Tony and Ben exchanged a look before walking out of the room without saying anything. “Tony, Ben,” Donna called out, but the two boys did not even turn their heads around.
“Wait for me!” Donna cried out before moving to go after them. However, Thalia stopped her. “Donna , is Nelly okay?”
Donna shook her head. “She looks fine, but...” “But what?”
Donna stared at Thalia, the worry she was feeling visible on her face. After a while of hesitation, she said, “Thalia, say, would a person really pass out from anemia? Nelly has always been healthy, and I don't think that's...”
Thalia froze when she registered Donna 's words.
She did not know why Nelly passed out, but she knew well that it was not caused by anemia. Instead, it might be due to the poison in her.
Right then, Donna cocked her head and prompted, “Thalia?”
Her voice pulled Thalia back to reality, and she turned to the girl. “What's the matter?” “That's what I should be asking you. Why are you spacing out?” Donna asked.
Thalia hummed for a second before saying, “I'm not. I'm thinking about Nelly . Of course, a person could easily pass out from anemia. Since Nelly donated so much blood to me the other day, it's quite possible.”
Right then, a thought popped into Thalia's head.
Did Spencer come to take my blood for this? Would she have passed the poison to me if I had taken her blood?
At that, Thalia paled.
Nevertheless, she tried to keep the atmosphere light-hearted as she nonchalantly continued, “So this is normal. Don't worry.”
“Is that so?” Donna frowned.
“Of course!”
Donna nodded. “Okay, then.” As long as it's not anything else.
Right then, Thalia asked, “Donna , do you know which room Spencer's doing experiments in?” “I do!”
“Please take me there.”
Donna 's frown deepened. “Can you get out of bed already?”
“Of course!” came Thalia's reply before she sat up with difficulty. “Spencer asked me to exercise as long as I don't overdo it.”
Donna quickly stepped forward to help Thalia out when she saw her struggling.
Thalia let out a long sigh once she was sitting upright. She then forced herself to give Donna a smile before saying, “I really can't lie on this bed for too long, or else I'm going to end up a lazy bum!” With that, she moved to get off the bed. Donna hastily placed her shoes properly for her. Warmth seeped into Thalia's heart when she saw Donna 's caring action, and she said, “Thank you, Donna .”
Donna flashed a smile at her before holding her to support her. “Be careful!” Thalia then slowly got down from the bed.
Another sigh escaped Thalia's lips once she had her feet planted on the ground. “Are you okay?” Donna asked.
“I'm fine!”
“Be careful, then. Take things slowly.”
As Thalia inched forward with care, she turned to Donna and commented, “You're quite good at taking care of people!”
“I've seen it often, but this is the first time I'm doing this,” Donna replied. “You've seen it often? Where?”
“On the internet.”
“Why are you seeing these things on the internet?” Thalia wondered out loud.
“Nelly was robbed by several people after work a few years ago when we were overseas, and she had been hurt by a knife. It's what the nurse aides in the hospital did for Nelly when she was in the hospital. We were too young to take care of Nelly , but we learned these skills in case something like this happens again. That way, we'll be able to take better care of her.”
Thalia's heart sank when she heard Donna 's explanation. It was common for incidents like these to happen overseas. As a matter of fact, some of the ruffians solely targeted foreigners. Women were the most common targets, and as they were in a foreign land, they would be dismissed even if they were to lodge a police report.
Furthermore, Nelly was raising three children by herself. It was obvious life was challenging for her. Even if the three children were geniuses, they were still young and helpless.
Thalia lowered her gaze. “I'm surprised that those robbers could rob Nelly , honestly.”
She had seen how Nelly had fought the lunatic in the hospital. Although she could see that Nelly was not a professional fighter, the skills she displayed would be more than enough to deal with the few robbers.
Donna sighed upon hearing Thalia. “It wasn't just a few; it was a whole group. Moreover, Nelly was ambushed. That was why she failed to gain the upper hand in the situation.”
Spencer was driven to a corner as Thalia eyed him intently. After a few moments, he said, “I don't know yet.”
“That means I'm probably poisoned?” she asked.
He took a deep breath and gazed at her. “Logically, yes.” Thalia felt her heart sank instantaneously.
At that moment, she didn't feel the slightest hint of sorrow. Instead, only regrets filled her heart as she looked at him.
