Chapter 178: Well, then, thank you.

Though Allison said this, her exhaustion was undeniable. She was too drained to care about Ferdinand or anything else. Her mind felt sluggish; her thoughts moved like molasses. She stood, adding, "Mr. Lloyd, I'll find a room to rest." But just as the words left her lips, her body swayed slightly.

Kellan noticed immediately and, without thinking, reached out to steady her. As his hand touched her skin, he realized how hot she was—feverishly hot. Even Allison could feel it now.

"You've got a fever," Kellan said, guiding her back to sit down. "And it's high. How have you not noticed?"

Allison smiled weakly. "It happens all the time. I'm used to it…"

"I don't want you to get used to this," Kellan muttered, his voice tight with frustration. "At the very least, you need to tell someone when something's wrong."

His frustration bubbled up. Allison was burning up, yet she'd been talking to him so casually, as if it were nothing. He remembered the last time he'd seen her fridge empty save for instant noodles. He couldn't help but wonder how she lived like this, so indifferent to her own health and well-being.

"It's just a fever," Allison shrugged, seemingly bewildered by his concern. She was no stranger to pain. Headaches, fevers—these had become normal for her. During missions, she'd sometimes gone ten days without medication, simply enduring. And after marrying into the Stevens family, she had learned to swallow her emotions; Colton's disdain had forced her to bury everything inside. This was the first time someone had urged her to speak up. The care, the concern—it felt strange, uncomfortable even.

Kellan immediately called for the doctor. "Allison has a fever. Come take care of it." Though Allison was the one who was sick, Kellan's expression was dark, almost angry.

"Wait here," he said. "I'll get a wet towel to cool you down."

Allison wanted to tell him it wasn't necessary, that all she needed was some medicine and rest, but when she saw the hard set of his jaw, the frustration simmering beneath the surface, she said nothing. She let him fuss over her.

When the doctor rushed in, he was greeted with a sight he never expected: Kellan, the famously moody and distant Kellan, was carefully wiping Allison's forehead with a towel. Not only that, but Allison was sitting in his wheelchair. The doctor blinked, wondering if he was still dreaming. He hurried over, touching Allison's forehead to confirm the fever, though her temperature was obvious without even needing a thermometer. As his hand moved away, his eyes caught sight of an inflamed wound on the back of Allison's neck. His breath caught in his throat.

"It looks like a venomous insect from the forest caused an infection," he said. "We don't have many supplies on the yacht; we need to head back to Ontdale as soon as possible."

The doctor began rifling through his kit. "I'll find some medicine for Ms. Clarke."

"I'll give it to her," Kellan frowned. "You go see if Ferdinand has any antibiotics."

Meanwhile, Allison felt the weight of exhaustion dragging her under. Her eyelids were heavy; her body was drained. It was odd; when she hadn't noticed anything wrong, she'd managed to push through the pain. But now that Kellan had pointed it out, now that she could see the worry etched on his face, she felt herself relax, her body giving in to the fatigue.

In a haze, she heard a voice. "Open your mouth." But she couldn't muster the strength to respond. Her eyes wouldn't open; her body felt like lead. Then, gently, she felt her chin being lifted. Something cool touched her lips, followed by a warm tongue prying her mouth open. She swallowed, tasting the bitterness of pills mixed with liquid. The breath on her skin was hot, almost fevered.

Allison felt like she was melting, burning in a furnace. Her lips parted instinctively, her tongue flicking out to lick them. There was a bittersweet taste, mingled with something fresh and familiar… something soothing.

Kellan's hand loosened on her chin as he set the cup down. When he had fed her the medicine, Allison had unknowingly licked his lips. The contact had been brief, but it was enough. Enough to ignite something.

"Allison?" Kellan's voice was hoarse, strained. But she didn't answer. The moment the pills had slipped down her throat, she'd fallen asleep, unaware of what had transpired, oblivious to the quiet storm brewing within him.

Kellan's pulse quickened; his own body grew hotter. He stood abruptly, retreating to the bathroom for a cold shower. As the freezing water cascaded over him, he closed his eyes, forcing himself to calm down, to push aside the heat coursing through him.

"I must be losing my mind."