied calmly, "I saw everything. And let’s be honest, didn’t you deserve that slap?""Pfft..." Maria, standing beside him, couldn’t hold back her laughter, her amusement clear.Diana’s face twisted even more, turning an ugly shade of red. She stared at Sidney for a long moment before finally saying, "I really misjudged you!"With that, she stormed off, clearly furious.Sidney frowned slightly. Running off without even an apology? How rude.Turning back, he found Maria smiling brightly, her eyes curved into happy crescents. She was clearly enjoying the moment.Sidney pressed his lips together briefly and asked, "How’s your health?"Maria shrugged playfully. "See for yourself—I’m doing just fine. I even had the strength to slap someone."Sidney’s eyes flickered. "True... you didn’t hold back at all."A breeze swept by, and for a moment, Sidney fell into a quiet contemplation.Maria broke the silence, tilting her head slightly as she asked, "You’ve been around a lot these past f
Sidney pressed his lips together, his gaze fixed on Maria's face, waiting for her reaction.Maria glanced at Herman, meeting his gentle, smiling eyes, which were now softly watching her. His gaze was focused and tender, giving her a feeling of reliability and safety, even though they hadn't known each other for long. He seemed like the perfect boyfriend material—suitable for a well-bred girl.But she considered herself trouble, someone unsuitable."Thank you." Maria reached out, taking the coat from him with a smile.Herman draped the coat over her shoulders and said warmly, "It's getting a bit windy, don’t catch a cold."His kindness was thoughtful and attentive.Sidney observed everything in silence.Maria took a sip of water before turning to Sidney, "I’ll consider what you said. You should head back for now."The light in Sidney’s eyes dimmed little by little, and he lowered his gaze, resembling a sad puppy that hadn’t been comforted or encouraged. If he had ears, they would proba
"Sigh..." Tiana let out a long breath, realizing that Maria truly didn’t have feelings for her brother.She had hoped that Maria could become her sister-in-law. There was a sense of disappointment and regret, even if just a little.Seeing Tiana’s frowning face, Maria said helplessly, "What’s this? Just because I can’t be your sister-in-law doesn’t mean we can’t still be friends, right?""Of course, we’re still friends!" Tiana responded immediately. "I just wanted to strengthen the bond between us. But if that’s not possible, it won’t affect our relationship!""Then stop sighing. I feel fine, and I don’t want to stay in the hospital anymore," Maria said.Tiana nodded, "Then you should get another checkup. If everything’s clear, you can be discharged.""Alright."After another thorough examination, her recovery was going well, and the doctor recommended that she continue her rest at home. That afternoon, Maria completed the discharge procedures.Herman didn’t show up. He had been schedul