Two figures emerged from the lounge. They were Sophia’s assistant and a maid. Alyssa hurriedly hid


    behind the pir with Julien and peeked at them.


    The maid grumbled in a hushed voice, “What’s wrong with Madam Sophia? She’s been acting weird


    lately.”


    “Right? She was fine when she arrived. But she suddenly felt cold and asked for a jacket. When I


    handed


    it to her, she scolded me for giving her a thick jacket because she felt hot,” the assistant said, looking


    grumpy.


    “That’s not all. She’s been alternating between feeling cold and hot, and her appetite has increased!”


    the


    maid added.


    She then checked her surroundings before cautiously whispering, “Once, I found her in the kitchen by


    the


    fridge past midnight, shoving cake in her face!”


    “That’s impossible! She doesn’t take desserts to maintain her figure.”


    “God knows? She kept stuffing her mouth with cake. I was so terrified to see that.”


    Alyssa and Julien overheard the conversation and frowned at the same time.


    The maid inched closer to the assistant and lowered her voice, “Say, is Madam Sophia having an


    affair?”


    The assistant, looking petrified, poked the maid and warned, “Hold your tongue if you want to be safe.


    We


    are childhood friends, so it’s fine to tell me, but you can’t let anyone else know about it! Got it?”


    “Fine. Is she having an affair, though?” the maid pressed on, undeterred.


    “I don’t know the details, but I do know she often goes to the stic surgery clinic for touch-ups. She’s


    been close to the young doctor, but you can’t im she’s having an affair from that.”


    The two women disappeared after walking through a door.


    Alyssa, who overheard the conversation, fell into deep thought. Julien rubbed his chin in frustration and


    said, “Hmm… Sounds weird.”


    “You think so too?”


    “Eating disorders, fluctuations in body temperature, and mood swings-these sound like symptoms of a


    drug addict in recovery,” Julien suggested.


    Snickering, Alyssa made a call with her back to Julien.


    Soon, a man picked up, sounding polite. “Ms. Alyssa, you finally reached out to me.”


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    “Yes, Tristan. It’s been a while. How are you doing?” she greeted him and initiated small talk.


    “Thanks to you, my clinic is doing well. I’m fine.”


    Tristan McAllister was an excellent stic surgeon raised in a poor family. He was epted to the


    University of Sna as a top student. Due to his family’s financial situation, he nearly gave up on his


    studies after his father passed away early and his mother fell ill.


    Winston created an education fund with the university and named it after Alyssa. Alyssa picked Tristan


    among the many applicants as a beneficiary.


    Their rtionship was beyond a benefactor and a beneficiary. Over the years, even if Alyssa might not


    have met him often, she kept in touch with him, keeping herself updated about his studies and life.


    Despiteing from the distinguished Taylor family, Alyssa did not look down on Tristan at all.


    Whenever he mustered up the courage to email her, she would reply within three days.


    To Tristan, Alyssa was more than a benefactor. Alyssa was a ray of light in his dark and hopeless life. If


    she needed help, he would be willing to lend a hand. He’d do anything for her.


    “Tristan, I have a question. Did Sophia Kirkman get her injections from your clinictely?” Alyssa


    inquired


    in a low voice.


    “Yes. She will visit us weekly. She started off getting one injection per week, but she has increased the


    frequency to thrice per week,” Tristan answered with a smirk. “As she increases the dosage, the side


    effects will be amplified as well. If my guess is correct, she must be suffering from eating disorders,


    feeling cold all over, insomnia, and nightmares.”