Chapter 62: James Falls Ill
Is James an idiot or what!
When it snows this heavily, everyone knows the safest thing is to stay home.
But not him.
Just because of one thing she said, he drove all over Imperial City in the middle of the night in a snowstorm!
Mia pressed her lips together, put down her phone in frustration, and turned to go to the bathroom to wash up.
......
Soon, Mia changed into loungewear and came downstairs.
"Mrs. Smith, good morning."
"More like good afternoon now."
Mia joked with the housekeeper.
The housekeeper smiled.
Looking at Mia's state, although she wasn't smiling sweetly every day like before.
Compared to her previous depression, when even a slight smile couldn't hide the sadness in her eyes, she was much better now.
Has she decided to make up with her husband?
If it were any other man who cheated with a mistress and was unfaithful to his marriage, she would definitely support divorce.
But James...
He's been so good to Mia!
If he truly regrets it and is willing to cut ties with the mistress completely and live a good life with Mia, it would be nice if Mia chose to forgive him and give him another chance.
She could see James's attitude of repentance these past few days was excellent, plus with Amelia's provocation, James was clearly on Mia's side.
Not like those blind men out there who only protect their mistresses and let their wives suffer.
"Mia, have some porridge first to tide you over. I'll make lunch early and cook you something delicious."
"Sounds good."
It was already 10:30, almost lunchtime.
Mia agreed, sat down at the dining table, and started eating the porridge.
The housekeeper returned to the kitchen to prepare lunch.
Mia was hungry and quickly finished the porridge.
Taking the empty bowl back to the kitchen, she peeked to see what was for lunch.
She saw six dishes laid out in the kitchen.
Mia was speechless - even feeding pigs wasn't done like this!
"I can't eat all this by myself, no matter how hungry I am."
Having money doesn't mean they should waste it.
"Isn't Mr. Smith having lunch at home?"
The housekeeper paused while preparing the vegetables, turned to look at Mia, also confused.
"What?"
Mia was slightly stunned. "Did he call you?"
She had no idea.
"Isn't Mr. Smith upstairs? He never came down!"
The housekeeper remembered they were sleeping in separate rooms, and as if realizing something, her face darkened.
Could James have not come home last night and stayed over at Amelia's place?
"Mrs. Smith—"
The housekeeper called out worriedly.
Seeing the housekeeper's expression, Mia knew she had the wrong idea.
"It's not what you think."
Mia dropped that line and quickly headed upstairs.
There were three guest bedrooms upstairs. Mia came up empty twice in a row.
Finally, she found James in the room where she had been sleeping.
He was lying in her bed.
The bed in this guest room was originally the same as the other two guest rooms - custom-made by him, smaller than the master bedroom's bed, but still big enough for a grown man.
After she moved in, she was used to sleeping in a small bed and felt insecure in a big bed, so James changed it to this current small bed for her.
The bed that still had plenty of space when she slept in it looked cramped with James lying in it.
With his long arms and legs, he couldn't stretch out properly lying in it, clearly uncomfortable.
Mia stood at the door, her thoughts racing.
She wasn't quite sure if James was putting on an act to gain sympathy.
He had perfectly comfortable big beds suitable for his height, but he chose to sleep in this small bed that was uncomfortable for him.
Deliberately trying to make her feel sorry for him, to soften her heart.
She knew James understood her well.
The emotions she couldn't hide in time last night must have been caught by him.
When it came to manipulating people's hearts, if James wanted to, he could do it easily.
......
James, sick and delirious in bed, heard the door opening.
He slowly opened his eyes and looked at Mia standing backlit in the doorway.
With a high fever, his mind wasn't very clear.
He wasn't sure if it was a hallucination or if she was really standing there.
"Mia?"
When he spoke, his voice was hoarse, like it was mixed with sand, lacking its usual magnetic and pleasant tone, somewhat grating.
Just hearing it, you could tell he was really sick.
Mia no longer hesitated and quickly walked in.
In a few steps she was at the bedside, raising her hand to open the curtains.
The room filled with light, allowing her to see James clearly.
His handsome face was flushed with an unhealthy red.
Fine beads of sweat dotted his forehead, his temples already soaked.
His breathing was labored.
His eyes were slightly open, his gaze following her movements.
He lay weakly in bed.
His beautiful eyes were slightly reddened at the corners from the high fever.
He couldn't bear to blink, looking at her, his gaze somewhat hazy from his unclear consciousness.
But the depths of his eyes held a bone-deep tenderness, as if wanting to melt her.
Mia's already wavering resolve began to shake under his gaze.
She somewhat awkwardly avoided his eyes.
Not wanting to be disturbed by him, she reached out to touch his forehead.
The temperature her palm felt was burning hot.
Mia frowned with worry.
He really had a fever.
And it was serious.
In the four-plus years she'd known James, the four years they'd been together, he seemed like an invincible iron man in her eyes.
Nothing could bring him down, including viruses.
This was the first time she'd seen him sick.
She'd heard before that people who rarely get sick, once they do get sick, it hits them like a landslide and can be particularly severe.
If not careful, a person could even—
Thinking of this possibility.
Mia's heart instantly panicked.
James had indeed hurt her and caused her great pain.
But she really couldn't bring herself to dislike or hate James.
Regardless of whether she would give James another chance to start over, she didn't want anything to happen to him.
She wanted him to be okay!
In her panic, the first person she thought of was Louis.
Mia quickly withdrew her hand, turned around, and hurried out.
James reached out to grab her, but his whole body was weak. His raised hand fell powerlessly onto the blanket.
He could only watch as Mia's figure disappeared from view.
He was completely delirious from the illness.
Thinking he was in his own dream, having failed to catch her, he closed his eyes again and drifted back into unconsciousness.
......
When James woke up again it was already afternoon. His whole body felt like it was in a furnace.
He opened his eyes with difficulty. Sunlight streamed in from outside, landing right on Mia standing at the foot of the bed.
Bathed in sunlight, her whole being became soft, the sharpness and coldness she'd had before melting away.
His gaze fell on her profile. This non-threatening morning light - this was the young girl he was familiar with.
Who loved to smile and act cute, making people want to dote on her.
Suddenly, her brow furrowed slightly.
James felt uncomfortable watching and instinctively raised his hand to smooth it out.
Why was she frowning again?
He raised his hand hastily.
A sound.
The stand beside him was knocked over by his movement.
It fell straight toward his face.
"James!"
Mia heard the noise and turned to look.
She was shocked by the scene before her.
Her pupils contracted as she rushed to the bedside.