Chapter 173WhatAreYouDoing?


    KategazedatEriclyingonthehospitalbed.Eventhoughhisvitalsignsremainedunchanged,shepersistedintalkingtohimforhalfanhour,neverleavinghisside.


    ThedoctorshadtoldhertotalktoEricasitmightstimtehisbrainandhelphimwakeupfaster.


    KatelookedatEricwithdeepconcernandfinallysighedsoftly,“Ric,wakeup,please.Don’tscare


    meanymore.”


    Withatenderlonging,sheleaneddownandcedagentlekissonEric’slips.


    Hislipswerecoldbut soft.


    Outofthecornerofhereye.Katenoticedaslightchangeinhisvitalsignswhenshekissedhim!


    Althoughthechangewasminimal,shesawit.


    “Ric.youcanfeelme,right?Pleasewakeup,”KatewhisperedexcitedlyinEric’sear,butthemomentaryfluctuationinhisvitalssettledbackdown.


    Unfazed.KatecontinuedtotalktoEric,stayingbyhissideuntiteintothenight.


    Finally,atHendrick’surging,shereluctantliddownonthebednexttohis,watchinghimuntilshedriftedofftosleep.


    Hersleepwasrestless,filledwithvague,unclearnightmares.Whenshewokeup,shetouchedherfaceandfounditwetwithtears.


    KateremainedsilentforamomentbeforeturningtolookatEricagain.


    Helookedslightlybetter,buthisfaceandlipswerestillpale.


    “Kate,havesomebreakfast.


    Hendrickenteredtheroomwithasteaminghotbreakfast,bringinganextraportionforLucas.


    Lucaswasalreadyawake,strugglingtoworkonhiptop,hishandsmovingslowlyoverthekeyboard,andhisfacepale.N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    “Snap.


    AhandsuddenlyclosedLucas’ptopdecisively.


    Lucaslookedupangrily,“What areyou…doing?”


    HisangrywordswerecutshortwhenhesawthatitwasKate.


    Bnce:


    1683+711


    1Coins=


    Pearls


    Chapter173WhatAreYouDoing?


    “YoufeelguiltyaboutEric,soyouwanttomakeupforit?”


    LucassmiledbitterlyatKate’swords,“Madam,it’smymistake.Thisismyresponsibility.”


    HereachedouttotakethptopbackfromKate.


    Finished


    Katesteppedback,holdingthptopoutofhisreach,herexpressionstern,“Iwon’tletyouuse<b>the</bptopforlongperiodsuntilyou’re rested.”


    “Youfeelguiltyanduneasy,soyou’repunishingyourselfthisway.Butwhathaveyouachieved?Yourhealthhasn’timproved,andtheworkisn’tgettingdoneproperly.”


    Lucas’sfaceturnedpaleatherwords.Heclenchedhisfiststightlyandfinally spokeinahoarsevoice,“ThisiswhatIoweMr. Eric.”


    KatelookedatLucascoldly,“DoyouthinkEricwouldjustwatchyouworkyourselftodeath?Mr.Ackles,don’tforgetyouareEric’srighthandman.Ifyoucopse,whowillhelpEricwithhiswork?”


    “DoyouwantGeorgetorunhimselfragged,managingbothSummerEstateandDavisonGroup,cleaningupthemessyouleavebehind?”


    Kate’swordswereharsh,reflectinghergenuineanger.


    Lucasseemedcapableandintelligent,sowhywashesostubbornaboutthis?


    HerdeepgazefixedonLucas,andshespokecalmly,“DoyouthinkEricwantstoseeyoulikethis?”


    SendGifts