Chapter 98

Upstairs. Nancy lay there, eyes shut, listening to the muffled noise outside. She shifted under the blanket, hugging it tighter. Eventually, she tossed the blanket aside and got out of bed. Thinking of stepping out for some air, she opened the door—just in time to see Matthias walking toward her. He was wearing a dark green silk pajama set, sunglasses on in the middle of the night, and cradling a wine glass like he was at some fancy afterparty. He looked as extravagant as he did completely unwell. The moment he saw her, he averted his eyes like a pro actor playing a blind man, long legs striding right past her toward the guest room. "Hold up," Nancy called out. Matthias didn’t slow down. Nancy narrowed her eyes and raised her voice slightly, "I said, wait." The chill in her tone made him freeze mid-step. But he still didn’t look back—just stood there. After half a minute of silence, when she still hadn’t said anything else, he gritted his teeth and turned around. "What now?" "Thirsty,