Chapter 9: Are You Really Ill or Not?
1205 Words
Chapter 9: Are You Really Ill or Not?
Selena Patrick handed back the water she had just brought for him to take his medicine, "Drink it."
"It's cold."
Cold?
"Fine, I'll get you another one." She gritted her teeth as she said this.
Holding the glass of water, Selena Patrick walked back into the room and, with a huff, handed the water to the man, "Here, not too hot, not too cold."
The man lifted his gaze to look at her but didn't take the glass. "I don't feel like drinking now. I need to use the restroom."
Selena Patrick: ...
"Alright." She placed the cup on the table with a forceful thud, then pushed his wheelchair towards the bathroom, "Do you need me to help you with your pants?"
"If you're willing, I have no objections," he said with a playful smirk, making Selena Patrick want to slap him. "Thanks, but I don't have that kind of preference."
She pushed Jeffrey Maugham in front of the toilet and folded her arms, watching him, "Go ahead."
She wanted to witness his most embarrassing moment, see him red-faced and mortified.
Intending to make the man uncomfortable, the mocking smile on Selena Patrick's lips hadn't yet faded when, in the next second, the man stood up from his wheelchair.
Her expression of anticipation instantly turned to shock and disbelief.
He... can... stand... up... ?
"Do you want to watch?" He unfastened his belt with a click.
Selena Patrick turned and ran out of the bathroom.
What was going on?
Wasn't he supposed to be disabled?
How could he stand up?
As the sound of the toilet flushing came, the man also wheeled himself out of the bathroom.
"You can stand, so why are you using a wheelchair?" She looked at Jeffrey Maugham in confusion.
The man casually raised an eyebrow, "Who said someone who can stand can't use a wheelchair?"
"So, do you actually have a condition or not?"
"You ask too many questions."
Selena Patrick pointed at herself. Did she ask too many questions?
Was there no one normal in the Maugham family?
The wheelchair stopped by the bed, and the man's gaze fell back on Selena Patrick, "I want to rest. Help me up."
"You just stood up, why do you need help now?" She suspected he was deliberately messing with her.
The man's face remained calm and indifferent, "Sometimes I can stand, sometimes I can't."
Listen to that. So, he stands when he wants to and expects to be served when he doesn't.
Selena Patrick rolled up her sleeves, ready to lift the man from the wheelchair with all her might. One try, two tries, three tries, but the man didn't budge.
He wasn't that heavy, so why couldn't she move him?
Selena Patrick felt she was strong enough; in school, she could throw a javelin 40 meters. How could she not lift a man who weighed only a hundred pounds?
She gathered her strength, and tried to lift Jeffrey Maugham. This time, whether due to her excessive force or the man suddenly becoming lighter, they both tumbled onto the bed.
He landed on top of her, the familiar scent overwhelming. She couldn't help but look at his face, quickly dismissing her suspicion. No, it couldn't be.
Selena Patrick felt she was overthinking things, pushing the man off her and straightening his blanket, finally feeling a bit relieved.
"Are you okay now?"
The man pointed to the phone on the windowsill, "Give me the phone."
Selena Patrick retrieved the phone and placed it in his hand, "Anything else?"
"My legs are a bit uncomfortable. Rub them for me." He lifted the blanket and pointed to his legs, "Not too hard, not too light."
Selena Patrick felt like cursing, "Before I married into this family, who did this job?"
"Why do you care so much?" The man said without even lifting his eyelids.
This wasn't marrying a wife; it was finding a personal servant.
Despite her anger, Selena Patrick still had to do the job. Glancing at the clock, it was already afternoon, and she hadn't eaten anything. Being bossed around by this sickly man left her feeling restless.
The most miserable bride in history couldn't be worse than this.
Tired and angry, Selena Patrick massaged his legs while yawning. Her yawns made the man on the bed sleepy too.
"Hey?" He called out to her.
Selena Patrick, looking exhausted, turned to him, "Hmm?"
"Go make me a cup of coffee."
Selena Patrick didn't bother arguing, simply got up and left.
The man, putting down the phone, gave a smug smile.
Back then, how coolly she had thrown money and run away.
Now, how humiliated she was, having to lower herself.
Selena Patrick didn't recognize him?
It seemed his service that night was indeed lacking.
No rush, there would be more opportunities.
Taking advantage of the time to make coffee, Selena Patrick found a storage room and hid inside, planning to sleep and gather her strength before dealing with the sickly man again.
In her drowsy state, she heard the sound of a door opening.
Her hiding spot was well-concealed, so she didn't pay much attention.
Just as she was about to fall asleep, voices emerged.
"Julie, I won't do this anymore. If the matriarch finds out, I really won't be able to leave the Maugham household alive."
"Lena, we've already done it, and there's no turning back. The Second Young Master is dead, and the First Young Master won't last long either. Once they're all gone, we can leave the Maugham household."
"I don't want to do this anymore. I'm having nightmares every day, and I'm going crazy."
Even though the two women were whispering, Selena Patrick heard them clearly.
What were they talking about?
Something about the Second and First Young Masters?
"Julie, listen to me. These drugs, given in small doses, are hard to detect. The First Young Master won't last much longer, and we can leave the Maugham household soon."
"Julie, please let me go. I really don't want to do this anymore."
The woman's voice sounded close to breaking.
Poison?
Was someone in the Maugham household poisoning Jeffrey Maugham?
Why?
Selena Patrick was at a loss.
After a while, the two women left.
Selena Patrick was wide awake.
She remembered the servant named Lena, who had been avoiding eye contact and trembling when she brought the medicine earlier.
Could it be that the medicine was also poisoned?
Oh no, did that sickly man take the medicine?
Thinking of this, Selena Patrick sprinted back to Jeffrey Maugham's bedroom, rushing to the tray...
The medicine... was gone?
Breathing heavily, she looked at the man lying on the bed, asking anxiously, "Did you... take the medicine?"
"What else would I do with it?" He looked at her, surprised by her reaction.
"When did you take it?"
The man's brows furrowed slightly, "Just now."
Just now?
Maybe it could still be vomited out.
With that thought, Selena Patrick immediately went to Jeffrey Maugham, without a word, and tried to pry open his mouth, sticking her finger into his throat.
"Gag..." The man felt like throwing up.
He pushed her away, "What are you doing?"
- Writer
