Chapter517LysanderIsUnwell
Suddenly,someouchedherarm.
SheturnedtomeetDaphne’sgaze,whichwasfilledwithsurpriseanddisbelief.
Smiling,shenoddedatherfriendtoindicateshehadnoticedittoo.
Havinglearnedfromtheirexperiences,ofcoursetheygraspedthesituationuponseeingthelookinTiffany’seyes.
Daphnemutteredunderherbreath,“Whatatroublemaker.”
“Ms.Thorne,whyaren’tyousayinganything?”Tiffanyasked.
BeforeLysandercouldevenspeak,Josiahinterruptedherwithafrown,“ThismatterhasnothingtodowithLysander.”
“Hmm,you’reright.It’sessentiallyapersonalmatterbetweenyouarldLyss.Ishouldn’tgetMs.Thorneinvolved.”
LysanderchuckledandtookasteptowardLysanne.“Itactuallyhassomethingtodowithme.Ms.Lysanne,youcametodaytomeetMr.Guerratodaybecauseyouwanthimtoytheroleofafairjudgeandhave<b>him</b>distributetheThornefamily’sproperty,isthatcorrect?”
ThehatredinLysanne’seyeswaspalpable.“Dadisold,andmomisbedridden.Moreover,JosiahhasalwaysbeentheonemanagingThorneConstructionsandEnergies‘affairs.”
“Likeyousaid,Mr.GuerraisjustmanagingitonbehalfofHowardandMolly.Thpany’sstilltheirpersonalproperty.Mr.Guerradoesn’thavetheauthoritytomakedecisionsforthem,”Lysanderexined.
Lysaookadeepbreath,castingaresentfullookather.“Evennow,you’restiddressinghimformallyas‘Mr.Guerra‘See,Josiah?Shehasnointentionofbeingdevotedtoyou.She’sonlyworkingwithyou<b>to</b>imtheThornefamily’swealthanduseyourconnectionsandpower.Dr.Thorneherehasalwaysbeenaveryrationalperson.Sheknowswhatthebestchoiceforherself.Youreffortshaveonlyeverbeenone-sided!
“Whyareyouwastingyourtimetalkingtoher?”JosiahwalkedoverwithAuroraandtookLysander’shand.“Let’sgo back.”
“Holdon,I’mnotfinishedspeaking.”
Lysander turnedaroundandaddressedher,“IfIwereyou,I’dtakethemillionsthatHowardgaveyouandeithercontinuelivingvishlifestyleabroadorsettledownpeacefullyhereinthecountry.Yousaidityourselfyourparentshaveraisedyouforsomanyyears,sotheywouldn’tabandonyouifyouwereintrouble.Mr.Guerrawouldalsoconsiderthelong–standingrtionshipbetweenourfamiliesandwouldn’tharmyou.Thiswouldbethebestoueforyou.<b>But</b>ifyouinsistonbeinginsatiableandpésteringusrelentlessly…
Lysandernced<b>at</b>Tiffany,her<b>voice</b>icy<b>as</b>shecontinued,“<b>You’d</b>bethefirsttodie.”
“Thebestoue?Youtookeverythingfromme.Whatrightdo youhavetotellmetoeptmyfate?Icantell<b>Josiah</b><b>is</b>onyoursidenow.Fine.I’llgotothehospitaltotalktoDadandMom.Theylovemedearly,andI’msuretheywon’t-
Η
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Chapter517LysanderisUnwell
“Lysander,areyouokay?”Daplineswiftlyrushedovertosupportherfriend,whowasstaggering.“What’swrong?Whyisyourfacesopale?”
Hearingthat.Josiahapproachedwithasolemnexpressiontocheckonher.“Whathappened?”
Lysanderwasn’tquitesureeither.
Shesuddenlyfelt awaveofdizziness,hervisionblurring.
Lysannesneered.“You’refakingit;huh?Suchaclichédtrickseemsbeneathyou,Dr.Thorne.Whywouldyouresorttofakinganillness?”
Afterobservingattentivelyforawhile,Tiffanyhesitantlyasked,“Ms.Thorne,areyouallright?”
LysanderncedatTiffany,detectingahintofdoubtinthtter’seyes.
DoesshethinkI’mfakingittogainsympathy,tool
Lysandercouldn’thelpcurlingherlipsintoasmirk.“I’mfine.Must’vebeenlowbloodsugar<b>.</b>”
Daphneasked,“Haveyouhadbreakfastthismorning?”
“Shedidn’teatmuchandjusthadsomemilk.Iguessshe’sexhaustedfromlookingafterthebaby.”JosiahhandedAuroratoDaphne.“Ms.Everhart,couldyoupleaseholdher?”
