Chapter 477: Sick

“Whitney, you can’t sleep like this; you’re soaked through.”

I gently touched her head and realized her forehead was burning. How foolish she was, so consumed by love. Since I’m pregnant too, I couldn’t act too hastily. I called for a maid to help clean her up and change the sheets.

By the time the family doctor arrived, Whitney was feverish and delirious. Her usual pale complexion had turned bright red. “Who are you?” I asked, staring at the unfamiliar face. It wasn’t Dr. Laurence. He appeared to be in his thirties, with an unremarkable face. Given my past experiences, I’ve become wary whenever I see unfamiliar faces.

Carter’s voice interrupted my thoughts, “He’s Dr. Mervin. Don’t worry, he’s one of us.” His reassurance eased my worries, and I went on to explain Whitney’s condition to him.

“She must have caught a cold from being out in the rain. The fever is quite high.” He took out a thermometer, but I insisted, “I’ll do it.” “Alright, I’ll check her pulse. It could be more than just a cold.”

“Dr. Mervin, are you a holistic doctor at such a young age?” “Yes, I’ve learned a little.” People these days are becoming more humble, especially when holistic medicine is becoming more popular, even in a world dominated by modern medicine.

I hurried to get him a chair, and as soon as his fingers met Whitney’s pulse, she suddenly grabbed his wrist in her delirium. Before any of us could respond, she sat up and clung to Dr. Mervin. I opened my mouth to say something, but he motioned for me to be quiet.

It hit me that Whitney’s condition wasn’t just a fever, but also a psychological issue. I quickly kept quiet, not wanting to interrupt. Whitney’s fever was raging, and she squeezed her eyes shut, clinging to Dr. Mervin’s neck as tears streamed down her face. “Taylor, I knew you weren’t gone,” she whispered through sobs.

Seeing her like this, I couldn’t help but sigh. Love can be so painful. She could easily take the medication to move on, yet she chose to endure this.

Dr. Mervin didn’t try to move her or intervene, simply allowing her to release her emotions. “Taylor…” Whitney mumbled a lot of words under her breath. “Yes, I’m here.” After those few words, Whitney finally loosened her grip and drifted back into a deep slumber.

I felt a pang of guilt and said, “Dr. Mervin, she’s just delirious from the fever.” “I understand,” he nodded, “Let me check her pulse.”

I anxiously waited for his assessment. Once he pulled his hand away, I couldn’t hold back and asked, “How is she?” He explained, “She has built up stagnant energy from too much sorrow. The cold is merely a symptom. Her emotional pain requires treatment for the heart.”

“What should we do now?” “We need to bring the fever down tonight.” He began preparing the medication and IV fluids for Whitney. “Mrs. Bolton, the infusion will take at least four hours. It’s late; you should get some rest.”

Carter added, “Leave Damian here to look after her. You can’t stay awake all night, and I’m not in the best position to help either.” “Okay.” Since Carter has faith in Damian and he’s here, I felt confident everything would be fine. Whitney is important, but I also need to protect my child. I couldn’t keep pretending to be strong.

“Alright, Dr. Mervin, I’ll leave it to you.” “Please, Mrs. Bolton, there’s no need to be formal.” Carter scooped me up and carried me back to our room. I didn’t resist, and the overwhelming fatigue hit me. By the time we reached the room, I had already drifted off in his arms.

I woke up around nine the next morning, my thoughts immediately going to Whitney. I rushed downstairs. She was still asleep, and when I touched her forehead, it was still slightly warm.

“Mrs. Bolton,” Dr. Mervin’s voice called from behind me. “Dr. Mervin, I felt her forehead, and it’s still warm. Is her fever not going down?”

“Mrs. Bolton, don’t be concerned. Ms. Sander’s body is quite weak, and the fever is coming back in cycles. We can’t administer too much medication at once, so we need to proceed gradually. She’ll have another IV this afternoon, and the fever should subside slowly. I came to check her temperature.”

I quickly stepped in to block his view, “I’ll handle it.” “Alright.” I pulled out the mercury thermometer and noticed there was still a slight fever, though much improved compared to last night.

“Dr. Mervin, you mentioned last night that she has some stagnation in her body. How should we address that?” “First, Ms. Sander needs to find ways to be more positive. Second, she has a deficiency of energy and blood, so we’ll treat that with the right medicine.”

“Alright, I’ll leave it in your hands.” “Of course, Mrs. Bolton. You must have just woken up, so go ahead and have your breakfast. I’ll stay with Ms. Sander. You don’t need to worry; as a doctor, I always follow medical ethics. To me, she’s simply a patient.”

His perceptive remark about my previous discomfort with gender matters made me feel a little self-conscious. “Yes, I trust you, of course.” He returned the thermometer to the medical kit and began preparing the medication.

I turned to leave, but before shutting the door, I noticed him reaching out to check Whitney’s forehead once more, then gently adjusting her blanket. The way he did it seemed unusually tender. He was facing away from me, so I couldn’t quite make out his expression. Feeling he was being thorough, I had the servant bring him breakfast as well.

I returned to my room to get dressed and then went downstairs for breakfast. Alisa walked over with her pregnant belly. “Did something happen last night?” “Starling suddenly had a fever, so we called a doctor to treat her.”

“That explains it. I heard a strange man’s voice from the kitchen. He seems quite thoughtful, asking the kitchen staff to prepare food for Ms. Sander.” “Yes, he’s quite skilled. Would you like him to examine you later? I’ve noticed you haven’t been looking well these past few days.”

“I’m alright. I’m actually heading to the hospital for a check-up soon. By the way, you seem much better lately. Is the morning sickness easing up?” “Just a little.” “In a few months, you’ll understand. Babies are more manageable when they’re little. Mine is so energetic, playing around all night – I can barely get any sleep.”

I came up with an excuse to brush her off. “It’ll get better once the baby is born. I should go check on Starling. Being alone in a foreign country must be tough for her.” “Then you’d better go quickly.”

I wiped my mouth and walked away, stealing a glance over my shoulder. Alisa remained seated at the dining table, exuding an air of elegance and poise that perfectly fit her refined demeanor. With one hand resting lightly on her belly, she appeared serene and gentle.

Shifting my attention away, I noticed Whitney’s door ajar. Dr. Mervin was seated at the desk, focused on jotting down a prescription. Whitney had woken up, her gaze locked onto his back. In a soft, cautious voice, she asked, “Who are you?”

“Oh, that’s Dr. Wallace Mervin. You had a fever last night,” I explained. “I see. Thank you,” Whitney replied quietly. She got out of bed, intending to head to the bathroom, but her body betrayed her. Dizzy and weak, she hadn’t taken more than a step before collapsing.

“Whitney!” I shouted, panic rising as I rushed toward her. I was still a few meters away when a dark blur moved ahead of me. Dr. Mervin caught her just in time and gently asked, “Are you alright?” Whitney lifted her head, her eyes fixated on the man’s face with an unwavering gaze.