Your Guise Is Slipping, Miss Pearl

Esther lay in the hospital bed, her breathing steady. It seemed like she was out of danger.

"James, you must be exhausted from looking after Esther. You should rest. She wouldn't want you to overexert yourself," Pearl advised, moved by James's dedicated care for Esther.

"I'm alright. I managed to get an hour of sleep earlier."

"You've been here for a whole day and only slept for an hour?" Pearl sighed, concerned for James's well-being.

Before she could continue, she noticed Esther stirring. "Is Esther waking up?" she exclaimed, surprised by the sudden movement.

James, too, noticed it, feeling her hand tremble slightly in his grasp.

After a while, Esther opened her eyes.

"James..." Her voice was hoarse as tears welled up in her eyes at the sight of him, the man whom she had been missing day and night. Property © NôvelDrama.Org.

James fetched a glass of water from the nearby table, put a straw in it, and offered it to Esther. "Here, have some water. Your throat must be dry."

Esther nodded and gratefully accepted the water, her spirits seeming to lift with the simple gesture.

"You're here too, Pearl?" Her gaze shifted to Pearl, her eyes brimming with tears and longing.

"You had us worried sick. You need to take better care of yourself when you're abroad," Pearl scolded gently. But guilt gripped her at the sight of Esther's pale face.

Esther brushed off Pearl's concern with a smile. "Okay, I'll remember next time."

"There won't be another time!" Pearl's sadness deepened at Esther's response.

After Esther had some water, Pearl encouraged her to rest more. James shared her thoughts. He turned and said to Pearl, "You guys can go and rest. I'll watch over her."

"You should rest instead. We've already rested," Pearl insisted, gesturing to Richard and herself. She then informed Esther loudly, "James rushed over here after learning about your accident. He didn't even rest."

Touched by his concern, Esther mustered her strength to grasp his finger gently. "James, go and rest."

Despite his bloodshot eyes, James was determined to stay, shaking his head. "I can't sleep. I'd be too worried not watching over you."

"I'm okay. But you need to take care of yourself. If you get sick, who will look after you?"

Esther would have scolded him in the past. But now, she could only lay in bed weakly. Even her voice sounded shaky.

James finally heeded her advice, nodding and giving her a reassuring look. "Alright, I'll rest a bit. Let Pearl know if you're feeling sick or if you need anything."

Esther smiled weakly, relieved. "I will, don't worry."

As James stood up, a wave of dizziness hit him, a result of neglecting his own health. He steadied himself and turned to Pearl with a serious request, "Please, let me know right away if Esther's condition changes."

Pearl promised him.

With James gone, Esther turned to Pearl, her voice weary, "I'm sleepy, Pearl. I think I'll sleep for a while."

Pearl nodded. Her heart softened as she touched Esther's hair and said dotingly, "Rest well. I'll be here with you."

As Esther drifted off to sleep, Pearl and Richard took a seat on a nearby couch, speaking in hushed tones as they watched over her.