Isla Prescott's world, filled with a cacophony of noise, suddenly fell silent.
She propped herself up on her elbows. "Why are you back?"
"Didn't I tell you? The caregiver would be here in fifteen minutes. And well, here I am."
"But you..."
'But he's so distinguished. How does he look anything like a caregiver?'
"I'll just make do here for the night."
"Don't trouble yourself, Sean. I'm not feeling bad anymore. I don't need anyone to stay and watch over me. You should go home."
Shane Sterling acted as if he hadn't heard her. After setting the fruit basket on the floor, he placed the flowers on Isla Prescott's nightstand.
It was a bouquet of Floyd roses—a highly saturated, pure magenta—wrapped in black paper. They were intensely and elegantly beautiful, with a powerful presence in the stark hospital room.
'It's the middle of the night. I have no idea where he got a fruit basket and flowers.'
"Sean..."
"You sleep." He reached out, pressed her shoulder, and gently pushed her back onto the bed. "Call me if you need anything."
'What could I possibly need to call him for, besides using the restroom?' Isla Prescott thought. 'And that's not something he can help with. There's really no need for him to stay up all night, just sitting here.'
As if reading her mind, Shane Sterling added, "You call me, and I'll call the nurse for you."
"Then why don't I just call the nurse directly?"
He hissed, "One more word out of you, and I'll call Silas Lockwood right now to come back and watch over you."
Isla Prescott immediately quieted down.
She adjusted her position and silently pulled the blanket over herself.
Shane Sterling pulled a chair closer to her bed, sat down, and took out his phone to handle some overseas emails. This was the best time to deal with business abroad; if any urgent issues came up, he could get ahold of the person in charge right away.
Isla Prescott closed her eyes. For some reason, with Shane Sterling sitting there, the sense of security she'd been missing in this unfamiliar environment was instantly restored. A wave of drowsiness washed over her, and she quickly drifted off to sleep.
She felt as if she'd been sleeping for a long, groggy time, but when Isla Prescott opened her eyes again, only a little over two hours had actually passed.
The bright overhead light in the room was off. A sliver of light from the bathroom doorway was the only illumination. With his back to that light, Shane Sterling's eyes were shut tight. He was slumped in the plastic chair with his arms crossed, looking like he was fast asleep.
Worried he might be cold, Isla Prescott quietly got out of bed, picked up her jacket from the foot of the bed, and tiptoed over to Shane Sterling to drape it over him.
The moment she leaned in close, Shane Sterling's exceptionally handsome features captured Isla Prescott's attention. His defined brow bone, the high bridge of his nose, the delicate line of his lips... But the most striking thing was how his entire aura changed depending on whether his eyes were open or closed.
With his eyes open, he was like Satan incarnate; with them closed, he was like a resting deity.
Good and evil, all determined by those eyes.
"I'll have to start charging if you keep staring."
Shane Sterling spoke suddenly, startling Isla Prescott so much that she shot back onto the bed. The abrupt movement made her head spin again.
She pressed her temples and let out a soft groan.
Shane Sterling slowly opened his eyes. "Trying to take advantage of me while no one's around, were you?"
Isla Prescott felt wronged. "I was just trying to cover you with a jacket."
"Does covering someone with a jacket require staring for that long? I'd say you were just overcome by my good looks."
"You weren't asleep?"
Shane Sterling didn't answer. He just stood up, helped her back onto the bed, and continued to tease her. "A hospital isn't a lawless land, you know. I'll have to ask you to conduct yourself with dignity."
'Isla Prescott knew. A tall, long-legged man like Shane Sterling could never sleep properly scrunched up in a small chair like that. He probably wasn't saying anything because he didn't want her to feel bad.'
'Deep down, Shane Sterling was actually a very gentle and thoughtful person. It was just that his sharp tongue made it easy to overlook this good quality.'
"Sean, why don't you go home? If you leave now, you can still get some sleep."
Shane Sterling sat back down in the chair and pulled the jacket tighter around himself. "You're acting all sneaky and weird. You might have some kind of internal head injury. I'll wait until the doctor makes their rounds in the morning to check on you, then I'll leave."
Isla Prescott: "..."
--
Nearing dawn, Isla Prescott dozed off again. When she woke up, Shane Sterling was no longer in the room.
She got up by herself and went to the bathroom. By the time she had washed up and come out, she saw Shane Sterling walking in from outside. He was carrying a paper bag with the "Manji" logo, and inside was a steaming hot breakfast.
"You must be hungry." He took the breakfast items out one by one and placed them on the table. "Pick what you like."
Isla Prescott glanced over. Vegetable congee, crystal shrimp dumplings, beef rolls... Every single thing he'd brought back was something she loved to eat.
"Thank you, Sean."
"Go on, eat."
She opened the lid and took a sip of the congee. The savory aroma instantly whetted her appetite.
"I already asked the doctor. Your test results are all fine. If you're not feeling any discomfort, you can be discharged after rounds and a bandage change." Shane Sterling glanced at his watch. "I have to go on a business trip today. I've left a driver for you. He'll take you whether you want to go to your mother's to recuperate or back to the Lockwood Family estate."
"That's okay. I'll go back to school on my own later."
"Back to school?" He furrowed his brows slightly. "That passionate about your studies?"
"No, I just don't want to go back and worry my mom." As for the Lockwood Family, that wasn't even an option she was considering.
"Will it be convenient at school?"
"It will be. I'll take time off to rest in my dorm, and my roommates can help bring me food from the cafeteria."
"Are you sure your roommates won't poison your food?"
Shane Sterling's deadpan expression almost made Isla Prescott laugh. Did he think their dorm was The Sirens' Grotto?
"Of course not. My other two roommates are really nice."
There were four people in Isla Prescott's dorm room. Besides Violet Keith, the other two roommates were normal, kind people with good values. They had long since grown tired of Violet Keith targeting Isla Prescott and poisoning the atmosphere in the room.
"Suit yourself." Shane Sterling glanced at the time again. "I'm leaving. Keep the driver."
After he spoke, he turned and left.
When he reached the door, he suddenly turned back.
"Oh, right. Give me your number. It'll be easier for you to treat me to a meal next time," Shane Sterling said.
"Okay." Isla Prescott quickly pulled her phone out from under her pillow. "Tell me your number, and I'll give you a ring."
Shane Sterling recited a string of numbers. The last four digits of his number were all "9s".
"Your number is so easy to remember," Isla Prescott remarked.
"If it's that easy to remember, you can put me down in the emergency contact field next time."
Isla Prescott felt the jab. She was speechless for a few seconds before she finally said, "It's like you can't go one day without poking at me, can you?"
Shane Sterling laughed. He waggled his phone, signaling for her to hurry up and call him.
Isla Prescott knew he was in a hurry, so she quickly dialed his number. Only after confirming he had received her number did Shane Sterling finally leave.