Chapter 41

The moment Lily opened her eyes the next morning, the room felt heavier than usual. Her head ached, her throat was dry, and her body burned with fever. She shifted slightly in bed, only to realize there was a damp towel resting on her forehead. For a moment, she was confused. She didn’t remember putting it there herself. Her gaze drifted slowly across the room, and that’s when she noticed David. He was sitting on the edge of the armchair nearby, his head tilted forward, eyes closed, clearly exhausted. She blinked, stunned. Was he… watching over her? It didn’t make sense. In all the years they had been married, she could count the times he had cared for her on one hand—no, not even one. Because the truth was, whenever she got sick before, David had never so much as glanced her way. She had been left to manage herself, relying on the maid or her own strength. But now… Her lips pressed together as she carefully lifted the towel from her forehead and set it aside. Maybe it was just tempora