Chapter 5
Valerie hurriedly got up from Chuck’s lap and smiled at me. “Don’t get the wrong idea, Stephanie. I only asked Chucky to hold me
because my stomach really hurt.”
I shook my head indifferently. “I wouldn’t mind even if you two were to sleep in the same bed. What does a hug matter?”
Chuck frowned at me, seemingly displeased. “What are you talking about? Val is uncomfortable because she’s on her period.
What’s wrong with me holding her?”
I said, “Nothing’s wrong. I really don’t mind. Anyway, are you free now? I want to talk to you about something.”
He checked the clock on the wall. “Can’t we do it at home? I have an operation soon, and I need to prepare for it.”
“Oh. I’ll wait for you, then.”
Chuck walked Valerie out of his office and reminded her to drink something warm when she got home. He also told her to come
back to the hospital if she was in too much pain. He didn’t want her to push through it.
I leaned against the door frame and saw how attentive he was. I had mixed feelings about the situation—it had been too long
since he’d spoken to me with such patience.
He only returned after seeing Valerie off. When he saw me still standing there, he said coldly, “I already told you that I don’t have
time now. Does your nonsense mean more than a patient’s life?”
After that, he turned and headed straight to the operating theater.
I knew Chuck had spent the whole night with Valerie. He could forgo his rest to be with her only because she was on her period,
yet he wasn’t willing to give me a few minutes.
When I returned home, I saw that Valerie had somehow gotten the keys and entered. She sat on the couch in my lace pajamas and
had a glass of iced coffee before her.
“Did you forget what Chuck told you? You shouldn’t be drinking anything cold when you’re on your period.”
She looked at me with a sneer and raised an eyebrow. “Chucky is the only one who believes my nonsense. Don’t tell me you fell for
it, too.”
