Chapter 173



At Vera Villas, Belinda entered the house and made her way directly to Holley’s room.

“Belinda, you’re here…” Holley’s weak voice greeted Belinda as she slowly opened her eyes. Her cheeks were pallid, and her voice was hoarse.

Belinda approached the bed and gently touched Holley’s forehead. As she had suspected, it was indeed very hot.

“You have a fever,” Belinda said.

“So, it’s a fever. No wonder I’ve been feeling so dizzy and weak,” Holley murmured feebly.

“Just rest for now,” Belinda said.

After assisting Holley back into a lying position, she stepped out of the room. She retrieved the medicine kit and returned to Holley’s side, fishing out a thermometer and tucking it under Holley’s arm.

Moments later, she read the thermometer.

“It’s quite a high fever,” Belinda said as she sifted through the medicine kit for fever-reducing medicine.

Upon finding the medicine, she helped Holley take it and then fetched a cooling gel patch from the fridge, applying it gently to Holley’s forehead.

After doing all this, Belinda began dabbing Holley’s skin with a cotton ball soaked in alcohol, helping to cool her down further.

When Holley saw Belinda care for her, her voice cracked with emotion.

“Belinda, I’m sorry…”

Belinda continued her actions, her face unchanged, her voice steady. “You’re my mom. It’s my duty to look after you when you’re ill. No apologies necessary.”

Holley sighed deeply. “I was not talking about this…”

When Belinda heard this, her hands stilled momentarily.

Belinda continued to wipe down Holley’s body, choosing not to acknowledge her earlier words. Yet, Holley continued to speak, her voice tinged with regret.

“I know you still hold it against me, Belinda. And I don’t blame you—I blame myself, too. I was never strong enough. If only I’d come from a better background, perhaps I wouldn’t have had to leave your father. That way… you wouldn’t have had to bear the label of being an illegitimate child. You’ve always had to concede to Kylee and restrain yourself. You have never been allowed to surpass her in anything.”

As she spoke, tears streamed down Holley’s cheeks. “Every time I think of this, my heart is heavy with sorrow. Belinda, this is all my fault. You’ve endured so much because of my choices…”

With that, Holley reached out, clasping Belinda’s hand, forcing her to stop.

Belinda looked at Holley, her face a mask of mixed emotions. She was struggling to articulate her feelings now.

After a brief silence, she said, “Discussing this now only compounds our worries. You need to rest. You’re ill.”

Holley responded quickly, “But knowing you blame me is unbearable to me.”

Belinda regarded Holley with a steady gaze and asked, “So, would you prefer I tell you I don’t hold you responsible for any of this?”

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