Chapter 282
I was appalled to see Felix in this state.
Only love could reduce someone to this worrying state, though I wonder who he loved.
He was sound asleep. The crowd in his room failed to rouse him.
A bowl of chicken soup lay dormant on the cabinet next to the headboard. Felix never even touched it.
I glanced at Colin. He led me to the stool next to Felix’s bed.
I poked Felix’s bare arm, which was resting on top of his blanket. “Felix, wake up. It’s time to eat.”
There was no response.
“Felix, it’s me, Luna. Can you hear me? Wake up now. Eat while the food is still warm.”
I called out several times, but there was no reaction.
Melinda covered her mouth and sobbed on her husband’s chest. Mom sighed deeply, and Colin’s eyes turned glossy.
Just when everyone thought all hope was lost, Felix’s eyes fluttered open.
“Honey, Felix is awake!” exclaimed Austin. Everyone turned to look at Felix.
He blinked his eyes and scanned the room with great difficulty. Then, his gaze fell on me. “Lulu, is that you?”
His voice was creaky like someone suddenly pushed a hundred-year-old
rusty gate.
“Yes, I’m here.”
“Lulu, I’m hungry. Can you feed me?”
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It was at that exact moment that I realized Felix was well awake all this
time. He had heard everything we said, and he intentionally made himself look lifeless so that I could come and see him.
Colin’s expression darkened too upon discovering Felix’s conspicuous
attempt at deceit. He grabbed my hand and tried to leave with me.
But Melinda embraced me and shoved the bowl of chicken
soup into my
hand. “Please help me, Lulu. I can’t just watch as Felix slowly starves himself to death. Please, I beg of you. Just feed him. It won’t take too long.”
“Mom, what are you doing? Send Felix to the hospital. Hook him up to an IV drip and he can live as long as you want. Why must you involve Lulu?” Colin scowled angrily. His grip on me tightened.
“You don’t understand, Colin. This is my son. He’s my baby. Where is your sympathy when he’s this sick? Are you that heartless?”
Colin, tall and stubborn as he was, was powerless against his hysterical
mother.
I was unable to meet Melinda’s despondent eyes. I understood that she loved her son unconditionally, and I didn’t want Colin to be reproached further. I caved in and took the bowl of chicken soup. Then, I sat on the stool and began feeding Felix.
He had difficulty swallowing because he hadn’t had anything for days. Yet he made sure he swallowed every spoonful of soup. His eyes were fixated on me as if he was afraid that I might vanish in the next second.
I had never been scrutinized this intensely before, so I felt uneasy. I wanted to run away, but I couldn’t ignore Melinda’s request either. I mustered whatever patience I had left and did my best to pretend that his burning
gaze wasn’t there.
He couldn’t force me to love him. Did he not understand that?
“It’s so delicious, Lulu.” Light began to return to Felix’s eyes.
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“Have more, then.” Melinda patted his head affectionately but also v
sorrow.
It took Felix more than 20 minutes to finish the bowl of chicken sou
During the feeding, Melinda cried several times out of joy.