Kneeling for a Second Chance Novel

---- Chapter 310 "The medicine needs to be taken with water. Just small sips. Since the esophagus is quite badly scratched , stick to liquids and softer food for the next few days. The stomach also needs time to adjust," the nurse said. Valeria poured a cup of warm water, propped him up against the headboard, and handed him the cup with four pills in her palm. She had meant for Sebastian to take them from her hand himself. However , he caught her wrist and lowered his head instead. His dry lips brushed against her palm ina lingering kiss as he swallowed the pills.

His breath was very hot, and so were his lips. The heat seemed to burn against her skin. Her fingers trembled. She watched him sipping some water and, with effort, managed to swallow it down. Thankfully, unlike in the morning, he didn't throw it back up. When Valeria saw that he had taken the medicine, she ordered some lunch for him. She got two portions of pumpkin oatmeal -one for him and one for herself. As she lowered her head to eat, she noticed Sebastian's ---- trembling hand clutching the spoon, as though he didn't have the strength to lift it.

He scooped up a spoonful of oatmeal but nearly spilled it on the bed. Valeria sighed. She knew he was faking it, but she couldn't bring herself to expose his frail and fragile act. When Sebastian almost spilled it a second time, she took the spoon from him and lifted the bowl. She sat at the bedside , scooped up a spoonful, blew onit gently, and fed it to him. He would swallow every scoop she fed him. After half the bowl, she stopped and simply looked at him in the silence. Sebastian met his gaze.

It was clear that she knew he was pretending to be too weak to lift a spoon, hoping that she would feed him. However, he had no other way to keep her close. How else could he ever taste anything that was fed to him by her own hand? Sebastian never imagined something like this, even in his dreams, all these years. The oatmeal sat uncomfortably in his stomach, but it felt indescribably sweet to him. "T've taken three days off to take care of you, but I have to go home at night," Valeria said. "I can't leave Lenny alone." "Okay." He nodded.

---- Valeria settled into the chair, opened her laptop on the nightstand, and began working. Even though she was on leave, she couldn't ignore her responsibilities. Sebastian lay on his side, and his eyes were fixed on her. Every time she turned or lifted her head, she would meet that unblinking, dark gaze. Her cheeks grew warm as she frowned and finally snapped, "Aren't you going to rest?" "T've had enough sleep." Sebastian needed to look at her longer to boost his spirits. His bones were already feeling weak from lying around all day.

By 6:00 pm, at mealtime , he seemed to lose strength in his hands again. Valeria didn't say a word and only fed him again. With her feeding him, Sebastian would smile, even if he had to consume glass. As a result, he quickly finished his food. When she was about to leave, she left her charging cable and power bank behind for him. Sebastian caught her wrist and asked with a hoarse voice, "When will you be here tomorrow?" "9:00 am," Valeria replied. Instead of letting go, Sebastian's thumb stroked the back of her hand. "When you come, bring me a pair of underwear .

I don't like going commando." The back of her hand started to itch, and she quickly pulled ---- back. "Alright." On the third night, she got a call from the nurses. They said Sebastian's fever had spiked to levels where infection was a serious risk. They told her she had to stay the night at his bedside, so she could press the call button if anything happened. The next day was the weekend. In the kitchen, Valeria prepared Selena's breakfast of sandwiches and milk before setting them in the fridge.

At the door, as she was changing her shoes to leave, Selena glanced at the apartment across the hall. "Mommy, since you'll be with Mr. Grant, can I let Nemo out and bring him here? He'll be bored alone, and Potato and I want to play with him." Valeria froze for a moment. Looking at Selena, she coughed. " Who told you I was with Mr. Grant?" "Isn't it obvious?" Selena answered matter-of-factly. Valeria crouched down and gently pinched Selena's cheek. " Mr. Grant's sick and in the hospital. I'm just taking care of him." "I know, Mommy. You don't have to explain." Selena nodded in understanding.

"If you don't make it back in time, I'll microwave the sandwich and drink the milk myself in the morning." ---- Valeria pinched Selena's nose and laughed. "You're still little. What do you know?" Selena huffed. "I'm ten! There's nothing I don't know! I know Mr. Grant wants you to be his girlfriend , and I'm aware you like him back."