"Rosalie had an important appointment and had to leave in a hurry," Anya said, her gaze pointedly shifting toward Julian. "Besides, there''s someone here she doesn''t want to see. Even if she came, she wouldn''t have the appetite to drink."


    Already in a bad mood, Julian was taken aback for a moment.


    *****


    Rosalie took the elevator all the way down to the first floor. As soon as she stepped out of the elevator, the ss door of the building''s lobby swung open, and a gust of cold wind blew in her face, making her shiver involuntarily.


    Although the lobby had heating, the constant flow of people in and out, pushing the door open, kept the temperature from rising too high.


    Coupled with the fact that it was the coldest time of the year, the difference between the indoor and outdoor temperatures was significant. Rosalie, not dressed warmly, felt the chill as soon as she entered the lobby


    Earlier, when she had been sipping her Margarita, she had been okay. Butter, she had quickly downed thest half of the drink, fearing that Anya would insist on dragging her over to Julian''s group.


    Although Margarita was not very strong in alcohol content, it was still a well- mixed cocktail. Besides, she had left in a hurry just now and had been walking briskly. Perhaps the dyed effect was kicking in. After getting off the elevator, Rosalie felt a bit dizzy.


    She walked over to the lounge area in the lobby and sat down, calling Eden. "Eddie, I''m at Soul Bar. Come pick me up."


    After hanging up, she felt even more dizzy.


    She rested her head on her arms, leaning against the back of the sofa, waiting for Eden to arrive.


    The cold seeped into her body, as if the alcohol had opened up her pores, allowing the chill to prate her skin.


    She couldn''t stop shivering.


    Rosalie didn''t know when Eden woulde, and she didn''t call to hurry him. She had no idea how long she had been waiting when she felt all her strength being drained, her head too heavy to lift.


    Her temples throbbed painfully.


    Cold, she instinctively curled up into a ball, nestling into the corner of the sofa.


    Her eyes were slightly closed, but her mind was wide awake, though she felt no desire to sleep. Her spirits were low, and she didn''t even notice her phone vibrating for a long time.


    Eden arrived at this moment, a bit out of breath from rushing.


    His eyes scanned the lobby anxiously until he spotted the figure curled up in the corner of the sofa in the lounge area.


    Eden''s brow furrowed as he quickly approached her. "Rosalie!"


    He gently nudged her shoulder, only to find that her body was burning hot, as if it had been roasted over a fire.


    "Rosalie?" he said again, his voice trembling. He gathered her into his arms. "Rosalie, you have a fever. I''m taking you to the hospital."


    "Okay," she mumbled, her voice barely audible, and allowed herself to be led away by Eden.


    He could feel her steps were unsteady, barely able to support her weight. Frowning deeply, Eden picked Rosalie up in his arms and began to walk away, only to be stopped by someone right in front of him.


    Eden looked up, his eyes darkening as he met the cold, fierce gaze of the man in front of him. "Julian?"


    "Seems you still recognize me," Julian said, his face cold, his voiceced with barely contained fury. His eyes fell on the woman in Eden''s arms, and the mes of anger inside him roared to life.