Chapter 364

Chapter 364
Serena’s POV
We waited for the entire morning.
Benjamin had fallen asleep while waiting. Looking at his peaceful face, I thought about how he hadn't closed his eyes all night. Now that things had quieted down, it was natural for exhaustion to catch up with him. I asked a hospital staff member to bring a blanket, then gently draped it over Benjamin's shoulders.
As I turned around, I saw Mateo. The staff had mentioned earlier that he seemed to be sleeping too, keeping vigil at Hattie's bedside. I was surprised—had he woken up so soon?
"You're here," Mateo said, his deep voice breaking the silence.
I asked calmly, "Is Hattie awake?"
"Not yet..." Mateo began to say something more.
Just then, Hattie's voice drifted from inside the room: "Mateo."
I noticed how Mateo pressed his lips together, swallowing whatever he'd been about to say.
I knew last night's incident had created an awkward atmosphere between us, but right now, confirming Hattie's condition was the priority. I maintained my composure and said, "You should go in first. Then ask her if I can see her now. If she's okay with it, I'll come in."
I deliberately kept my tone neutral, showing no emotional reaction to Mateo's accusations from last night. In my heart, none of that mattered, which was why I could remain so calm.
Mateo glanced at me, lowering his voice to respond: "Hmm." Then he walked into the room.
Benjamin woke up at the sound of our voices. I knew he was an extremely light sleeper.
He looked at the blanket covering him, then glanced at me. "How long was I asleep?" he asked.
"Less than ten minutes," I answered, feeling sympathetic. As someone suffering from severe insomnia, I knew exactly how unpleasant it felt to be woken up.
To my surprise, Benjamin showed no sign of grumpiness. He simply stretched his arms and said, "I wasn't even tired, but somehow fell asleep. Did you put this blanket on me?"
Not wanting him to think I was particularly concerned about him, I casually replied, "It was nothing."
"I know," Benjamin said with a faint smile.
At that moment, Mateo emerged from the room.
"Come in," he said. "Hattie says she wants to see you."
Benjamin's tone carried a hint of displeasure: "She's finally awake."
"Yes," Mateo responded curtly before walking back in.
Benjamin and I followed him inside. Seeing Hattie's still-pale face and weak appearance made my heart ache with sympathy. When she noticed our arrival, a delicate smile bloomed on her face. Anyone facing such fragility wouldn't dare speak loudly, let alone express anger, for fear of disturbing such vulnerability.
"Serena, I'm so sorry for making you come all the way to the hospital," Hattie said, taking the initiative. "I was actually waiting for you all this time, but I must have fallen asleep because of the medication. I'm sorry for keeping you waiting."
"Don't worry about it. I didn't have anything else to do anyway," I responded calmly. Truthfully, I didn't mind the wait; I was more concerned about her condition.
"I asked you to come today because I wanted to apologize in person and explain everything to Mateo, so he wouldn't misunderstand you," Hattie continued, her voice filled with regret. "About yesterday's cake you gave me—I specifically asked for it. You had no idea I couldn't eat mango, and I kept eating despite knowing, just because..."
I noticed Hattie glance at Mateo, seemingly hesitant to continue. Mateo stared at her with an expression that clearly demanded complete honesty.
Hattie took a deep breath, gathering her courage before confessing: "Because it was so delicious."
"So delicious you risked your life?!" Mateo responded irritably.
"Let her finish," Hattie pouted, her voice taking on a pleading tone.
Looking at her soft, endearing manner, I understood why it was difficult to refuse her. No wonder Mateo was strict with Hattie yet ultimately gave in to her wishes. Some people naturally make others' hearts soften.
"My heart condition improved ages ago, didn't it? The doctors said I was recovering well. I thought maybe I could try eating a little mango, which I'm allergic to, to see if it would affect my heart. If nothing happened, I could finally enjoy the mangoes I've always loved, even if I got some rashes from the allergy—after all, food is one of life's greatest pleasures. But I never expected... it would be this serious."
Hattie lowered her head, looking utterly pitiful. I noticed the words of reproach that had formed on Mateo's lips were swallowed back.
"So everything that happened yesterday was entirely my fault, not Serena's at all. Mateo, you misunderstood Serena yesterday. Even though I couldn't speak and had trouble breathing at the time, I heard you blaming her. You need to apologize to her."
Hattie suddenly spoke with renewed conviction.
I saw Mateo press his lips together without saying anything. His eyes turned toward me.
Feeling his gaze, I looked back at him. In my mind, I thought that a proud man like Mateo would never lower his head, especially not for someone as insignificant to him as I was.
I smiled slightly and said, "That's not necessary. He lashed out at me because he was worried about you. I understand."