Chapter 251: How Is This Not Sweet?

Richard never imagined things would end up like this. Claire froze mid-action, her glass of water suspended in the air, with one last drop trickling down her lips. “I… I didn’t mean to,” Claire stammered. She truly didn’t. It just so happened Richard spoke up while she was drinking water. And, of all times, Frederick was standing right in front of her.

Frederick stood there, staring at Claire, his face dark. Never in his life—not even as a child—had anyone ever sprayed him with water like this. Not even his father, Nathan, had done such a thing.

“I… I didn’t say anything when I first woke up. I was just so surprised to see you by my bedside. You stayed all night, even though you hate me. How could that be?” Claire hurriedly explained.

Claire’s voice trembled as she explained, her earlier anger melting away in an instant. But seeing Frederick’s face growing darker by the second, her voice trailed off until it was barely audible. She hadn’t realized Frederick’s earlier outburst was because he’d feared her silence meant irreversible brain damage from blood loss. Her heart was inexplicably moved by the thought.

Frederick frowned but remained silent. He hadn’t expected Claire to doubt that he’d stay by her side. Had he really wronged her so much that she’d believe he wouldn’t be there, even after she risked her life to shield him from a bullet?

“Let me wipe that off for you,” Claire said. Seeing that Frederick still stood motionless and silent, Claire reached for a tissue to wipe the water off his face. But as soon as she moved, the IV needle in her hand pulled painfully.

“Ahh!”

Blood immediately flowed back through the IV tube, making Claire gasp in pain. Her weak, freshly awakened body leaned to the side under the strain of the IV. She was about to hit the sharp metal edge of the bedside table.

“Ms. Prescott!” Richard exclaimed, his heart skipping a beat. The hospital table was made of metal, and its edges were sharper than regular furniture. If she hit it, she’d be seriously injured. Thankfully, Frederick reacted instantly, rushing forward and catching Claire in his arms.

“Foolish woman!” Frederick growled. After steadying her in his arms, his expression grew even darker. How could she be so clueless? She almost hurt herself just trying to grab a tissue.

“How… how am I foolish?” Claire asked, tears welling up. The pull from the IV needle hurt badly, and Claire’s tears were on the verge of falling. Her voice, unintentionally, carried a choked, tearful tone. But to Frederick and even Richard, her tone sounded more like she was whining and being coquettish.

Claire only realized after speaking that her voice had sounded so soft and flirtatious. Especially now, being held by Frederick, her face turned crimson, the blush spreading from her ears to the base of her neck. The room’s atmosphere seemed to heat up along with her embarrassment.

“Ms. Prescott… your IV fluid is almost empty,” came the nurse’s voice. Claire only noticed the nurse at the doorway, holding a replacement IV bag, unsure of how long she had been standing there.

“Oh… okay,” Claire stammered. Claire froze for a moment, then quickly pushed Frederick away, her face so red it looked like it might burst into flames. The nurse replaced the IV bag and adjusted the needle. Her movements were quick and efficient. None of them—Claire, Frederick, Richard, or even the nurse—spoke a word during the entire process.

Even after the nurse left, Claire’s mind remained stuck on what had just happened. “I just…” she began. Claire swallowed nervously, trying to gather her thoughts as she opened her mouth to explain. But before she could speak, a wave of excited squeals erupted from the hallway.

“Oh my God! It was incredible! Do you know what I just saw? Ms. Prescott and General Hawthorne…” one nurse exclaimed. “What? What?” another nurse asked eagerly. “Ah! It’s just so unfair. How can a couple be so perfect and so sweet?” “I want a relationship like that! So sweet, it’s killing me!”

Their excited shrieks echoed down the hall. Every word Claire had been about to say was swallowed back, drowned out by the nurses’ enthusiastic chatter about her and Frederick. Embarrassment washed over her so strongly that she almost wanted to curl up into a ball. She couldn’t understand what on earth they were so excited about.

“How is this sweet? Just because I sounded a little emotional?” she muttered under her breath. Claire instinctively grumbled softly to herself.

“How is it not sweet?” Frederick replied, his voice laced with sarcasm.