Chapter 4

I stopped. The tension within me ratcheted up even further.

Skylar plucked a flower from a nearby potted plant, a playful smile on her face, and brought it close to me.

"I hear you have allergies? Does this bother you?"

She flicked the bloom, sending a cloud of pollen right into my face.

"Achoo—Achoo—"

I sneezed several times, tears uncontrollably welling up.

Skylar laughed, stepping back, and called down the hallway.

"Jaxson, come look! Your wife is hilarious!"

Jaxson had appeared at the entrance to the connecting corridor at some point.

He glanced at my disheveled, sneezing state, his brow furrowed slightly.

But in the end, he just said, "Stop fooling around. It's dinner time."

Skylar pouted, slung an arm around his shoulder, and walked off with him.

"No fun."

Daisy rushed over to help me, tears immediately streaming down her face.

"Miss Elara... can we just not put up with this anymore...?"

I wiped my face with my sleeve, taking several deep breaths to suppress the sneezes.

"It's fine, Daisy." I patted her hand.

Don't underestimate my connection to the company!

On the fifth day of my stay, the Hayes family hosted a dinner party.

It was supposedly for the family elders to "meet the new daughter-in-law."

I was seated at the very end of the table.

Jaxson sat next to the head of the table, and Skylar was on his other side, even closer to him than I, his official wife, was.

The elders' gazes darted between Skylar and me, their expressions full of unspoken meaning.

As the third dish was served, Aunt Carol spoke up.

"Jaxson, your new wife looks rather delicate, but her constitution... how will she ever have children?"

"I heard she was always in and out of the hospital as a child. If that's hereditary..."

All eyes turned to me.

I put down my forks, ready to deal with it myself.

Skylar smiled and placed a bowl of herbal pear soup in front of me.

"Elara isn't feeling well, so I specially asked the kitchen to make this pear soup for her throat."

The elders praised her, "Skylar, you're so thoughtful."

I looked at the soup.

And detected a faint, unwelcome scent.

Alcohol.

I'm severely allergic to alcohol; it can cause breathing difficulties, and it's clearly noted on the first page of my medical file.

Skylar couldn't possibly not know.

Everyone was watching me.

My mom's words ran through my mind.

Three thousand families. Six months. Just bear it.

I took a deep breath.

Picked up the bowl, and took a sip.

Three seconds later, my face flushed, my breathing became rapid, and large red hives erupted on my neck.

"Miss Elara!" Daisy rushed in.

Skylar covered her mouth, looking innocent. "Oh my goodness, I truly didn't know Elara was allergic to alcohol! I only added a tiny bit of cooking wine for flavor..."

"Allergic to this, allergic to that," Aunt Carol shook her head. "This constitution might not be able to handle it."

The elders whispered among themselves, their disdainful looks unconcealed.

I gasped, standing up, tears streaming down my face.

Not from sadness, but from the allergic reaction irritating my tear ducts.

But to everyone else, it looked like the new wife was crying embarrassingly at the family dinner.

I walked out.

As I passed Jaxson, I glanced at him.

He hadn't even put down his forks.

Expressionless, he said nothing.

Daisy helped me to the door, where my legs suddenly felt weak.

I instinctively steadied myself against the doorframe.

The solid wooden frame silently indented under my fingertips – five clear prints.

I quickly let go, hiding my hands in my sleeves.

Deep breaths.

Bear it.

I can still bear it.