Lara came back with a ss of water. "Ms. Frazier, you fainted in the wine cer. Mr. Lowe brought you here to rest."


    Debra gulped down the water, feeling her throat finally ease.


    As she nced up, she caught sight of Drake standing across from her, casually d in a loose robe. His hair was tousled, and faint dark circles under his eyes hinted at a long night.


    "Debra, you really outdid yourself," Drake said, his tone frigid. "I sent you to clean up, and you managed to pass out in the wine cer. You stirred up a ruckus in the middle of the night. Can''t you let people sleep?" Debra retorted, "I was trying to clean, but Kale scared me with his cold face. I didn''t bother anyone, yet you let him bully me."


    Drake''s expression darkened. "I let him bully you?"


    "If it weren''t for you, why would he have tried to kill me?" Debra rolled up her sleeve, revealing a series of fresh bruises marring her skin. "Look at this. He almost chocked me."


    Drake''s brows knitted together.


    "Ms. Frazier, you''ve misunderstood," Lara interjected. "Mr. Lowe didn''t intend to harm you. What Kale did was his own decision. Mr. Lowe has already scolded him and even had us prepare food for you to regain your strength." "Who asked you to speak? Get out," Drake barked.


    Lara shrank back, quickly retreating from the room.


    Only then did Debra notice the snacks neatly arranged on the table beside her.


    "Are these for me?"


    "No, they''re for my dog. I wasn''t nning on sharing it with you."


    "I''m really hungry. Can we stop with the jokes?"


    She hadn''t eaten anything all day, and after waking up from the IV, her hunger gnawed at her insides.N?velDrama.Org ? 2024.


    Drake ignored her, pulling up a chair and sitting across from her.


    "You can eat, but first, answer my questions."


    "Go ahead."


    "Kale said you asked him to fetch cleaning supplies and framed him up."


    "Me? Framing him?"


    Debra''s eyes zed with


    indignation, She nearly threw off the


    nket to leap out of bed, but as she attempted to move, Drake instinctively tried to get up. When he saw she couldn''t stand, he leaned back in his chair.


    Debra leaned against the headboard, still feeling dizzy. "Don''t you know the answer? Why should I up for no good reasons?"


    belongs to en. R


    "I don''t know what goes on in your mind, which is why I''m asking."


    "Come on, I''m not that bored."


    him


    She nced at the snacks on the table. "I''ve answered your question. Can I eat now?"


    Drake remained silent, which she took as permission. She grabbed a piece of walnut pastry and bit into it. The sweet vor, light and not overwhelming, instantly lifted her spirits.


    Seeing Debra so carefree while snacking, Drake spoke up suddenly.


    "Aren''t you afraid I might''ve poisoned the food?"


    His words halted her mid-bite, but then she stuffed the rest of the pastry into her mouth.


    "If you really wanted me dead, you wouldn''t have saved me in the first ce."