Vivian Quinn furrowed her brow. "What are you doing?"
"Vivian, this is the first thing you’ve said to today."
Vivian’s heart softened for a mont against her better judgnt, but then she rembered the scene in the cafeteria at lunchti, and her expression imdiately grew cold. "I asked what you’re doing."
"I’m carrying you back to bed."
"I don’t need you to," Vivian said coldly. "Put down!"
"This isn’t the place to sleep."
"Jett Sterling, do you have so kind of split personality?" Vivian Quinn suddenly asked. "It’s incredible, really. You walk into this house and act like a perfect husband, but the second you step outside of Sycamore Bay, you start chasing won!"
Jett Sterling: "..."
"I told you, don’t touch ! You’re filthy!" Vivian Quinn jumped out of his arms, shot him a vicious glare, and turned to leave, but he suddenly grabbed her arm.
"Vivian." The man stared at her profile. "You’re jealous, aren’t you?"
", jealous of you?" Vivian Quinn scoffed. "Jett Sterling, don’t flatter yourself!"
"You are jealous." The man let out a low, husky laugh. "You haven’t changed. Not one bit."
Vivian Quinn froze for a second, then yanked her hand free and walked straight away.
From that day on, although they saw each other daily in class and at ho, they spoke to each other less and less.
However, no other won were seen around Jett Sterling anymore; he always ate lunch by himself. Vivian Quinn, on the other hand, was pestered into eating with her "rumored boyfriend," Ian Sterling, every day.
In the blink of an eye, winter break arrived. Vivian Quinn could finally sleep in, simr a pot of soup in the kitchen, and bring it to Joy Chase in the afternoon.
"Sis, your cooking is getting better and better." Joy Chase was very appreciative, drinking every last drop of the soup. "How have you been lately? You look like you’ve lost weight."
"I’ve always been this skinny." Vivian Quinn touched her face. "But since you said so, I’ll try to eat more and put on so weight."
"Okay. I’ll try to eat more too, so I can get better and be less of a burden on you."
"Good."
"Sis," Joy Chase asked cautiously, "how are things... between you and Mason lately?"
"There’s nothing between us, so nothing’s going on. Don’t you worry your head about it."
"Oh." Joy Chase lowered her gaze. "Mason is so good to us. I really don’t want you two to have a falling out."
"Joy, I don’t want to have a falling out with him. Mason has taken very good care of us, it’s true, but I never imagined he was being so dedicated because he had feelings for ." Vivian Quinn’s head ached just thinking about it. "Joy, I don’t have those kinds of feelings for him. I can’t return his affection, do you understand?"
"I understand, Sis. A girl should marry for love. So, is Jett Sterling your love, then?"
Vivian Quinn was silent for a long ti before she finally spoke. "Let’s not talk about this anymore. I spoke with your doctor about how you’ve been, and he said you’re doing great."
"Sis, I’ve been trying my best to get better so I won’t be a burden to you anymore."
"If you say that again, I’m really going to get angry." Vivian Quinn patted her head. "Joy, you have never been a burden. You’re my family. How could my family ever be a burden?"
Tears welled in Joy Chase’s eyes. "Okay..."
Vivian Quinn stayed at the hospital for the afternoon. Just as she was about to leave in the evening, Mason Landon suddenly pushed the door open.
"Mason!" Joy Chase cried out in excitent. "You haven’t been to see in so long!"
"Sorry, Joy. I’ve been a bit busy lately." Mason handed her the flowers he was holding. "Your favorite, baby’s breath."
"Thank you, Mason. I love them."
"I’m glad you like them." Mason looked over at Vivian Quinn. "You’re here, too."
"It’s the holidays, so I have ti to keep Joy company."
"Right. The Spring Festival is almost here. Why don’t we take Joy on a short vacation for the holidays?"
Vivian Quinn refused. "Joy’s health won’t allow her to leave the hospital, much less go on a vacation."
"I’m a doctor. I’m very familiar with her condition. We won’t go far, just to a nearby hot spring resort. I’ll bring the IV drip she needs every day and make sure to administer it on ti. We’ll only be gone for a few days and then co back. She’ll be fine."
"Sis, I want to go!" Joy Chase said, her eyes full of hope. "I haven’t left the hospital in so long. I’m going to go stir-crazy if I stay cooped up here any longer."
Vivian Quinn tried to reason with her patiently. "Joy, when it cos to your health, we can’t take any chances. Let’s just be patient for a little longer. Once you’ve completely recovered, you can go wherever you want, okay?"
Disappointnt washed over Joy Chase’s face. "But Sis, I really want to go..."
"No. I won’t agree to it." Vivian’s stance was firm.
Joy Chase lowered her gaze, looking like she was on the verge of tears.
"It’s getting late, I have to go. You get so rest. I’ll co see you again tomorrow." Vivian Quinn grabbed her bag and left.
Mason quickly followed her out and demanded, "It’s rare for Joy to be this happy. Why did you have to disappoint her?"
"Am I the one disappointing her?" Vivian Quinn spun around to face him, her cool expression tinged with anger. "Mason, Joy may be naive, but that doesn’t an I’m a fool. Aren’t you the one who’s using her?"
"You seized on Joy’s desperation to leave the hospital to suggest this vacation. You’re just using her to try and get to go away with you. Do you think I can’t see that?" Vivian Quinn closed her eyes, forcing down the anger rising in her chest. "Joy needs to be focused on her treatnt right now. She can’t just leave the hospital. And for you, a doctor, to risk her health for your own selfish desires... Mason, you’ve gone too far!"
"You said it yourself—I’m a doctor! I can guarantee Joy’s safety the second she steps outside this hospital!" Mason argued, refusing to back down. "Why can’t you just trust this one ti? Why do you always have to assu the worst of ?"
Just as Vivian Quinn was about to reply, she heard Joy Chase’s voice. "Please, stop fighting."
They both turned to see Joy Chase at the door of her room, sitting in her wheelchair.
Tears stread down her pale face. "Sis, Mason... I don’t want to go on vacation anymore. I’m begging you, please don’t fight because of ."
Vivian Quinn sighed and rubbed her forehead, trying to calm down. "Joy, this isn’t your fault. Don’t bla yourself. We weren’t fighting about you; it’s a private matter, okay?"
"But it did start because of ," Joy Chase said, looking at her sadly. "Sis, I know I was wrong. I’ll never ntion it again, and I won’t do anything to make you angry. Just please don’t fight with Mason, okay?"
"Okay, I promise."
Mason spoke up as well. "Joy, I’m sorry. Vivian’s right, this isn’t about you. Go back to your room and get so rest, okay?"
"Okay."
Vivian Quinn took Joy Chase back to her room and helped her lie down before she finally left the hospital.
But in the middle of the night, a phone suddenly began to ring insistently!
Vivian Quinn was jolted awake. She scrambled to answer her phone. "Hello...? What did you say? I’m on my way!"
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