Middle Child Syndrome - Chapter 85

Chapter 85: Ch 85: A war against Biology
The bath helped Rika regain her sanity, and she could think again.

Because she could think once more, she also realised how corny and humiliating her behaviour had been until now.

‘It’s fine. I do not need to feel ashamed. So, what if I clung to Damian like a spoilt brat when I was drugged? People behave worse when they are drunk.’

Damian also did not throw Rika away when she climbed up his body, meaning he did not hate her as much as he should.

Even Emily looked weirdly calm after seeing Rika all over her mate. She even looked a little…amused when she saw the pair.

…Or that was what it looked like to Rika. But she did not want to jump to conclusions and end up disappointed.

The water also helped clear her head, and Rika could think correctly again.

And she ended up with a solid conclusion that she was happy with.

“I am sure that both Emily and Damian reacted like they did because they were afraid for me. I mean, seeing me collapse must have scared them a lot. That is why they were so clingy today.”

Rika was a master at fooling and convincing herself about things like these, so it was not challenging for her to believe this.

She did not even need to have an internal debate this time.

Once she had finished bathing, a fresh pair of clothes was in front of Rika, but the person who delivered them was nowhere to be seen.

It was a simple black T-shirt and easy trousers to move around. It was modest, if not a little too big on her.

But Rika wondered if she would find any better fit than this.

Shopping for her clothes was not easy since she was an awkward mix; her kid’s clothes were too small for her, and her adult clothes were a little too large.

Looking for something to fit her was exhausting, and Rika often made do with what she could find.

“This feels better. Anything is better than blood-strained clothes.”

Even the bedding had been changed while Rika was in the bathroom, and the alpha pair sat awkwardly in front of her bed.

“So, how long do I have to stay here this time? And why did I end up here? I remember feeling sick at the casino. Did I collapse due to my fever?”

Rika asked with an almost cautious voice. She did not want to ask too many questions and annoy the pair, but she also wanted all the answers to her questions.

“You…are just fine. The stress caused you to collapse, and apparently, your body was overloaded because of all the new pheromones it smelled. Don’t worry! It is alright now. You were given medicine to combat it.”

Rika looked at Emily’s babbling face with a blank expression.

Her face might be impassive, but her eyes revealed everything she was thinking about.

“I get it. So, this means I can be discharged today. Can I do that before four? I need to get to work on time to get paid.”

Rika was only half-joking when she said that. Emily and Damian looked startled and offended by her words, and Rika could not help but laugh aloud.

“Oh god! Looking at your offended expressions never gets old. Don’t look at me like that. I’m fine. I know you are worried about me, but I can care for myself just fine. There is no need to be overprotective of me like this.”

Rika assured the pair before her, but she could still tell they were unsatisfied…which was not her fault.

But still, since Rika was causing their worry, she wanted to make them feel a little better.

“If you are so worried, why don’t you visit the flower shop with me? You can sit in the back and watch me work.”

It was likely a bad idea, and Rika knew she would regret it. But once these words were out, she could not stop speaking her mind.

Besides, the area she was working in was Emily’s family territory. They would find a way to watch her even if she denied them.

‘Thinking back at it, It will be better for me if these two continue to keep themselves under control when they are in the shop. I don’t know what kind of trouble they will create if I let them run wild.’

“Are you sure you want us to accompany you to your job, Rika? You are not saying this because you are drugged or anything, right? I don’t want you to feel burdened or anything.”

Rika’s expression became even blanker and colder as soon as she heard Emily’s words.

“So, will you stay behind if I ask you to? Right, I did not think so, either. Now that we have gotten that out, it’s time to head out. Get me my release papers already.”

Emily followed Rika’s orders without hesitation, but Damian’s expression caused Emily to freak out.

He was looking at Rika with that knowing look in his eyes.

“What? Do you want to say something to me as well? I did not think you could hold your tongue. Now, out with what you want to say to me.”

Rika needed to be bolder when saying these words. But today, she felt more daring than usual.

She had a feeling that it might have something to do with the drugs in her system, but she was not sure about it.

Nor did she want to be.

“…”

Of course, Damian remained quiet. He could get on someone’s nerves quickly when behaving like this.

“Are you not going to say anything to me?”

Rika asked, now losing her temper a little.

It was the drugs! It was the drugs that were affecting her mood like this.

“I can smell something sweet-”

“It’s the drug. Don’t overthink about it. I am and will remain a beta in the future.”

“…”

Damian’s silence was deafening, but Rika had already tuned him out. It was a fight against biology, and she would win it.