Chapter 243


    Had she not run off with Magnus on their engagement day, how would Cal have ended up in such a


    state?


    She heaved a sigh, her voice soft with regret. "Cal, it''s all my fault. If I hadn''t left you at our


    engagement party, you wouldn''t be like this."


    "Cough, cough..." Callum coughed a few times, waving his hand to dismiss Natalia''s guilt. "It''s not your


    fault, Buttercup. I was just afraid you wouldn''te back, and life would lose its meaning. You know,


    without you, I don''t see the point of anything."


    "Cal, I''m back now. You need to take care of yourself. Are you hungry? I''ll ask Rita to whip up


    something for you."


    With that, Natalia stepped out of the room, instructing Rita to prepare some stomach-friendly food.


    In no time, Rita brought over a bowl of hearty chicken soup. Natalia carefully helped Callum sit up in


    bed, propping up his back with pillows. "Cal, have some soup, it''ll settle your stomach. Then we can


    give you your medication and hopefully get you on the mend soon."


    Callum obediently sat up, staring at Natalia as he sipped the soup she had brought him. However, he


    had been ill for too long, and his body was extremely weak. He struggled to finish even half of the bowl.


    "Cough, cough, Buttercup, I''m full." Callum coughed a few times, cing the bowl on the bedside table.


    Natalia nced at the mostly unfinished soup, realizing how seriously ill Callum was. Now that she was


    back, she was determined to take good care of him.


    Once Callum had eaten something, Natalia waited a while before letting him rest.


    Callum''s energy was extremely low, and he quickly fell asleep. He had a smile on his face in his


    dreams, seemingly thrilled at Natalia''s return.


    Natalia sat by his side, watching the time, waking Callum after an hour to persuade him to take his


    medication as Rita had instructed earlier.


    Callum reluctantly took his medication; nobody would have guessed that the imposing duke was afraid


    of taking medicine.


    But Natalia was insistent, stating that she would leave if Callum didn''t take his medicine. With that,


    Callum obediently swallowed the pills. Of course, he grimaced as he took the medication. It was as if


    he preferred to throw the pills away.


    And so, Natalia devotedly cared for Callum until nightfall, unaware of the passing time.


    Callum''s energy was extremely low, drifting in and out of sleep. When he woke again to find Natalia


    dozing off, he couldn''t stand it anymore. His voice was hoarse. "Nat, I''m fine. You don''t need to stay


    with me. Go rest."


    Natalia shook her head. "But you''re still feverish, Rita said tonight is crucial. If your fever breaks, you''re


    safe. If not, it could be life-threatening."


    "Rita, Rita, always Rita. I’m paying her too much and giving her too much time to gossip!" Callum was


    clearly annoyed. "You''ve been sitting here all day, and I feel bad. How can I make you wait on me?


    Cough, cough, cough..."


    "Cal, don''t be like this. I haven''t done much. I just brought you some water. What I''ve done is nothing


    down. "Cal, don''t think about anything. Just take your medicine and wait for your temperature to drop,


    then I''ll go rest."


    Natalia was so stubborn, and Callum had no choice but toply. But this time, he cooperated fully


    with Natalia, hoping to recover soon. After all, his Buttercup was back. He needed to regain his


    strength to protect her.


    As the night deepened, Natalia, who had been up all day, finally fell asleep at the edge of Callum''s bed.


    Callum woke in the middle of the night to see Natalia asleep by his bedside. His heart was filled with


    sweetness, as if he had just eaten honey. He gently touched her hair, reluctant to withdraw his hand.


    His Nat was always so kind and considerate; he had chosen right.


    No matter what, he had to keep her by his side, he couldn''t let Magnus take her away!


    Callum looked at the sleeping Natalia, struggling to get out of bed to move her to a morefortable


    position. However, Callum, who was critically ill, had overestimated his strength. As he tried to support


    himself, he fell off the bed.


    "Thump!"


    The sound of the fall woke Natalia. She opened her sleepy eyes to find Callum on the floor. "Cal, what


    happened?"


    Callum felt his face burning with embarrassment. How could he have made such a fool of himself? He


    had no strength left in him.


    But to save his image in front of Natalia, he wouldn''t admit that he had fallen. "Um, if I said I wanted to


    lie on the floor to feel the temperature of the wooden nks, would you believe me?"


    In the middle of the night, Natalia couldn''t help butugh at his words. She wiped away the tears of


    Even though Callum had lost a lot of weight, he was still tall. With all her strength, Natalia finally


    managed to help him sit on the edge of the bed. Then, with a push, they both fell onto the bed.


    Natalianded on top of Callum and quickly tried to get up, finding their position somewhat intimate, but


    Callum''s hand was tightly wrapped around Natalia''s waist, begging, "Buttercup, lie next to me, watch


    me sleep, please?"


    Natalia instinctively wanted to refuse, but seeing Callum''s haggard appearance, the words of refusal


    were stuck in her throat. "I..."


    "Sweetie, just lie next to me, okay? I''m really weak right now, I just want you to lie next to me for a


    while, is that okay?"


    Looking into Callum''s sincere gaze, Natalia could no longer voice her refusal and obedientlyy next to


    Callum. Fortunately, the bed was spacious enough. She moved as close to the edge as possible,


    keeping a good distance from Callum.