“Better,” I mumble as I pull myself up into a sitting position. Something tugs on the back of my hand, and looking down, I see a needle disappearing into my skin.
“The IV is to give you all the nutrients you need. Don’t worry about it.”
“What time is it?” I think to ask.
Samantha looks at her dainty wristwatch. “Just after ten am.”
Kuso!
Worry floods me as I think of all the chores I’ve missed, especially not making breakfast for Augusto.
“What’s wrong?” my mother-in-law asks.
“I didn’t do what’s expected of me.” My eyes fly to hers. “Augusto will be angry.”
“Sweetie, you’re sick. Augusto isn’t angry at all. Honestly, he’s been very worried about you the past three days.”
Frowning, I whisper, “Three days?”
“You’ve been in and out of consciousness for close to seventy hours, but Dr. Milazzo says you’re recovering much faster than expected. You’re a little fighter, and I’m proud of you.”
Shocked out of my mind, I can only stare at Samantha.
Then her words sink in.She’s proud of me.
A weird sensation ripples through my chest, but before I can inspect it, Augusto and the doctor come into the bedroom.
“You’re awake,” Augusto says as he stops by the foot of the bed. “Do you feel better?”
I nod while my attention is divided between him and the doctor.
“Yuki’s blood work looks good. We just need to go slow and keep doing tests.”
Why?
Augusto notices the question on my face and explains, “You were starved and almost died because of the food and alcohol you had at the reception. Dr. Milazzo is going to get you slowly used to food again, so you can’t have anything he hasn’t approved.”
“It will just be for a few weeks. Maybe sooner at the rate you’re healing,” the doctor says. “For now, you have to stay in bed and get a lot of rest.”
Fear creeps over my body as my eyes dart back to Augusto. “But I have duties.”
“Let’s give them some privacy,” Samantha tells the doctor, and I almost beg her not to leave but swallow the words.
Augusto comes closer, and as he sits down on the side of the bed, I pull my legs up and hug my knees to my chest.
“Forget about whatever duties you think you need to perform.”
My gaze flits to his, and I try to gauge whether he’s playing with me.
He might be waiting for me to get better before he punishes me.
Augusto stares into my eyes for a while before he says, “You gave me a scare. In the future, if you’re not feeling well, you need to tell me.”
Kuso!He’s definitely going to punish me once I’m back on my feet.
“I’m so–”
He shakes his head hard, giving me a look of warning. “Stop saying sorry for everything.”
