Flora’s Guide to a Second Chance at Love and Life

"Hey, just passing by and thought I'd check on you."

When Ray saw her walk in, he shut his laptop, tossed it onto the couch, and opened the thermos on the coffee table. "Come on, eat up. Connor made this himself, it's pretty good."

He figured Aisha must be sick of Golden Palace food by now. The last time he brought her a meal from Connor, she polished it off, so he's been pestering Connor to cook extra whenever he makes food for Flora.

Connor, mindful of Aisha's health, prepared nutritious meals, perfect for her recovery.

"I'm not hungry. You go ahead," Aisha said, shaking her head and moving tiredly to sit behind her desk. She looked pale.

"I came all the way here to bring you this, and you're telling me you're not hungry?" Ray glared at her. "Don't think I don't know. You've barely eaten all day. If you're not hungry, then I'm a ghost. Come on, eat." "I really can't," she said weakly, not with her usual feistiness. Ray frowned and turned to look at her more closely.

That's when he noticed how pale she was.

Standing up, he walked over to her just as she pulled a box of painkillers from the drawer.

"Stomachache?" Ray asked.

Aisha nodded, popped a pill, and swallowed it dry, without even a sip of water.

After taking the medicine, she calmly put the painkillers back in the drawer. Half the pack was gone, showing how often she had stomach pains.

Damn it! She never listened to him about eating on time.

A sudden rush of irritation flared up in Ray, like a fire burning inside that he couldn't put out.

He grabbed a cup from her desk, filled it with hot water, and handed it to her. "Drink."

Aisha glanced at him and took the cup. The hot water did make her feel a bit better.

"Feeling better? If you're still in pain, I'll take you to the hospital," Ray said, his tone gruff but unable to hide his concern.

"I'm not that fragile. I'll be fine after a bit of rest."

"Then come and eat. Connor made pork rib soup, it'll soothe your stomach." Seeing her about to refuse again, Ray's brows knitted. "I've been running around all day and haven't even eaten yet. Do you really want to make me starve too?"

Then just eat by yourself... No one asked you to starve with me, Aisha thought irritably.

But she was too tired from the day and too pained from her stomachache to argue, so she complied and sat with him on the small couch.

Aisha really had no appetite. She was hungry, but it had gotten to the point where, despite her empty stomach, she couldn't eat.

She barely managed to drink two bowls of pork rib soup.

Ray's brows were furrowed tightly. "Finish eating and get some sleep."

"I still have documents to finish."

"I'll help you with them after you wake up."

"No need," Aisha said, getting ready to return to her work.

Ray slammed the bowl down. "Not eating, not sleeping, are you trying to become a saint?"

Lately, she'd been so busy she hadn't even gone home, staying in the office all day.

"You don't need to worry about it."

"We'll see about that."

Ray stood up, scooped Aisha up in a princess carry, and dropped her onto the bed in the rest area. He leaned over her, his hands on either side of her shoulders. "So, are you going to sleep or not?"

He looked down at her, his eyes darkening with a hint of danger.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

"Either you sleep on your own, or I'll stay and sleep with you. Your choice."

Normally, Aisha would have fought back against Ray, unwilling to give in so easily.