Chapter 8 Almost Died

Sophia's POV

Under the intense, dual harassment, my body finally gave out. I collapsed one night.

Curled up in bed, my forehead was frighteningly hot. My entire body ached and felt weak. I felt like I had been severely beaten, unable to muster any strength. Even my vision was a blur.

The fever had come on suddenly, though there had been subtle signs. I held no hope that the estate staff would offer any help.

After all, I was in this state partly because of their actions.

In my fuzzy state, I managed to fumble for my phone and text Luca. "I have a fever. Can you take me to the hospital?"

The message went into a black hole. I waited a long time but received no reply.

I felt worse and worse. Dizzy, I struggled to reach for the call button by the bed when the door suddenly opened.

"Sophia, how are you?" Anna walked in, holding an insulated container, a "kind" smile on her face. "Luca said you weren't feeling well and asked me to check on you."

I asked, "Where is Luca?"

"He had an emergency meeting and couldn't leave. He specially asked me to look after you."

Anna walked to the bed, set down the container, and reached out to touch my forehead, but I instinctively flinched away.

I was highly wary of her, especially after witnessing her and Luca together on the sofa.

Anna's hand froze mid-air, but she showed no awkwardness. She retracted it nonchalantly and opened the container.

"I made you some porridge. It's best to eat something light when you have a fever. Also, I have a fever reducer here. Luca said you might need it."

She took out a white tablet and a glass of water from her bag and offered them to me. "Take it quickly. You'll feel better."

My head was spinning badly. I looked at the pill, hesitating for a moment.

Perhaps I was too miserable from the fever, or maybe a tiny spark of hope remained. I finally took the pill and swallowed it, washing it down with two spoonfuls of porridge.

Anna watched me finish, her smile deepening. "You rest well. I'll stay here and watch over you."

I was too weak to talk. I closed my eyes and drifted into a hazy sleep.

I don't know how long passed before I was jolted awake by intense pain.

I realized my whole body was covered in a rash, my throat was tightening, and breathing had become difficult.

I snapped my eyes open, feeling my blood vessels constrict. My vision blurred, and my body began to convulse uncontrollably.

"H-help..."

I struggled to speak, looking at Anna.

The concern on Anna's face vanished, replaced by a dark, sinister smile, which she quickly masked. She cried out in feigned panic, "Sophia! What's wrong? Don't scare me!"

She fumbled to press the call button and grabbed her phone to call Luca. "Luca! It's terrible! Sophia suddenly broke out in a rash, and she can barely breathe! Get over here now!"

Before I completely lost consciousness, I saw servants rushing in.

When I woke up again, I was in a hospital bed, an oxygen tube in my nose, and IV lines in my arm.

A doctor nearby was recording data. Seeing me awake, he sighed in relief. "Ms. Klein, you're finally awake! You had a severe allergic reaction, serious vasoconstriction. If you had arrived any later, your life would have been in danger."

"Allergy?" My voice was hoarse. I asked groggily, "What am I allergic to?"

The doctor flipped through my chart. "We detected sensitizing agents in your system. Considering what you consumed before the onset, you must have come into contact with an allergen."

"You weren't aware of this beforehand?"

The doctor looked suspicious, as such a coincidence shouldn't happen.

I remained silent, but my mind was already racing.

Just then, the door opened. Luca strode in, his face terrifyingly grim.

He glanced at the people around me, his tone aggressive. "What were you all doing? You couldn't even look after a living person?"

He walked to the bedside and took my hand, his fingers cool from the outside air. "How are you? Feeling better?"

I opened my mouth to speak, but Anna walked in right after him, her eyes red, looking like she had been crying for hours.

She immediately knelt down. "Sophia, I'm so sorry! It's all my fault! I didn't know what you were allergic to, and I almost hurt you. Blame me, I'll accept any punishment."

She choked out, "I really just wanted to help Luca take care of you. I never expected to harm you. That pill was just a regular fever reducer I bought at the pharmacy, and I cooked the porridge myself. I truly don't know what went wrong."

I was speechless. Then I heard the surrounding servants testify, confirming how Anna had diligently stayed by my bedside, attentively looking after me.

Luca remained silent, watching the tearful Anna, then turned to me and asked, "Is that how it happened?"

I wanted to refute her, but having just escaped danger, I lacked the strength to speak and could only weakly lower my hand.

"It's fine. Anna didn't mean it."

Luca's mother, Mrs. Victoria, had also arrived and now walked in, her heels clicking loudly on the floor.

Her tone was measured. "It's likely Sophia's unique constitution. It has nothing to do with Anna. She was only trying to help."

Anna immediately nodded, sounding wronged. "Yes! Luca, I really didn't mean to. Please believe me."

Luca was silent for a moment, then finally spoke. "You should go now."

Anna nodded. Before closing the door, she gave me a look. The triumph in her eyes was unconcealed.

I smiled bitterly inside. It was exactly as I suspected.

When only Luca and I were left, I turned my head away, unwilling to look at him.

He spoke, his question direct. "What exactly happened?"

A sliver of hope flared in me. "Anna..."

"I know it wasn't Anna's fault," Luca interrupted me. "I'll investigate, but I sent Anna to care for you. She wouldn't harm you."

"You trust her that much?"

"It's not about trust. It's about not making a fuss over nothing." Luca reached out and touched my forehead. "You just got out of danger. Rest well. We'll discuss the rest later."

His fingertips were warm, but I felt icy cold.

I knew Anna had put an allergen in my pill or porridge. She had clearly tried to kill me.

Yet, no one was taking my side.

Not even Luca.

I simply closed my eyes, refusing to speak further.