A faint smile graced Nelly 's lips, and she gazed at the woman before her. “It's a simple game. Let's guess whether the next person walking through the main entrance is a male or a female!”
“We have a lot more female housekeepers than male housekeepers, right?” Thalia queried. Nelly nodded elegantly. “I'll let you take your guess first.”
“Female,” Thalia answered.
“Okay. I'll just pick the other option.”
Nelly and Thalia stared intently at each other.
“I hope you'll stick to your words later,” Thalia said.
“Well, of course! I won't go back on my words.” Nelly smiled faintly. Then, the two fell silent as they locked gazes.
This appeared to be a competition, but in fact, they both wanted their opponent to win.
Meanwhile, those three men stood by and watched quietly. This game decides who lives and who dies! Considering the stakes, the game might be too simple but is the only fair way to decide their fates. We should just let them settle this themselves and watch from the side.
As time continued to tick by, no one came through the door.
Dave, who was usually calm and composed, couldn't help feeling somewhat nervous.
Since it was late, most of the housekeepers were outside, and only a few were inside. Hence, the situation became tense, and it felt as though time ticked by slower than usual.
Dead silence filled the hall, and it was so quiet they could even hear the clock ticking.
Nelly and Thalia grew tired of staring at each other, so the former summoned one of the housekeepers, “Please make me a cup of coffee. Thank you.”
With that, she shifted her gaze toward Thalia. “Do you want a cup of coffee?”
Thalia was wondering how Nelly managed to stay composed in a situation like that. My odds of winning are greater than Nelly 's. If Nelly can manage to stay calm, why can't I?
“Sure.” Thalia nodded.
Nelly even turned toward the men and asked, “How about you guys? Coffee?” “We'll have one cup each,” Dave answered.
The housekeeper nodded with a smile. “All right. Please wait for a moment.”
Although silence ensued again immediately after the housekeeper left, what Nelly did actually eased the tension in the air.
Oddly, the usually bustling hall was extremely silent at that moment.
Soon, the housekeeper returned with the coffee and served them one cup each. Nelly took a sip of her coffee and savored the fragrance.
Her relaxed and calm vibe influenced the others, and everyone soon realized it was a game neither of the players wanted to win. Therefore, Thalia also relaxed.
After taking a few sips of her coffee, Nelly raised her gaze toward Thalia and asked, “Tony told me you're bringing him out. Is that so?”
“Yes.” Thalia nodded.
“I don't know what that fellow is up to, but I'm leaving him to you,” Nelly said. “Of course. Don't worry. I'll take good care of him,” Thalia replied.
“I'm not worried. In fact, I feel at ease knowing you're with him.” Nelly beamed.
Thalia lowered her gaze when she heard that. I don't like the sound of that. Why does it feel like she's saying her last words?
With a frown, Thalia said, “I'll take good care of him when we're outside. When he's home, however, that's your job.”
Nelly merely raised her brows in response and did not say anything to refute.
Thalia looked at her and was about to say something when all of a sudden, footsteps sounded from the entrance.
Upon hearing that, everyone turned at once to see a female housekeeper walking toward the entrance from afar while holding something in her hands.
Needless to say, everyone's expression changed the moment they saw the female housekeeper. Thalia's initially tense expression soon relaxed as she turned to look at Nelly . “You lost.”
“It only counts if the housekeeper walks in.” Nelly continued sipping her coffee without even looking up, seemingly unfazed.
At that precise moment, the female housekeeper was just about to walk in when someone suddenly called out to her from behind.
Thalia and the rest looked outside and saw the female housekeeper conversing with someone. Although they couldn't hear what was said, they saw the female housekeeper lowering her head and passing the things in her hands to the man who stopped her. After that, the female housekeeper turned to walk away.
The man then checked the things in his hands and walked in. Obviously, the abrupt turn of events took everyone aback.
The moment the man stepped through the door, Thalia furrowed her brows in disbelief and rose to her feet. Subsequently, she looked in the direction of the entrance and shifted her gaze back toward Nelly . No! This is impossible! How could there be such a coincidence?
In the meantime, Dave seemed as though he had figured something out, and an incomprehensible look flashed across his eyes. I must admit, Nelly is an incredibly smart woman.
