Heiress' Househusband is a Secret Billionaire - Chapter 100

Chapter 100: Fever At Midnight
Ruediger was glad to see how peaceful Lariette was when sleeping.

Lying on the bed, Lariette’s chest rose and fell with steady breaths. Her long, chocolate-brown hair spilled over the pillow. The soft bangs framed her serene face.

Ruediger only opened the table lamp in the seating area, quite far from the bed to avoid bothering Lariette’s sleep. The spacious bedroom was mostly enveloped in darkness once night came.

Sitting on a plush chair after taking a hot shower, Ruediger read a book. The warm, soft light of the table lamp illuminated his features, highlighting the curves on his face and the locks he left unrestrained from any tie.

Ruediger occasionally lifted his eyes from the book to the bed. His focus was broken once he caught the soft grunts coming from there.

“…Lettie?”

Putting the book down, Ruediger hurriedly strode to the bed. What he saw next spiked his worry.

Lariette stirred restlessly on the bed. Her previously serene expression melted away, replaced by discomfort. Soft whimpers escaped her lips as her brows furrowed.

Noticing the shift, Ruediger only had one thought in mind.

‘She has a fever.’

Ruediger extended one hand, carefully placing his palm on her forehead. He recoiled slightly at the alarming heat radiating from her skin.

“Lettie… Are you awake now?”

Ruediger asked softly, his voice lacing with worry. Lariette’s eyes fluttered open slightly before closing again, barely awake.

“Wait. Let’s get your temperature first.”

“…en.”

Acting swiftly, Ruediger grabbed a digital ear thermometer from the bedside table—the one he asked from one of the helpers. He carefully took her reading.

‘38.2°C. Mild-fever. Still…’

Ruediger put the thermometer back on the table. He sprang to the washroom, his frantic footsteps echoing in the bedroom.

Ruediger consulted Dr. Larson before, asking what he should do if Lariette suddenly contracted a fever at midnight.

The doctor gave him a few pieces of advice, including telling him the differences between low, moderate and high-grade fevers.

Ruediger filled a plastic bowl with cool water, also getting a few small towels. Bringing them out of the washroom, he sat on the edge of the bed.

Lariette seemed to drift in and out of consciousness. Her eyelids were half-opened before closing again. She barely traced the silhouette of the man in the dimness.

“E-Eddy…”

Alerted by Lariette calling his name, Ruediger carefully leaned toward her.

“Yes, Lettie? Ah, are you thirsty?”

Lariette nodded a few times, still hardly awake. She felt warmth enveloping her as Ruediger carefully propped her up from the bed.

His wide and coarse palm securely supported her back, leaving a comforting warm feeling, unlike the one she discerned because of her fever.

“Careful, drink slowly.”

Ruediger placed the rim of the glass on Lariette’s lower lip, slowly tilting it to let the water flow into her mouth. She took a few, small sips before shaking her head.

“I’ll get you a cold pack soon. Here, lie down.”

Lariette felt as if she was floating before her back touching the soft mattress. Through her half-opened eyes, she saw Ruediger wringing out a cloth from a bowl.

‘It’s cool…’

The thought popped into Lariette’s semi-conscious mind once Ruediger placed the damp cloth on her forehead. Its coolness offered temporary relief to her.

“Wait here, Lettie. I’ll be back soon.”

Ruediger’s husky voice sounded so low to Lariette. She heard his footsteps leaving the bed. The sound disappeared once he sprinted out of the room, heading down the hallway.

The semi-conscious Lariette didn’t know what time was it or how long Ruediger had been away. The man returned shortly with two cold packs from the pantry.

And also, Madeline.

“Lari!”

Madeline hurried to the bed, worriedly looking at the sick Lariette. Ruediger smiled faintly as he stood next to his cousin. He called her after coming back from the pantry just now.

“Maddie, here,” Ruediger took the unused towels, wrapping the cold packs before handing them to Madeline, “Put them under Lettie’s arms.”

“Okay.”

Madeline quickly did as she was told. Taking the cloth-wrapped cold packs, she whispered to Lariette, saying she would place them under her arms.

Ruediger turned around when Madeline slipped the pack under Lariette’s pajama shirt. Once she was done, Madeline called her cousin.

“We can’t let them there for too long, right?”

“Yes,” Ruediger nodded, lowering himself on the chair by the bed, “Ten minutes are enough.”

Lariette had returned to sleep. Madeline quietly looked from her friend to her cousin.

Ruediger took the damp cloth from Lariette’s forehead, dipping it back into the cold water. He repeated the process to keep her temperature in check.

“Let me.”

Madeline took the new cloth from Ruediger, gently placing it at the back of Lariette’s neck. Ruediger simply let her cousin help.

The clock continued ticking, almost struck ten in the evening. The two cousins sat in silence, afraid of bothering the sick lady if they conversed.

Lariette seemed a little more comfortable than before, no longer looking restless. Madeline removed the cold packs from the former’s underarms once the time was up.

“Aren’t you tired, Rudy?” Madeline lowered her voice, asking Ruediger as she handed the packs to him, “You should rest too. Let me take care of Lari.”

Madeline still remembered that Ruediger also braced the rain-soaked forest, looking for the missing Lariette. Even though he seemed unaffected by it, she was still worried about him.

“I’m fine. I’ve rested just now.”

Ruediger threw a smile at Madeline to which the lady responded with a glare.

“I’ll report you to Mom,” Madeline rolled her eyes, “Let her twist your ears next time.”

Chuckles slipped out from Ruediger’s mouth, knowing that his cousin was annoyed with him. His gaze remained on Lariette, feeling a little relieved now.

“Won’t you tell Grandpa? About Lari having a fever?” asked Madeline, recalling the worry-laden elderly man.

“I don’t want to but, I have to.”

Madeline shrugged, understanding what Ruediger meant.

Neither of them wanted to fuel more into Chairman Delaney’s worry but, they also knew they shouldn’t hide anything from him.

Regaining her peace, Lariette continued sleeping, unaware of what the two cousins were talking about. Her chest rose and fell steadily under the blanket.