Rosemary''s swagger was cut in half in an instant, but she still stood her ground, "Like it or not,


    you''re staying. Doc, write up that admission slip."


    I fully expected Maxwell, with his usual antics, to stir up some trouble, but he just sat there in


    silence, not saying a word.


    The billing department was practically empty, so Rosemary was back with the paperwork in no time.


    The inpatient ward was in the building out back, and he got a private room.


    Rosemary: "Should I find you a caregiver?"


    "I''m not down with being watched by a stranger while I snooze."


    "How about I station them outside the door? Holler if you need anything," Rosemary said, while


    suppressing a yawn.


    Maxwell gave her a cool look, "You think after a concussion I''d have the strength to shout?"


    Rosemary retorted, slightly peeved, "Having a concussion doesn''t mean you''ve lost your voice."


    She was cut off mid-sentence by a voice from outside.


    "Maxwell."


    It was Pearl.


    Seeing the bandage on Maxwell''s forehead and confirming that, as Jason said, he had no other


    injuries, she frowned and scolded, "You''re not a kid anymore, how can you still take a tumble


    walking? Can''t you watch where you''re going?"


    Maxwell: "Jason told you I was in the hospital?"


    Usually, Pearl would''ve been asleep at this clock.


    "You have the nerve to ask? I called you a dozen times and got no answer, and I was nearly scared


    to death. If it wasn''t for a friend of mine working at this hospital who happened to see you, I''d still be


    in the dark about your hospital stay. I bumped into Jason downstairs. You didn''t even bother to tell


    me about such a big deal. There goes your bonus for the month."


    Once Pearl saw Maxwell was okay, she said, "Rosemary, I''m counting on you to take care of him


    tonight."


    The way Pearl treated Rosemary and the way she treated him were a stark contrast,, like the


    attitude of a birth mother versus a stepmother.


    Rosemary couldn''t say no, or Pearl would definitely catch on to the tension between them, "Alright,


    Mom, I''ll walk you downstairs. It''ste, and you need your rest."


    The two walked arm in arm like mother and daughter, leaving Maxwell, the patient, alone in the


    room.


    "Rosemary, when are you and Maxwell nning on having a kid? It''s about time." Pearl quickly


    added, not wanting Rosemary to think she was pressuring her, "It''s tougher for women to recover


    from childbirth as they get older, andplications can linger."


    Rosemary: "Mom, Maxwell and I."


    She hesitated, trying to find a gentle way to remind Pearl that she and Maxwell were nning to


    divorce.


    But Pearl switched topics, "How did thatst medication work out? If you''re out, I''ll ask the doctor to


    prescribe some more."


    Rosemary remained silent.


    She really couldn''t fathom discussing Viagra''s effectiveness with an elder so candidly.


    The elevator arrived, and Pearl smiled, "Alright, go back now. I can manage on my own."


    Before, Rosemary would have insisted on walking her down, but now, she was afraid Pearl would


    continue on the topic. She told her to be careful and then hightailed it back to the room.


    Maxwell was sitting on the hospital bed, browsing his phone, and probably handling work stuff.


    Rosemary went to freshen up in the bathroom and then plopped straight onto the family cot, ying


    her role as the dutiful tool.


    At this hour, except for the night nurse, everyone was asleep, and the room sank into silence.


    As Rosemary drifted off, Maxwell''s voice cut through, "I need water."


    Rosemary, with her back to him, didn''t budge, "It''s your forehead that''s hurt, not your hands."


    The man behind her fell silent; he was likely miffed by her words. Thinking he had calmed down,


    Rosemary was about to close her eyes to sleep again when Maxwell spoke up once more, "My


    chest feels tight, go open a window."


    That got her moving.


    She turned around, propped herself up, and looked at him with a ferocious expression; a sense of


    sarcasm was shining bright in her eyes, "It''s got nothing to do with the window being open or


    closed; that''s your conscience trying to break through."


    This time, Maxwell mmed uppletely.


    He didn''t make another peep until Rosemary fell asleep. Probably because she was toote to bed,


    plus the night''s events had been quite a shock, and her mood was foul, she had a nightmare.


    In her dream, she was chased by a monster that could find her no matter where she hid. It stared


    her down with its arms like fortified walls, and squeezed the air out of her until she could barely


    breathe. As the creature''s grotesque face drew near and it bit her neck, it transformed into Maxwell!


    Rosemary gasped and woke up in terror!


    Opening her eyes, she met his perfectly wless, handsome face. He was still asleep, and his usual


    sharp features was softened by slumber.


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    The daylight was already bright outside; Maxwell turned away from the window, the light streaming


    in and casting faint shadows from his eyshes on his eyelids.


    Rosemary realized it had been a long time since she''d looked at that face up close. Just as an


    admirer, it was indeed a face that could make one''s heart skip a beat.


    She got a little lost in thought.


    Then the man opened his eyes, and all that sharpness and edge returned to his face.


    Rosemary snapped back to reality, and the unpleasant memories of the night flooded back. She


    pushed Maxwell away, and her face was full of anger, "When did you sneak onto my bed?"


    She got up and then, to her shock, realized it wasn''t Maxwell who had moved to her bed, but she


    had ended up in his!


    Rosemary''s eyes widened in surprise, "You actually carried me to your bed while I was asleep,


    Maxwell, how sleazy can you be? Don''t tell me you''ve been lusting after me?"


    Thest part was just to gross him out; she wasn''t that self-absorbed.


    The man gave her a nce and scoffed with a coldugh.


    As Rosemary sat up, she flung the covers aside, and there was Maxwell lying t with his shirt


    sleeves rolled up to his elbows, revealing his toned and muscr forearms lined with a bloody bite


    mark.


    Rosemary didn''t get it. Was this guy nuts? Biting himself, and so viciously at that?


    Maxwell caught her staring at his arm and shoved the wound in her face, "What''s up, you wanna


    get up close and personal with your masterpiece? Rosemary, are you off your rocker?


    Sleepwalking''s one thing, but biting? I told you to hit the road, and you glue yourself to my bed


    instead."


    Rosemary had no recollection of what he was talking about. All she remembered was that she was


    chased by a monster in her dream, and she kept running all night long.


    Plus, she didn''t have a sleepwalking issue, to begin with, let alone crashing his bed and sticking to


    him like a burr.


    But seeing Maxwell so confidently using her, along with the fresh bite marks that hadn''t even


    scabbed over on his arm, she started to doubt herself.


    Noticing her hesitation, he sneered, "Got amnesia, have you? Or just figuring out how to dodge the


    bullet? Want me to get the doc to pull up the surveince footage and show you how you were


    shamelessly clinging on, trying to crawl into my armsst night?"