While Thalia was looking at Nelly in bafflement, Nelly put her coffee aside and smiled. “Nothing is certain in this world. Looks like I got lucky.”
Nelly turned around to look at Thalia, who appeared unwilling to accept the outcome. Raising her
brow, she asked, “What's wrong? Don't tell me you're refusing to admit you've lost?” Thalia knitted her brows. “No...”
“That's good.” Nelly then turned to Spencer and said, “Make sure she takes the antidote.” With that, she headed upstairs.
“Nelly !” Thalia called out, but Nelly did not even bother turning around.
Thalia was exasperated. Left with no choice, she grabbed the medicine bottle, wanting to throw it out. Before she could even do that, Spencer stopped her.
He grabbed her hand from the back and took the bottle from her. “There's only one pill. Don't waste it if you're not going to eat it.”
In truth, Thalia never wanted to throw it. She just did not know what to do.
I should be the one to win. Why did I end up losing? Also, why did Nelly seem so confident as if she had foreseen everything?
Glancing at Spencer, she asked, “How did this happen?”
Spencer returned her gaze and muttered, “That's how she is. She always acts like the victor no matter the outcome, and strangely enough, in the end, things will always go her way.”
“I just can't help but feel something's off...” Thalia uttered. “All right, just stop thinking about it,” Spencer advised.
Thalia lifted her gaze to look at him. “Spencer, I still can't accept the antidote.”
With a look that suggested he had already predicted her answer, he said softly, “I know. I knew you'd be like this no matter the outcome.”
“Is there any other way?” asked Thalia.
“I can't give you any advice because I don't know, either,” answered Spencer.
“But—”
Just then, Spencer stuffed the medicine bottle into her hand again. “Here. No matter what your final decision is, no one will blame you for it.”
With that, he got up and left as well.
He understood Thalia's character well. She was not a selfish person. In fact, she would do her best to return someone's kindness tenfold or even a hundredfold, even if it was only a tiny gesture. Not to mention, this was Nelly Thalia was dealing with. In essence, both Nelly and Thalia were similar. They had few friends and lived in their own world. Moreover, they had their own special way of being kind to someone without making it obvious.
Thus, Spencer knew what Thalia's decision was.
Up until that day, he had been trapped in his own emotions, unable to accept the fact that something would happen to Thalia. That was why he proposed such a selfish request to Nelly . Deep down, he knew better than anyone that he was out of line, so he had been hounded by his guilty conscience.
However, what Thalia and Nelly did that day made him realize something.
Alpha Kilian cared for Nelly just as much as Spencer cared for Thalia. Even so, he said nothing about the matter.
After all, they had to allow the two women to settle their own affairs.
Even though Spencer had belatedly realized that, he felt less guilty after thinking things through.
The only thing he could do at that moment was to do his best in developing the antidote rather than helping them decide who should take the antidote.
As soon as he went upstairs, he got busy in the laboratory. No matter how difficult the process was going to be, he was determined to overcome every obstacle and create the antidote.
After watching everyone leave, Thalia, who was still downstairs, shifted her gaze to a figure sitting not far away from the living room.
Dave was still sitting there, staring at something. Upon noticing him, Thalia strolled over and sat across from him.
Dave was slightly taken aback to see her when he lifted his gaze. “Do you need anything?” “No. I'm just a little depressed.”
Hence, Dave continued sipping on his coffee while staring at the items on the table as if she did not exist.
After hesitating for some time, Thalia looked at him and asked, “Do you have nothing to say to me?” “Like what?”
“The fact that we only have one antidote for two people?” Thalia said. “Don't you two have an answer already?” Dave asked in return.
“But... don't you get the feeling that she had predicted the result?” Thalia asked.
Dave stopped sipping on his coffee. An inexplicable glint flashed past his eyes, and without even lifting his head, he said, “She has always been smart.”
Of course, Thalia could not deny that. Still, she felt that something was strange.
She pondered for a moment and suddenly thought of something. “What does this have to do with being smart?”
Dave said nothing.
Eyeing him suspiciously, Thalia pressed on, “Do you know something?”
Dave looked up with a calm gaze. He knew what Nelly 's plan was, but he would never reveal it. “About what?” asked Dave.