Chapter 53: Eating Something Bad

Seren Thorne turned her head to look at Alaric Vane. Although she didn't speak, Alaric could clearly read the words in her eyes: Did you do this on purpose, you jerk?!

Alaric hadn't expected the cake he’d casually picked up to be stale, let alone two days old. He fell silent for a moment before saying, "It’s just one cake; it shouldn't be a big problem."

Seren shared that same bit of wishful thinking. In her previous life, she had eaten steamed buns that were nearly sour. This cake tasted normal enough, so there shouldn't be an issue, right?

Seren quickly pushed the matter to the back of her mind because Sebastian North was walking over with Lydia North.

"Miss Thorne, Lydia seems a bit afraid of the environment here. She said she’d feel more grounded by your side. Would it be too much trouble for you to accompany her with me? It won't take long, just for the duration of the funeral."

Seren readily agreed. "No problem."

The banquet at the Moore house was set to start in about half an hour, and it would likely only take over an hour to finish. She was more than happy to help with such a small favor.

Lydia hadn't expected her brother to use her as an excuse to get close to Seren. She hesitated to speak, but worried that her brother might get angry with her later, she ultimately remained silent.

Beside them, Alaric’s expression turned sour. He spoke with a cold face, "Mr. North, surely you are more capable of putting the second Miss North at ease than an outsider like Seren Thorne? Did you come over specifically to talk to her for help, or do you have other motives?"

Sebastian’s face remained expressionless, his tone distant yet polite: "Naturally, I want Miss Thorne's help. Lydia isn't close to me; she clearly likes Miss Thorne more. Having her here will comfort Lydia better."

Seren added, "Alaric, Mr. North has no grievance with you. Stop targeting him."

{The red string between the female lead and the male lead is already broken, and these two usually have no interaction. Even if Alaric is jealous of the female lead, he shouldn't be taking it out on the male lead, right?}

Alaric grit his teeth.

Stupid woman!

What do you mean 'jealous of the female lead'?

Can't you see Sebastian North is interested in you?

"You really are a block of wood!"

Seren: "?"

Who was the dog man insulting now?

Sebastian acted as if he hadn't noticed Alaric’s dark face. He began to converse with Seren with gentlemanly grace and even sat at the same table as her during the banquet. Before the meal, he even took the liberty of rinsing her bowl for her.

Seren didn't realize Sebastian’s kindness was excessive at all, assuming he was simply this attentive and considerate toward everyone.

{No wonder he's the male lead; he's so gentlemanly.}

Thinking this, she cast a disdainful sideways glance at Alaric, her meaning pointed: {Completely different from a certain someone.}

The corners of Sebastian’s lips curled up, while Alaric’s face darkened.

Playing the gentleman? As if I don't know how!

Once the food was served, Alaric picked up the serving chopsticks and placed a piece of food into Seren’s bowl. His voice was stiff and awkward: "Eat."

Seren shot him a startled look, as if the sun had risen from the west, and reached up to feel his forehead.

"Did you take the wrong meds today? Why are you being so abnormal?"

Alaric ground his teeth.

When Sebastian was nice to her, he was a "gentlemanly and polite," but when he was nice to her, he was "taking the wrong meds" or "having a fit"? The double standard was a bit too obvious!

He pulled Seren’s hand down from his forehead and said, "In a public place, we still have to maintain the 'face-saving' project required of a married couple."

"Oh." Realization dawned on Seren, and she also used the serving chopsticks to give him some food. "Here, eat."

Alaric looked at the food in his bowl. He didn't particularly like fish. Clearly, Seren didn't know this and had given him a piece of sweet and sour fish.

However, the fact that Seren gave him food in front of Sebastian was a way of "choosing a side" and stating her position. In the end, he, the husband, had won.

At this thought, Alaric’s mood improved, and he glanced sideways at Sebastian. Although his face remained expressionless, Sebastian could see his triumph—like a victorious lion with its chest held high.

Sebastian’s eyes dimmed as he looked down to conceal the emotions within. Currently, he had no official relationship with Seren and couldn't display intimacy like Alaric could. He had to plan slowly; there was no need to fight for a moment's satisfaction.

Seren remained oblivious to the undercurrents between the two men. She continued eating her meal, occasionally giving food to Lydia and helping her peel shrimp.

Watching Seren’s calm and composed manner, Lydia couldn't help but admire her open-mindedness. To live as openly and candidly as "Beautiful Sister"—she couldn't imagine how happy that would be. Lydia secretly clenched her fists, taking Seren as her role model, determined to become as broad-minded as her in the future.

After the banquet, Alaric didn't want to stay a moment longer. Just as he was about to tell Seren it was time to go home, he noticed her expression was slightly unusual, as if she were desperately enduring something.

Alaric asked her, "What’s wrong?"

Seren: "I need to pass gas."

Alaric: "..."

You really didn't need to tell me that.

"I’ll take you to the restroom."

Seren nodded, said goodbye to the North siblings, and left with Alaric.

She had originally only intended to release some "foul air," but after entering the restroom, she began vomiting and having diarrhea. By the time she came out, she was completely exhausted.

Alaric saw her poor state and quickly remembered the small cake eaten before the meal. Seeing Seren like this, she had likely upset her stomach.

Looking at the woman's pale little face, Alaric’s chest felt inexplicably tight. He reached out to support her. "I’m taking you to the hospital."

Seren nodded weakly, also realizing the problem was that small cake before the meal.

Alaric helped Seren into the car, floored the accelerator, and headed straight for the hospital. He was worried sick, yet his words remained sharp: "Could you not taste that the cake was spoiled? You actually ate the whole thing."

Seren didn't speak. First, she didn't have the energy to bicker with Alaric. Second, she had eaten three-day-old buns in her past life; she hadn't given a second thought to a tiny cake.

Spoiled or rotten? It didn't matter. In her eyes, as long as it wasn't decomposed, it was edible. She just hadn't expected the original host's body to be so fragile that a single piece of cake would knock her down.

Hearing Seren’s inner thoughts, Alaric’s brow furrowed deep enough to crush a fly.

Just what kind of miserable life did this woman lead in her past life?

She suffered so much; did no one ever lend her a hand?

This woman usually can't stand the slightest grievance and complains in her heart over every little unhappiness—what must she have felt, starving to death in her previous life?

Thinking of the image of Seren dying alone of hunger in the wind and snow, Alaric’s grip on the steering wheel tightened. His heart felt as though it had been yanked, a suffocating pain blooming within him. He couldn't bring himself to say any more harsh words.

The car raced all the way to the hospital. The doctor Alaric arranged was already waiting at the door. Upon their arrival, the doctor ushered them inside.

The results came out quickly: Seren had indeed upset her stomach. An IV drip and some medication would fix her up.

Even though it wasn't a major illness, Alaric still opened a VIP ward for Seren to stay in temporarily. Once everything was arranged and Seren was lying in bed with her IV, she saw Alaric still sitting by the bedside. She spoke to remind him:

"Don't you have a video conference to attend? Go back first; I’ll be fine here by myself."

Though she felt a bit weak, it wasn't a serious problem, and she didn't want to trouble anyone.

Alaric didn't leave, saying casually, "The meeting was canceled. I’m staying here with you today."

Seren stared at him for a while, then asked suspiciously, "Why are you suddenly so good to me today? You haven't... fallen for me, have you?"