Daphnepanickedasifshewereholdingatickingtimebomb,herentirebodystiffening.“Hey,wait!Ican’tdothis!Idon’tknowhow!”
Lysandershuthereyes,waitingforthedizzinesstopasswhensuddenly,shefoundherselfliftedofftheground.
“I’lltakeyoubacktoyourroomtorestandhavesomeonebringyousomefood,”saidJosiah.
StandingwasunbearableenoughforLysander<b>/</b><b>so</b>whenJosiahsuddenlyhoistedherupinhisarms,awaveofnauseasurgedwithinher.ShemanagedtoholditbackandgaveJosiahaweakpush.“Putmedown.IfeellikeI’mgoingtothrowup…”
Nosoonerhadherfeettouchedthegroundthansheturnedherheadandthrew.up.
Josiahwasstartled.Pattingherbacktoeaseherdifort,heasked,“Youwerefhismorning.Whyareyousuddenlyunwell?”
Holdingthechild,Daphnewastooscaredtomoveamusclebut<b>was</b>stillworried.“Lysander,areyouokay?”
Lysandertookthetissuehandedoverby<b>Josiah</b>,wipedhermouth,andshookherhead.“Idon’tknoweither.”
Tiffanyblinked.“Butaren’tyouadoctor?Can’tyoudiagnoseyourconditionyourself?”
Lysanneworealookof<b>disdain</b>,standingaside.“Ofcourseshecan’tdiagnoseit.Whatisshegoingtosay,thatshe’sfakingit?”
*Shutup!”Josiahsternlyinterruptedher.
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Chapter517LysanderisUnwell
Lysannesaidresentfully.“She’sadoctor.Fakinganillnessisawalkintheparkforher.Oh,forgetit.ItseemslikenomatterwhatI<b>say</b>now,youwon’tbelieveme.”
Rightthen,anotherunbearablewaveof<b>nausea</b>surgedwithinLysander,causinghertovomitagain.Shehadbarelyeatenanythinginthemorningandendedupthrowingupbile.
Tiffanymurmured.“Ms.Thorne,areyoureallynotfeelingwell?<b>”</b>
Lysandertookadeepbreath<b>and</b>forced<b>a</b>smile.“Yes.I’msorryfordisruptingyourns,Ms.Lanister.”
Tiffanywastakenabackforamoment,butshequicklyhidhersurprise,maintainingherinnocentandadorablefacade.“It’sokay.Idon’thaveanythingurgentgoingonanyway.Yourhealthiswhat’smostimportant.”
LysanderwithdrewhergazeandlookedatJosiah,whowassupportingher.
Heseemedto belookingatTiffany,too,wearingapensivefrown.
“Mr.Guerra<b>,</b>”Lysandercalledout.
Regaininghissenses,Josiahresponded,“Yes?”
<b>“</b>Domeafavor..
“Sure.Whatisit?”
“Getmeafewwaitressestohelpmebacktomyroom.”
Josiahfrowned,clearlyupset.“Really?Evenatthispoint,youstilldon’twantmetotouchyou?”
Ashespoke,hemovedtocarryher<b>again</b>.
Lysanderquicklyrejected.“No,I’mfinestanding,butbeingcarriedsidewaysmakesmeextremely
nauseous.”
Josiahgrabbedherhands<b>and</b>cedthemonhisshoulder,liftingherbythewaistandcarrying hervertically.
Lysanderrestedherheadonhisshoulder,thesubtlescentofcitrusfromhisbodyfillinghersenses.
“Isthisbetter?”heasked.
“Yes.”Lysanderspokeafteramomentofhesitation.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.
JosiahturnedtoDaphneandinstructed,“Ms.Everhart,couldyoupleaselookafterthechildforawhile?Ifyoudon’t<b>know</b>how,just<b>go</b>tothefrontdeskandmentionmyname.Theywissistyou.<b>”</b>
Daphnenodded.“Canyoumanage?Ifnot,youcanwatchoverthechildwhileItakecareofLysander.”
“Wouldyoubeabletocarryherback?”
Daphnewasatalossforwords,forshecouldn’t.
Beforeleaving,JosiahcastanothernceatTiffany,hisgazeinquisitive.
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Chapter517LysanderisUnwell
Seeminglytryingtomendthesituation,Tinyasked,“Jose,doyouneedmyhelp?”
“No.”Josiah’sgazeturnedcoldashe<b>said</b>,“Whenyourfatherarrives,askhimtowaitforme.It’sabouttimeIdiscussthecancetionofourengagementwithhim.”
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