“But you don't have to worry because I won't let anything happen to you. I'll create an antidote as soon as possible—”
“Spencer, I love you. I really, really love you!” Thalia piped up while staring into his eyes.
Spencer was stunned. Various emotions swirled in his eyes as he regarded her with an unfathomable look.
Thalia continued, “Don't worry. You don't have to give me an answer now, nor am I hoping to get an answer from you. I said that because I don't want to regret keeping these feelings to myself. Spencer, I fell for you at first sight. That was when you rescued me when I was little. Although I don't understand why you're always avoiding and rejecting me, those aren't important anymore. I only hope that you won't forget me even when you're with another woman in the future. Remember that there was once a woman who loved you very, very much. I'd be contented even if you reserved the smallest corner in your heart for me—”
The next second, Spencer suddenly pulled her into his arms and held her tightly.
He didn't say a word and merely expressed all the unsaid things in the form of a powerful embrace.
Thalia was taken aback. Even though she now knew Spencer was a little interested in her, the insignificant amount of affection he conveyed via the hug wasn't enough to convince her.
She muttered beside his ear, “I used to fantasize about marrying you and giving birth to your child. I figured our child would be very adorable and good-looking. It seems like these wishes won't be coming true now. Spencer, if you ever get married someday, please don't tell me because I certainly won't want to know. I'm just a selfish person. It's not that I don't want you to be happy, but I simply can't accept that outcome. I am so selfish that I hope you'll belong only to me—”
“In that case, I won't get married. I'll remain yours for the rest of my life,” Spencer abruptly murmured while holding her close.
Thalia was dumbfounded. She even thought her ears were playing tricks on her.
“Spencer...” she mumbled.
Only then did he gradually let go of her and bored his captivating eyes into her grimly. “Thalia, rest assured. I won't let anything happen to you. If I fail to save you in the end, I'll keep you company in the afterlife.”
She froze before frowning. “Spencer, you're joking, right?” “I'm always serious toward you,” he enunciated.
Thalia's eyes shone. She immediately reached out to cover his mouth. “No, no, no. I don't want that, Spencer. I forbid you from saying things like that. Although I don't wish for you to be with another woman, I still want you to live. I just hope you won't forget about me.”
He grasped her hand and placed it on his chest, above his heart. Staring into her eyes, he whispered, “How could I ever forget you? I've etched you here long ago, and I'll never forget you even if I want to.”
She shifted her gaze from where his heart was to his face. “A-Are you serious?” He nodded.
Thalia was stumped. She didn't care if he was merely saying those words to comfort her or being genuinely earnest. She was about to die from getting poisoned anyway, so she chose to believe him.
Thalia buried her face in his embrace. I'll be selfish for once. As long as I'm able to spend the remaining time I have with Spencer, I won't have any more regrets in this life.
Complicated emotions churned within Spencer as he hugged her.
After a long while, he said, “Don't worry. I won't let anything bad happen to you, even if I have to risk my life.”
She remained silent and continued leaning against his chest. Her eyes were closed, but the corner of her lips was curled into a smile.
Meanwhile, Nelly was sitting on the bed with her three children surrounding her bedside inside the room.
Taking in their concerned faces, she felt utterly helpless.
At that moment, there wasn't anything unusual going on with her body, nor was she feeling the slightest discomfort. On the contrary, she felt relaxed and inexplicably at ease.
Staring at them, Nelly said, “The way you all are looking at me makes me feel as if I'm old. What's the matter? Have I become a burden to you?”
Tony eyed her. “Nelly ! You know that's not what we mean!”
“If that's not the case, why are you wearing those long faces?” she asked. “Nelly , we're worried about you...”
“Worried about what?”
“Look at your body's condition lately. You've never been so weak in the past, but now, you're passing out because of anemia? How is this happening?”
“Am I not allowed to be anemic after transferring so much blood?”
“That's not it. We just think...” Tony didn't quite know how to put his thoughts into sentences.
“Instead of watching me with those troubled faces, why don't you prepare something delicious for me to keep me well-nourished? Once I'm supplemented with nutrients, you wouldn't have to worry about me anymore, no?” Nelly suggested.
Seeing her optimistic and proactive demeanor significantly reduced the three kids' anxieties.
“Nelly , I'll cook something tasty for you right now.” Donna turned around and jogged out of the room as she spoke.