Maybe it was all the sickness I went through in my previous life, but now I take every little ache and pain seriously. Even the smallest thing, I have to get it checked out as soon as possible.


    I drove around the neighborhood a couple of times before I finally found a clinic. Turns out I was running a fever–102.2°F. No wonder my head felt like it was spinning.


    The doctor said I could get an injection to recover faster, or just go home and take some meds.


    I chose the meds. I’d always heard shots work fast, but they’re not exactly good for your body.


    After picking up the meds, I headed home. While I waited for the water to boil, I grabbed my phone and deleted every single photo Isabelle had sent.


    She only sent photos–no voice messages, no texts, not even a word exining why she sent them.


    Looking at it now, it was obvious Isabelle never saw me as a friend. Now that Ryan and Fiona were together, I was just a stranger to her, someone she could hurt without caring at all.


    That’s just how people are. If there’s no benefit in it for them, who really cares about you?


    The next day, I called in sick and skipped work. To my surprise, Jared rang me up first thing in the morning.


    His voice was still mature and maic. “Why’d you take the day off? Are you feeling under the weather?”


    “How did you know?” I asked, genuinely surprised.


    “Ms. Wright from PR gave me a heads up. She said you didn’t look so great yesterday,” Jared said, worry clear in his tone.


    “It’s just a cold. Some meds and I’ll be fine,” I replied.


    55 vouchers


    Jared’s voice dropped a notch. “Why don’t you just head home for the break? I’ll take Yvonne over. No need for you to make the trip to Hachester.”


    “We’re divorced now. It wouldn’t be appropriate for me to bring you home for the holidays. I’ll just make the trip to Hachester myself,” I said seriously.


    “Victoria, your parents wouldn’t mind meing over for the holidays. It’s just you who has a problem with it…” Jared sounded a little frustrated at being turned down.


    “Yes, I do mind,” I replied honestly. Since you asked, I’ll be honest.


    Jared was silent for a long time on the other end. Finally, he let out a resignedugh. “Alright, the hurt from my previous life and the punishment in this one- it’s all what I deserve.”


    “Jared, stop digging your own grave. While you’re still young, go find someone and get married already,” I said, half teasing, half serious.


    Jared sounded a little annoyed. “Tell me, what’s so good about getting married?”


    I burst outughing. “Come on, men are the real winners in marriage. You’ve had all the perks in your previous life–free maid, free partner, and if your wife’s gentle enough, she’ll even give you emotional support. You’ve enjoyed all that… Oh, and if you ever get bored, you’ve got the cash to go chase some fun and excitement elsewhere.”


    Jared went quiet in an instant.


    “I don’t want to repeat my previous life,” Jared said. “I want to take a different path.”


    “What kind of path are you talking about?” I asked, genuinely curious.


    Jared was quiet for a moment, then said, “Just take care of Yvonne. I’ll be here, waiting for you toe back.”


    It felt like a bolt of lightning hit me–my chest went all numb and tingly.


    “Jared, cut it out with the fake sentimental stuff. I know that’s not who you are,” I said, biting my lip, doing my best not to let any emotion slip through.


    Jared’s tone turned <izy</i>. “Then let’s bet on it. See if I can keep up the act.


    “I’m not betting with you,” I said, and hung up the phone.


    After taking the meds, sleepiness hit me hard. This time, I actually crawled into bed, pulled the covers up, and let myself drift off.


    God knows how long I’d been out, but in my groggy haze, I heard someone knocking at the door.


    Thought I was just hearing things, but when I dragged myself awake, turns out someone really was knocking.


    Checked my phone–it was already after 1pm.


    I got up and walked over to the door, checked the security cam, and saw Jared standing outside.


    I opened the door with a frown–Jared was there, dressed in a ck coat.


    I stared at him in a daze, barely processing what was happening. The first thing Jared did was reach out and press his hand to my forehead. “Still burning up, huh?”


    GD


    “Why are you here?” I croaked, still groggy. I’d just talked to him this morning, and now, after a nap, he was actually standing in front of me.


    Jared frowned, worry etched on his face. “We need to get you to the hospital.”


    “I took some medicine this morning…” I tried to exin, but my voice came out all scratchy, and it hurt like hell to swallow. Clearly, the meds hadn’t done a thing.


    Without another word, Jared strode into my bedroom, grabbed my coat, and draped it over my shoulders. “Go get your stuff together. I’m taking you to get checked out.”


    My whole body felt sore and limp, but I managed to ssh some water on my face, brush my teeth, and quickly tame my messy hair before tagging along with Jared to the hospital.


    We went through the whole routine—registration, seeing the doctor, getting


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    E55 vouchers


    jabbed with a needle–and by the end of it, my head was still spinning and I felt even more out of it.


    Jared sat beside me. When he saw me close my eyes, he reached over and guided my head to his shoulder.


    I was too exhausted to put up a fuss. If he wanted to let me lean on him for a while, I didn’t even bother to refuse.


    With every breath, I could smell the disinfectant in the air, mixed with that cool, crisp scent that was unmistakably Jared.