Echoes of Unrequited Love

Chapter 26

Chapter 26 Standing next to her, Hogan furrowed his brow upon seeing the situation and seriously said, “Ms. March, Cecilia meant well.” Meant well, huh?

Yeah, right. The beloved princess giving a beggar a piece of candy in front of the prince — in his eyes, that was a grand gesture of kindness.

Who cares about the beggar’s pride? | suddenly realized | was being a bit small—-minded. After all, cozying up to investors was part of the job too.

So, | picked up my noodles and said, “Lately, nothing’s been tasting right, just craving this bite.” Cecilia’s face lit up with understanding. “Oh right, the dishes from Aurora Eats are on the bland side.”

Different strokes for different folks, | guess that explanation will do.

The issue was dropped, but eating the cup noodles felt all kinds of wrong.

Before long, | started feeling queasy in my stomach.

A dull pain.

At first, | didn’t think much of it, but soon, the cramping hit me from all sides, making me break

out in a cold sweat.

| grabbed some stomach medicine and, clutching my belly, headed to the break room.Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

Man, it hurt.

It hurt so bad | couldn’t even hold the cup steady.

| heard a “crash” as the glass slipped from my grasp and smashed to pieces on the floor, shattered to bits. Fighting through the pain, | tried to move and felt my legs give out, my whole body uncontrollably falling. Thinking of the glass shards on the floor, | panicked and shut my eyes.

But the expected pain didn’t come.

Instead, a strong arm tightly embraced me around the waist, and the sharp, brisk smell of soap filled my nostrils, bringing back a flood of fiery memories from long ago.

This hug was too real.

So real it felt surreal.

Confused, | opened my eyes and looked up to meet Hogan's gaze.

Under the bright overhead light, his eyes seemed veiled with a layer of misty sand, shimmering with slivers of concern and tenderness.

He asked softly. “Can you stand?”

That was when | suddenly realized | was lying in Hogan’s arms.

Just as | was about to speak, Cecilia’s sweet voice cut in unexpectedly, “Hogan, what are your two doing?”

| pushed through the discomfort to break free from Hogan’s embrace, politely saying, “Thanks, Mr. Zade.”

Hogan turned to Cecilia, calmly explaining. “Ms. March is feeling unwell, she just lost her balance.”

He was explaining to her.

Cecilia glanced at me suspiciously and suggested. “Then we should take her to the hospital.*,

Her voice was light, obviously just a formality.

Leaning on the counter. | pressed down the pain in my stomach and tactfully made an excuse, “It’s just that time of the month, some medicine will do, don’t bother.”

Cecilia visibly relaxed, but Hogan suddenly insisted, “Can’t even stand properly, better go to the hospital for a check-up.” He seemed pretty adamant, almost as if he was scared something bad would happen to me. which was out of character. Cecilia noticed this too, biting her lip and looking timidly at Hogan, saying, “Hogan, you are really thoughtful.”

Hogan paused, gave me a glance, then quickly took Cecilia out of the break room, probably off to sweet-talk Cecilia.

| took the opportunity to swallow the stomach medicine, and after a short break, | left the break

room.

I'd barely taken two steps when Hogan's deep voice reached my ears, “After all, she’s in charge of this project. If she’s unwell, wouldn't that mess up your graduation presentation next year?”

It was like a bucket of cold water was dumped over me from head to toe.

That was when | got it - Hogan’s kindness was just him worrying that me, the person in charge. might screw up Cecilia’s graduation presentation.