“Winnie? What are you doing here?” Nate picked up his pace and walked toward Winnie when he saw her from a distance.
Winnie recognized his voice immediately, but Mary did not know who he was because he was wearing a hat and a mask.
Mary put her guard up and stepped forward to protect Winnie, asking, “Excuse me, sir, but who are you? How can Mrs. Fairchild help you?”
When Nate realized Mary did not recognize him, he removed his mask and revealed himself. “It’s me, Nate.”
“Oh, Mr. Nate.” Mary dropped her guard and retreated, greeting him by saying, “No wonder Dr. Houghton said he saw someone who looked like you just now.”
At first, Nate looked collected, but as soon as Mary spoke, he pulled up his mask and quickly scanned his surroundings. It was as if he was afraid of being discovered.
Seeing how Nate suddenly became nervous, Mary grew concerned and asked, “I’m sorry, Mr. Nate, did I say something that made you uncomfortable?”
“Nope.” Nate glanced at Mary before asking Winnie, “You didn’t tell Josiah, did you?”
“Of course not.” Winnie frowned slightly. “I don’t really want to discuss your gossip with anyone. Besides, I promised you, didn’t I?”
Upon noticing the disdainful look on Winnie’s face, he quickly apologized to her, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to question you. It was just a reflexive reaction. There’s something I want to tell you. Can you ask Mary to wait outside? Just a little further from here will do.”
Winnie’s frown deepened. “What is there to talk about between us?”
Rendered speechless, Nate paused for several seconds before regaining his composure. “I-I just… I’m sorry for disturbing you. I’ll leave now.”
Winnie hummed in response but otherwise remained silent.
out
the indifferent look on
since grown apart. What else can I expect from her? Do I expect her to comfort me because she’s the only one who knows
hindsight, he
glance at Winnie and decided to
to leave, a sharp pain struck his
intense that he could not
his groan, Winnie knitted her
immediately went over to help Nate
Nate? Are you okay? Since we’re now at the hospital, should we take
sounded weak. “I just need to rest for
Mary carefully supported Nate and helped him sit on a chair opposite
chance to take a good
you don’t look good. Are you sure you don’t need to
leaned weakly against the back of the chair and told Mary, “You don’t need to worry about me. Just go and
ears perked up at the sound of Nate’s weakened voice and how he refused Mary’s offer of assistance. Those words brought
silence, she asked Nate, “Do you have any medicine
state, he did not want Mary to know about his
some difficulty to look at Mary. “I need water. Can you please help
Mary instinctively agreed to his request as she
was amiss. She turned
right away, “Go ahead. I’ll stay here
Mary said before walking toward the other end of
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
The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!