Chapter <b>244 </b>
<b>By </b>the time Charlotte returned from South <b>City</b><b>, </b><b>it </b>was <b>already </bte January<b>. </b>
<b>With </b>the <b>holiday </b><b>season </b><b>approaching</b><b>, </b><b>the </bw firm had already shut down for the break.
The <b>day </b>she flew back, she caught the flu at the airport and <b>came </b><b>down </b>hard with a fever. After getting an IV drip at the hospital, she spent <b>most </b>of her time in <b>bed</b>. Her meals were <b>delivered </b>to her room <b>by </b><b>their </b>housekeeper<b>, </b><b>Mrs. </b>Sanders<b>. </b>
The day <b>before </b>the holiday<b>, </b>Mrs. Sanders brought <b>in </b>her usual lunch.
Charlotte <b>gave </b><b>a </b><b>soft </b>cough and <b>dabbed </b>at her nose with a tissue.
<b>“</b>Mrs. <b>Sanders</b><b>, </b><b>tomorrow’s </b>a family holiday. <b>You </b>should <b>go </b>home after you’re done and spend it with your loved ones<b>.</b><b>” </b>
<b>Mrs. Sanders </b><b>hesitated</b><b>. </b><b>“</b>But <b>you’re </b><b>still </b><b>sick</b>. Who’s going to look after you if I leave?”
<b>“</b><b>It’s </b><b>just </b>the <b>flu</b><b>, </b>
<b>” </b>
te said lightly. “No <b>big </b>deal.”
<b>Mrs. </b>Sanders still looked uneasy<b>. </b><b>“</b>Why <b>don’t </b>I take you back to the Riley estate? At <b>least </b>there’ll be family around to care for you.<b>” </b>
Desmond had already called earlier that week to ask when she would being home<b>. </b>
Charlotte had originally nned to return as soon as the firm went on break. <b>But </b>the flu had hit her hard, and with a young child at home and her father <b>just </b>out of the hospital, she didn’t want to risk passing the virus <b>to </b>them.
<b>“</b><b>I’ll </b>wait until I’m better,” she said gently<b>. </b>
.
<b>Mrs. </b>Sanders was still worried. “So <b>you’re </b>going to be here all by yourself tomorrow<b>? </b>Why don’t <b>you </be to my ce instead?”
Charlotte shook her head. <b>“</b><b>Mrs. </b>Sanders, <b>don’t </b>forget–Mrs. Wilson still lives with <b>you</b><b>. </b><b>If </b><b>I </b>identally passed this flu to her, <b>it </b>could <b>be </b>serious<b>.</b><b>” </b>
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That finally made Mrs. Sanders reconsider. Mrs. Wilson was frail and <b>constantly </b>ill. A flu could be life<b>–</b>threatening. She scratched her head, unsure<b>. </b>
“Alright <b>then</b><b>…</b><b>” </b>
<b>“</b><b>I’ll </b>be fine. I can take care <b>of </b>myself.”
<b>“</b>Okay<b>.</b><b>” </b>
<b>After </b>lunch<b>, </b><b>Mrs. </b>Sanders did <b>a </b><b>deep </b>clean of the apartment<b>, </b><b>wiping </b>down every and bought <b>groceries </b>and snacks.
<b>room </b>and the living room until everything sparkled. Then she headed to the store
Once <b>she </b>had everything in ce<b>, </b><b>she </b>opened Charlotte’s door.”
<b>“I </b>stocked the fridge and left fruit <b>and </b><b>your </b>favorite imported snacks <b>on </b>the table in the living
Charlotte was <b>curled </b>up in bed, her head <b>barely </b>poking <b>out </b>from theforter.
room.
<b>“</b>Thanks<b>, </b><b>Mrs. </b>Sanders. <b>You’ve </b>done so much.<b>” </b>
<b>“</b>If anythinges <b>up</b>, just <b>give </b>me <b>a </b><b>call</b><b>.</b><b>” </b>
“Got it. <b>Happy </b><b>holidays</b>, <b>Mrs. </b><b>Sanders</b><b>.</b><b>” </b>
“<b>Happy </b>holidays<b>, </b>sweetheart.”
Mrs. Sanders <b>stepped </b><b>out </b><b>of </b>the apartment <bplex</b><b>, </b>still feeling uneasy.
She pulled <b>out </b>her phone and called <b>Sean</b>.
“Mr. Jasper<b>, </b>Miss Riley’s sick. She caught <b>the </b><b>flu </bing back <b>from </b><b>her </b><b>trip </b>and has been in bed <b>for </b>two days. She <b>insisted </b><b>I </b><b>go </b>home for the holidays<b>, </b><b>but </b>I really don’t <b>feel </b>good leaving her alone<b>.</b><b>” </b>
Sean’s heart tightened. <b>“</b><b>She’s </b>sick?”
“She probably picked it up at the airport. Came back and copsed right away.”
“I got it.”
As soon as he hung <b>up</b><b>, </b>Sean called Jordan <b>and </b>asked <b>if </b>his sister<b>, </b><b>Lena</b><b>, </b>could check on Charlotte.
The moment Lena heard Charlotte was sick<b>, </b>she picked up <b>her </b>phone and called.
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<b>“</b><b>Lottie</b><b>! </b><b>You’re </b><b>sick</b>? Why didn’t you <b>tell </b>me? Are you home alone right now?”
<b>Charlotte </b>answered in a hoarse voice<b>, </b>still <b>wrapped </b>in nkets.
<b>“</b><b>Yeah</b><b>. </b><b>It’s </b>just <b>a </b>cold. I’m already feeling better<b>.</b><b>” </b>
<b>“</b>I’ming <b>over </b>with our family <b>doctor </b>to check on <b>you</b><b>, </b><b>okay?</b><b>” </b>
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<b>“</b><b>You </b>really <b>don’t </b><b>have </b><b>to</b><b>, </b>Lena. I already went <b>to </b><b>the </b><b>hospital </b>for an IV. The doctor gave me meds, and I’ve been taking them. I just had lunch and was about to nap. I’ll probably be back <b>to </b>normal after a good <b>sleep</b>.”
<b>“</b><b>You </b><b>don’t </b>sound anywhere <b>close </b>to normal,” Lena said, worried. “Your <b>voice </b>is raspy<b>. </b>I’ll be there soon, just to be safe<b>.</b>”
<b>“</b>Really<b>, </b>it’s fine-”
“Lottie,e on. Since when do we worry about what’s a hassle between us?<b>” </b>
An hourter<b>, </b>the doorbell rang.
From inside, came the faint sound of soft, sluggish footsteps.
Charlotte moved slowly, unsteady on her feet, and opened the door.
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