Chapter 11

Ariana suddenly leaned in closer, her breath warm against me. A wave of her fragrance hit me, stirring something within my heart for a fleeting moment. Everyone desired beauty; right now, she was the kind of stunning woman who could captivate any man's gaze. "Ahem... Okay," I replied almost instinctively, agreeing to her suggestion. Tomorrow was Friday, so even if our dinner ran late, I wouldn't have to worry about being late for work the next day. Ariana's eyes sparkled with excitement when she saw me agree to it. Her happiness was palpable. Once my IV was finished, the doctor came in to check my temperature. It was the same doctor who had diagnosed me before. He frowned as he looked at me. "I remember you. Your name is Joshua Smith, right?" "Yes, doctor," I nodded, feeling an unexplainable guilt wash over me. Sure enough, the doctor sternly reprimanded me, "You have severe anemia and need to rest properly. You can't eat spicy or stimulating foods and shouldn't stay up late o