Delayed Passion: Miss Lynch's Unrequited Love-Chapter 67: My Baby

The bedside lamp in the bedroom is on, casting a dim light. Thea Lynch is lying sideways on the bed, sleeping soundly, still dressed in her work attire from the morning, her legs dangling off the edge, a very uncomfortable position.

She probably didn’t intend to sleep at first, just couldn’t hold on while waiting for him.

Lingering for a moment at the door, Ian Preston then walked in quietly.

Thea Lynch didn’t notice anyone coming in, showing no signs of waking up.

"Thea Lynch."

At the bedside, Ian Preston bent down, using the warm yellow light source, gently tapping her shoulder.

Seeing she didn’t wake up, Ian Preston continued to call her name.

One call after another.

The person on the bed breathed softly for a long while before finally hearing his voice, lazily responding with a sound, as if acknowledging.

But Ian Preston didn’t think she was fully awake, as she showed absolutely no intention of getting up after responding.

Most likely she thought she was dreaming.

Seeing this, Ian Preston dismissed the idea of waking her up and carefully lifted her, changing her position to lie flat on her back. He then called the doctor in.

He felt her forehead temperature, confirming that it was a fever. "Thermometer."

The doctor handed it over, watching him manage things personally.

After confirming it was a high fever, the doctor began preparations.

The moment the slender needle pierced the skin, Thea Lynch subconsciously shrank her hand. Thankfully, Ian Preston was holding her hand tightly, preventing her from pulling away.

The doctor had something to say, and Ian Preston signaled him to go to the living room.

"Mr. Preston, should I stay here? You’ll need to change the medication; after this bottle, there’s another one."

"No need." Ian Preston unbuttoned his coat, "I’ll handle it."

"Alright then." The doctor was unsurprised; seeing Ian Preston’s cherished demeanor earlier, he could guess their relationship.

After giving directions, the doctor nodded to him, "Contact me anytime if something comes up."

Ian Preston nodded as the assistant escorted the doctor back.

—— 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

Thea Lynch felt unbearably hot, kicking off the blanket, wanting to turn over and change her position to continue sleeping. For some reason, she found herself unable to move, feeling as if she was pinned down.

Having tried several times unsuccessfully, she simply gave up, wondering if she was experiencing sleep paralysis.

As she tried to open her eyes in a haze, she suddenly heard a male voice calling her by her nickname, "Xi Xi..."

The voice was deep and affectionate, particularly tender.

Thea Lynch was dazed for a moment, struggling to open her eyes.

The first contour that came into view seemed to be a man’s shape.

The light was too dim, and the person sat against the light at her bedside, making it impossible for her to see his features clearly.

She wanted to raise her hand but was held firmly by him.

As the beads of the bracelet brushed against her skin inadvertently, just this one motion reassured her, and she slowly closed her eyes, her voice hoarse, "Third Brother."

Soon, she heard him respond.

"When did you arrive?"

"Been here for a while, but you were asleep and didn’t hear."

"Oh." Thea Lynch responded sullenly, then said no more.

"Do you want some water?"

The man lowered his head slightly and asked softly.

Thea Lynch’s throat hurt, and she didn’t speak, but her eyelashes fluttered lightly.

Ian Preston brought over the hot water nearby and tested its temperature. It had already cooled down after a while.

"Come, I’ll help you up." He wrapped an arm around her shoulder, using a subtle force to lift her.

Thea Lynch felt her back leave the warm covers, soon pressed against the equally warm embrace.

Ian Preston brought the cup closer to her lips, letting her drink it sip by sip.

"You don’t need to drink much, just to soothe your throat."

Saying that, as he moved to take away the cup, Thea Lynch furrowed her brows and raised her hand to hold his hand down.

"Don’t move your hand." Ian Preston feared the needle might slip.

It was unintended, but Thea Lynch felt his words were somewhat harsh, much like a scolding.

She didn’t drink any more water, her eyelashes quivering as she looked up at him.

Her eyes were wet, seemingly speaking. Just this glance bore endless reproach, inducing a sense of guilt.

She hadn’t intended to cry; it was just the soreness in her eyes, and with a faint blink, a tear fell from the corner.

Because of the fever, Thea Lynch’s complexion was rosy, and she stared directly at Ian Preston. In the comfort and warmth of his embrace, coupled with this tear, it struck the flames in Ian Preston’s heart, making them burn more fiercely, escalating.

Ian Preston’s Adam’s apple moved lightly, as he freed a hand to gently wipe away the sparkle from the corner of her eye.

"The doctor isn’t here, I’m worried the needle might slip."

After a slight pause, although his chest rose and fell intensely, his words remained soft, "I don’t even have enough time to be good to you, how could I bear to scold you?"

Upon hearing this, Thea Lynch stopped looking at him and closed her eyes, ready to drift off again.

Ian Preston exhaled, placing her back on the bed.

As he was about to rise, she mumbled softly, "Liar."

"I’ve only deceived you twice, yet you hold a grudge."

In a crafty turn, Thea Lynch frowned, remaining silent. Ian Preston reached out to smooth the crease between her brows, "Don’t keep frowning. What can a young girl have to worry about?"

"You irritate me just seeing you." Emboldened by her illness, she wasn’t at all afraid of him, ignoring any proprieties.

Hearing this, Ian Preston chuckled softly, dismissing her words.

"Would you be happy if I don’t see you in the future?"

Thea Lynch: "Yes."

She thought he genuinely meant it when in the next second he replied, "That can’t be allowed, I find it unreasonable."

"..."

"Alright, continue sleeping."

Thea Lynch glanced back at him, "You’re not leaving?"

"Not until the drip finishes, I’m here keeping watch."

"Oh..."

After a while, Thea Lynch felt even hotter than before.

She turned her head to the other side, but somehow could sense the scorching gaze behind her, making it impossible for her to sleep.

Realizing she wasn’t asleep, Ian Preston turned on the light again, "Uncomfortable?"

Thea Lynch pressed her lips, "Not really, just suddenly can’t sleep."

"If you can’t sleep, shall we chat a little more?"

Thea Lynch’s mouth twitched slightly, "No, I don’t want to talk, my throat hurts."

If she chatted further with him, she’d be even less likely to sleep. Her head was still a bit dizzy, remaining in a sleepy haze.

Ian Preston said, "Then you sleep, and I’ll talk?"

"I don’t want to listen." Thea Lynch feared he’d bring up things she didn’t want to hear, increasing her agitation.

He persevered, "I’ll sing you a song to lull you to sleep?"

"..." Thea Lynch was caught off guard, when was the last time she heard Ian Preston sing?

Her mind couldn’t process, taking a long time to remember that the last time she heard him sing was when he had just returned to the country.

Unable to sleep that night, she had called him.

Because one was in Westmere, the other in Coronet, he couldn’t appear before her immediately, so later sang over the phone to lull her to sleep.

What song was he singing then?

Thea Lynch kept rewinding but hadn’t found the scene yet, when suddenly the sound started again beside her ear, his voice deep and slow:

"My baby, baby, let me give you something sweet, so you can sleep well tonight..."