Seeing me awake, Julius immediately called the doctor, and they hurried in to examine me. After ensuring I was stable, the doctor let out a long sigh of relief.
"You’re lucky, Lily," he said softly. "The wound was not completely sterile, and it became infected. If you had come any later, it could have led to severe organ damage."
His words hit me like a blow. I had been so close to losing everything just for the pearl owned by my man’s fiancée.
The doctor, sensing my distress, tried to reassure me. "But everything is under control now. You just need to rest for a few days. And please, don’t go home too soon. It is better for you to stay here where we can take care of you."
I nodded weakly, managing a small smile. "Thank you. Of course, I will enjoy my time here as long as possible."
The doctor left, and Julius approached, his worry easing slightly.
“Thank you, Julius," I said quietly, my voice still weak. "Thank you for listening to me and for bringing me here."
"It’s my pleasure, Madam," he replied with a bow. "It is my duty to serve you."
I smiled, though it did not reach my eyes. "You can go home now, Julius."
But Julius shook his head. "No, Madam. I will stay and take care of you. Mr. and Mrs. Fuentez’s last request was for me to look after you, and I intend to keep that promise."
His loyalty touched me, but I knew how difficult his position was.
Sylus, as the head of the Fuentez family, held power over him. I had seen Julius scolded many times by Sylus and his brother Xavier, just for being kind to me.
Yet, he remained steadfast, caring for me when no one else would.
"Julius," I murmured, "I will be fine here, I know some doctor here, so you can rest easy. You still have some work on the Manor, right?”
As a result, Julius could only give up and return to the Manor, after promising to visit me every day.
In the days that followed, Sylus did not come to see me. It was as though I had faded from his world entirely, replaced by the warmth and comfort he found in Charlotte.
Julius, however, fulfilled his promise by visiting me every day, his loyalty unwavering, making sure I had everything I needed.
Each time he returned from the manor, Julius would gently mention that he had tried to speak with Sylus about my condition, only to be dismissed with cold indifference.
Sylus’s disgust was clear; he did not want to hear anything about me.