âMy wife? Why arenât you living in the Imperial Garden? I donât remember seeing you around before.â
Nicole thought about the situation before she lied, âYou were sick, so I went abroad to study medicine. Iâve since finished my studies and have returned to treat your condition. Let me check your pulse, okay?â
Evan narrowed his eyes. He never expected Nicole to come up with an excuse like that, but he couldnât let her check his pulse. She would discover that his illness was a ruse once she did so.
Still, she admitted to being my wife and said sheâll treat my illness. This is the perfect cover to make her stay by my side, so I can care for her and help her deal with her health issues instead.
âI canât be certain that what you said is the truth. What if youâre just a quack doctor trying to hurt me? I will only allow you to examine me once I am certain that you are my wife.â
Nicole was shocked, but she replied, âOkay, how would you like to go about confirming that? Letâs get to it because your condition has to be treated immediately.â
Evan ignored her. He simply got up and walked to the study room.
Nicole followed closely behind him. She sounded worried when she offered, âIâll only check your pulse. Is that okay?â
âNo, it is not,â rejected Evan firmly.
Nicole would never guess that the real reason behind Evanâs stubbornness was that he was faking his illness. She genuinely thought that Evan was only acting that way because he didnât know who she was. I suddenly hate that he has always been so cautious around strangers and is a bit of a germaphobe. Still, what do I do?
Nicole sighed and started looking for the others in the house. She wanted to ask the maids about Evanâs condition and learn what was going on.
The Hidden Masters rushed over at the time.
Every single one of them faked being surprised when they saw her there.
âMrs. Seet?â
âMrs. Seet, youâre back!â
âMrs. Seet, what happened? You look thinner.â
Nicole nodded, but she didnât bother explaining her condition to the boys. She immediately asked about Evanâs condition.
These four heartless men were only there because they received Evanâs call and, as per Evanâs instruction, they shared about Evanâs fake condition in a sorrowful tone.
âMr. Seet was poisoned, Mrs. Seet, and it looks like he doesnât have much time left.â
âHe also has amnesia, Mrs. Seet. He forgot about a lot of things, and the doctor said that it is selective amnesia. Itâs likely that Mr. Seet misses you too much, and chose to forget everything that happened between the two of you. He probably canât even recognize you anymore.â
âBefore Mr. Seet lost his memories, he missed you dearly, Mrs. Seet. Will you keep him company for a while? Let him spend his last moments with you.â
âYou really should care for him, at least for now, because youâll certainly regret it when heâs gone.â
The Hidden Mastersâ words were like bolts of lightning that continuously struck Nicoleâs mind.
Evan, he⦠Is there really no hope?
The Hidden Masters all felt guilty when they saw how horrified and pale Nicole was after she heard the news. She was completely crushed.
Is it really alright for us to lie to Mrs. Seet like that? Oh, Mr. Seet, how could you come up with such a terrible scheme?
âWhat was he poisoned with?â asked Nicole.
The Hidden Masters turned to one another. Shoot! Mr. Seet never told us what we should say. Darn it, what poison should we say it is?
Jensen stepped up and said, âWeâre not doctors, Mrs. Seet, so we donât know the specifics either. You should ask Mr. Seet about it.â
âHeâs right. You should ask Mr. Seet. He knows all about it.â
âExactly. Mr. Seet knows everything.â
Huh?
Nicole frowned. She obviously wasnât buying their words. âYou boys have no idea what he was poisoned with?â asked Nicole again.
No one spoke.
The Hidden Masters ended up turning to Damien because he was in the best position to answer that question.
Damien struggled for a while before he came up with the name Wicca.
Nicole was surprised. I guess this world really is too big and has too many things. I honestly have never heard of a poison named Wicca. I should ask Wesley about it when I return.
âI got it. Iâll take good care of him. You boys should leave and rest up.â
âUnderstood.â
The Hidden Masters walked out of the living room and heaved a sigh of relief as soon as they stepped out. They wondered why Evan was doing all that.