Chapter 6

When Miranda opened her eyes, she saw Carson sitting beside her bed and keeping her company. "You've finally woken up, Mimi. You were out for an entire day," he said. "How could you leave first last night? I looked everywhere for you! I only finally found out that you'd been sent to the hospital after you fainted on the street." The concern on Carson's face looked real. However, Miranda wasn't interested in playing along. She just replied coldly, "I wasn't feeling well. So, I left first." "Are you still feeling sick? Is it because of your gastritis? Here, I made you some chicken soup. It'll help settle your stomach if you eat some." Carson opened up the thermal flask next to him and scooped a spoonful, blowing gently on it before feeding it to Miranda. "I'll feed you since you're not feeling well, Mimi." Miranda frowned. She couldn't understand why Carson was still acting so lovey-dovey with her. Was it because he still hadn't had his final revenge on her yet? Could that be why he still wanted to play pretend? Carson noticed Miranda looking at him with a conflicted expression and suddenly felt guilty. "Why are you looking at me like that, Mimi? What's the matter?" Miranda took a deep breath and tried to control her emotions. "I'm fine. I'll feed myself." Carson didn't push it. "Then just eat however much you can, alright? I'll go and draw a warm bath for you. The temperature would be just right by the time you're done with the soup. "I know that you're a clean freak, and you're probably screaming internally because you haven't had a bath in two days." Miranda's fingers froze. Carson was very good with his pretense. In fact, he was a very good actor. He actually remembered every little habit of hers. She tried to hide the emotions in her eyes and just ate the soup mechanically. At that moment, Carson's phone suddenly began buzzing loudly next to her. A string of text message notifications appeared on the screen, and Miranda could see that they were all from Gianna. "Carr! Why are you still with that cougar? Hurry up and come back! I've already put on your favorite attire. I'm waiting for you now! "Oh, don't forget to ask a nurse to thoroughly disinfect you when you're leaving the hospital. That cougar's too filthy. I don't want her to pass her nasty germs to us! "Carr! I don't like how filthy she is! Can't you think of a way to get rid of her? She's such an eyesore around the house!" Miranda felt a chill run down her spine and spread into the rest of her body. Her heart also quickly sank to the bottom of her stomach. Gianna thought she was filthy? But Miranda had only ever given herself to Carson and never willingly slept with other men. She thought that this was the highest form of respect she could show him with the nature of her job. In fact, while still in the early stages of their relationship, she even brought up changing jobs a few times with Carson, but he always rejected it. He told her that his company was in a critical growth period, and he badly needed her connections for the company to flourish. He was counting on her because she was that important to him. Miranda had believed him. However, Carson took advantage of her trust and trampled all over it—and to think that he'd even lied to her about sleeping with her for so many times! For a moment, she couldn't tell if Carson was the generous kind or if he was simply a ruthless, heartless man. When Carson came back from the bathroom, he saw that Miranda's face had gone deathly pale. He immediately came over with a look of concern and touched her forehead with the back of his hand. "Why do you still look so pale, Mimi? I'm going to get a doctor for you." Miranda stopped him. "There's no need for that. I just need a good rest." There were just a few days left until the end of the month. She would be able to leave him very soon. Carson nodded, still looking sorry for her. "To think that we even made appointments to go and try out wedding outfits tomorrow too! Still, I don't think your health will allow you to walk about at the moment. "But hey, since Gianna has almost the same figure as you do, maybe she could go and try them on in your place? We'll snap photos of each dress and send them to you. You can tell me which one you like the most." Miranda looked up at him and smiled, asking, "But if I'm not the one trying on the wedding dresses, does that mean I won't be the one marrying you either?"