An indeterminate time passed before Spencer slowly loosened his grip on Thalia. Thalia stared at him with a complex look in her eyes, saying nary a word.
Looking back at her, Spencer gently toyed with her hair. “Thalia, don't leave me again, okay?” Thalia's eyes were fixed on him, her voice hoarse. “What do you mean by that?”
Pursing his lips, Spencer bore his eyes into her. “You know what? After you left that day, my heart abruptly felt hollow. Never had I been so afraid. Thalia, you've already occupied my heart completely, leaving no room for me to think about anything else.”
As Thalia listened to him, her expression gradually gentled, and delight showed on her face. “Are you serious?”
“When have I ever lied to you?” Spencer asked.
Thalia deliberated for a moment, but she couldn't think of any such instance.
He rejected me in the past and used exceedingly cruel methods, but he had never lied to me. At that thought, hope shone in her eyes.
Spencer looked down at her, his gaze loving beyond words. “I don't think I'd ever forgive myself if anything were to happen to you out there. Therefore, don't leave anymore, okay? Stay by my side, and
let me take care of you!” Undeniably, his words moved Thalia.
After all, he had never said such a thing to her.
At that very moment, she felt that she would have no regrets even if she were to die then.
With her eyes pinned on him, she admitted hoarsely, “But I don't want you to see me when I'm in the throes of a flare-up. I'd be too unsightly. I want to leave you my most wonderful image. Even if I die, I'd still be that beautiful woman!”
“You're not unsightly, not in the least! No matter how you look, you'll always be the most beautiful to me. Also, trust in me. I'll definitely find a way to cure you. I promise!”
“Really?”
“Yes! If I can't cure you, I'll depart this life with you at the time,” Spencer vowed. Hearing that, Thalia quickly shot her hand out and clapped it over his mouth.
“I trust you, but I don't want you to say such a thing!” Thalia chided.
Spencer reached out and pulled her hand down, his gaze on her tender. “Stay, won't you?” A long moment passed before Thalia finally nodded. “Okay.”
At once, a smile bloomed on Spencer's face. In the next second, he reached out and pulled her into his arms.
His grip on her was indescribably tight.
Sensing the force of his hug, Thalia smiled as well.
That's true. Putting aside his medical skills, I'm already content that I can spend my last days on earth with him, even if he can't cure me. In my entire life, I had been abandoned and picked on. For the sake of survival, I did a lot of things, both good and bad. But now that my life is coming to an end, I want to really live for myself for once.
With that thought in mind, she hugged the man back, tears shimmering in her lovely eyes. Outside, Ben and Donna were still waiting for the two adults to finish their discussion. “Say, the two of them aren't having a row, right?” Ben was slightly worried.
On the contrary, Donna alternated between studying her nails and smoothing her hair. Seeing that her brother was fretful, she assured, “No. Don't worry!”
“Why not?” Ben questioned.
“It's evident from the expression on Spencer's face when we left the room,” Donna revealed. However, Ben was still puzzled. “What expression was on his face?”
“Well... the expression of hoping to salvage things immediately!” Donna concluded. “For real?” Ben asked with a slight frown, still a touch skeptical.
In response, Donna exclaimed, “Of course! Spencer strode forward and grabbed Thalia. Wasn't that obvious enough?”
While at that, he almost hugged her.
Unfortunately, Ben proceeded to put forth an even more ridiculous question. “How is he grabbing her an obvious sign? Aren't you worried that they'd get physical with each other?”
Donna was struck dumb. “That's impossible. Thalia is injured right now. How could Spencer possibly get physical with her?”
“What if Thalia were to make the first move, then?” Ben pressed. “Even so, he wouldn't fight back. He would only dodge!”
“Hence, there's still a possibility of them getting physical, right?” Ben insisted. Donna was utterly speechless.
Argh! How should I explain it to him?
Holding his gaze, she bobbed her head. “Yes. While that possibility exists, it isn't the normal development of things.”
“That's not necessarily true!”
Shooting daggers at him, Donna was so incensed that she nodded. Verily, she wasn't in the mood to continue arguing with him anymore. “Fine. Whatever you say, Ben!”
At long last, Ben likewise bobbed his head.
Subsequently, he leaned close to the door and perked up his ears. “There's no movement inside.” This time, Donna didn't even bother to lift her head. “That's because they aren't fighting.” Ben then glanced back over his shoulder. “Shall we knock on the door and ask?”
The instant Donna heard that, she snapped her eyes up at him. “Don't do anything impulsive, Ben! This might be the time when their relationship is warming up. Don't ruin things!”
“That's impossible!” Ben retorted.
“You don't believe me?” Donna arched a brow.
“It's not that I don't believe you. I just find it hard to believe,” Ben countered. “How about a bet?” Donna suggested.
“What do you want to bet about?”
“We'll bet whether they're making up in the room or their relationship is deteriorating,” Donna replied. Ben nodded in agreement. “Sure! Let's have a bet!”
“All right, then. I bet their relationship would have undoubtedly improved when they come out!” “I bet that's impossible!”
“Okay, let's just wait and see!” Donna declared.
“I shall wait and see!” Ben bobbed his head and also started waiting patiently. Time crawled as the minutes ticked past.
Just when they were at the end of their patience, the door was suddenly opened from the inside. At that, the two children instantly swung their gazes in that direction.
Spencer and Thalia walked out from the room.
They both looked at each other and even exchanged a smile.
At that sight, Ben and Donna similarly shared a look. Then, they swiftly hurried over to the couple. “Thalia!”
When Thalia saw that the two children were still outside the door, she trained her eyes on them. “You're both still here?”
“How could we rest easy without laying eyes on you?” Donna quipped.
Her endearing expression had Thalia reach out and tap the tip of her nose. “You're the best!”
That compliment had Donna giggling in delight before regarding her solemnly. “Are you still leaving, Thalia?”
Thalia looked up at Spencer before shifting her gaze back to the two children. She shook her head. “You're really not leaving anymore?” Donna asked.
“Indeed!” Thalia assured.
A grin stretched Donna 's face from ear to ear, and she crowed, “This is more like it! With this, we don't need to worry anymore!”
At the side, Spencer watched as they rejoiced before interjecting, “You guys go ahead and talk. I'll make a trip to the laboratory.”
In response, Thalia nodded. “Okay.” “Remember to rest,” Spencer ordered. “I will.”
Spencer smiled at her before heading toward the laboratory. Noticing that they had been flirting, Ben was entirely stumped.
Only when Spencer had left did he venture, “What's with the two of you, Thalia?” Speaking of that, Thalia drawled, “What's with the two of us?”
“No, I mean, weren't you both fighting?” “Were we?” Thalia asked in return.
“Were you not?” Ben did exactly the same.
In the end, Thalia burst into laughter. “You remembered wrongly. I've got no recollection of any such thing!”
Words eluded Ben .
At that precise moment, Donna quirked a brow at Ben . “IQ doesn't equate to EQ, Ben. Am I not right?”