Chapter 6

Audrey Quinn POV

I fell ill. That long walk in the snowstorm gave me a high fever. For two whole days, I lay in the master bedroom, drifting in and out of consciousness.

In the vast villa, only the staff would regularly bring me warm water and fever reducers. Julian never appeared.

On the evening of the third day, my fever subsided a bit. I was terribly thirsty, my throat aching as if I'd swallowed razor blades. I struggled to get up, leaning on the wall, shuffling downstairs step by painful step.

The kitchen smelled delicious. Julian, in casual loungewear, stood at the counter, clumsily slicing tomatoes. Chloe hugged him from behind, her cheek pressed against his back, giggling.

"Julian, you're slicing them too thick, the pasta will be overcooked."

"That's only because you keep messing around," Julian said, his tone doting, as he reached back to pinch Chloe's nose.

I stood in the shadows of the dining room, watching this heartwarming, yet blinding, scene. I remembered Julian used to be a man who never set foot in the kitchen. Once, when I had a stomachache and wanted cream of mushroom soup, he made a huge mess in the kitchen, and I ended up ordering takeout. Now, he was willing to cook for Chloe.

My fingers, gripping the doorframe, trembled slightly. I coughed.

The laughter from the kitchen abruptly stopped. Julian turned, saw my pale, haggard face, and his brows immediately furrowed.

"What are you doing down here? Don't you know you're sick? What if you infect Chloe?" His first reaction was to blame me for potentially threatening Chloe's health.

My chapped lips stretched into a faint, miserable smile.

"I just wanted a glass of water," my voice was incredibly hoarse.

Julian glanced at the kettle on the counter, but didn't move an inch.

"The kettle's right there. Don't you have hands?" he said coldly.

Chloe peeked out, timidly saying, "Julian, Ms. Quinn is sick. I'll get her some water."

"You don't need to bother," Julian pulled Chloe back. "She's just overly delicate, making a fuss over a small illness."

I listened quietly. I dragged my heavy feet to the counter, picked up the kettle, and poured myself a glass of warm water. My wrist was weak and limp, and half the water spilled out, scalding the back of my hand. As if numb, I picked up the cup and drank the water sip by sip.

Then, I turned and looked at Julian.

"Julian Vance," I said calmly, looking at him. "Do you remember what you did last time I had a fever?"

Julian paused, seemingly trying to recall.

I answered for him. "You didn't close your eyes for three days and nights, blowing on the medicine to cool it before feeding it to me. You said if anything happened to me, you wouldn't live either."

Julian's face changed, a flicker of irritation in his eyes.

"That was all in the past. Why bring it up? People change."

"Yes, people change," I nodded, my gaze sweeping over Chloe behind him. "Your love truly is cheap and disgusting."

"Audrey Quinn!" Julian was enraged, slamming the knife in his hand onto the cutting board. "What are you going crazy about!"

I couldn't be bothered with him anymore. I turned and walked upstairs, my back straight.

In that moment, I distinctly heard the city named "Julian Vance" in my heart, crumble into ruins.