Falling For The True Heiress

"Please..." I whispered softly.

"...Get well soon, Sylvia."

I lay beside her, watching her peaceful face until sleep eventually claimed me.

---

A soft warmth brushed against my fingers before I even opened my eyes.

I blinked awake slowly even before my alarm went off. Pale morning sunlight slipped through the curtains, painting thin golden lines across the room.

The first thing I did was reach over and place the back of my hand against Sylvia’s forehead.

She wasn’t burning anymore. A quiet sigh of relief escaped my lips.

"Minnie..." she mumbled sleepily as she moved closer and wrapped her arms around my waist. "...I want water."

I smiled and gently patted her cheek. "Okay. But first, let go of me."

Instead of listening, she buried her face deeper into my shoulder.

I couldn’t help laughing. "Fine. I’ll call one of the servants."

"No..."

She slowly opened her eyes and looked up at me. "I want you."

For a second, I simply stared at her. "...Me?"

She nodded weakly. "I want you to bring it."

My heart softened. "Then let go of me first," I said, glancing down at the arms still wrapped tightly around my waist.

She stared at me for another moment before reluctantly loosening her grip.

I slipped out of bed and slid my feet into my slippers.

The marble floor felt cool beneath them as I walked over to the bedside cabinet, picked up a glass, then filled it with warm water from the dispenser.

When I returned, Sylvia hadn’t moved. She looked so tired that even lifting her head seemed difficult.

I sat beside her. "Come on."

I slipped an arm behind her shoulders and carefully helped her sit up against the headboard.

"Here." I said, handing the glass of water to her.

She accepted the glass with both hands. "Thanks."

She drank slowly, pausing once before finishing the entire glass.

When she handed it back, I placed it on the bedside table.

"How are you feeling?" I asked.

She looked at me and smiled weakly. "I’m a little better."

I nodded and gently pulled the blanket up over her shoulders.

"You’re not going to school today," I said, sitting back.

She lowered her head without saying anything.

I watched her for a moment, knowing she clearly wanted to say something.

"What is it?" I asked, moving a little closer.

She slowly looked up at me. "I don’t like being alone."

A small smile tugged at my lips. "And who said you’d be alone?"

I gently brushed a few loose strands of hair away from her face.

Her eyes brightened immediately. "You’re staying with me?"

I nodded. "I’ve noticed you’re really clingy whenever you’re sick."

She looked away shyly, a small smile appearing on her lips.

It was...kind of cute.

And also seeing her smile made me smile too.

"You should brush your teeth first," I said as I stood up. "I’ll go downstairs and get breakfast for you."

She nodded and climbed out of bed. She had barely taken a few steps toward the door when I called out.

"Wait."

She stopped and turned around.

I walked over to the cabinet where I kept extra toiletries.

Ever since I was little, Mom always made sure I kept spare essentials in my room.

I opened one of the drawers, took out a brand-new toothbrush, and walked back to her.

"Here." I said and held it out to her. "You can use my bathroom."

She tilted her head.

"That way..." I rubbed the back of my neck awkwardly. "...if you need anything, I’ll know."

She stared at me for some seconds before a bright smile slowly spread across her face.

"Thanks, Minnie."

I nodded, trying not to smile too much. "Go on," I muttered.

She nodded and disappeared into my bathroom. The door clicked shut behind her.

I stood there for a few seconds, staring at it.

I walked out, smiling the whole way down.

~~~~~ Third-person POV ~~~~~

Sylvia slipped into the bathroom and quietly closed the door behind her with a soft click.

She leaned back against the door and slowly let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding.

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

Her heartbeat refused to slow down. She pressed a hand against her chest, her brows furrowing together in confusion.

"...Seriously?" She said. A quiet laugh escaped her lips.

Why...

Why was her heart beating this fast?

It wasn’t because Amelia had let her use the bathroom. It wasn’t because of the toothbrush.

It was the way Amelia had looked at her.

Sylvia closed her eyes for a moment and ran a hand through her hair.

"You’re too cute, Minnie..." She said, shaking her head with another soft laugh.

"If you keep treating me like this..."

She didn’t finish the sentence. Instead, she pushed herself away from the door and caught sight of her reflection in the mirror.

A faint flush lingered across her cheeks. She smiled at herself, turned on the tap, and reached for the toothbrush Amelia had given her.

The sound of running water soon filled the quiet bathroom as she began brushing her teeth, but the smile never quite left her face.

After brushing her teeth, Sylvia turned on the bath. Warm water streamed into the marble tub, filling the bathroom with soft clouds of steam. The faint scent of Amelia’s vanilla bath oil drifted through the air, light and comforting.

Once the tub was full, Sylvia slipped out of her clothes and climbed into the water.

A small sigh escaped her lips as the warmth eased the ache in her body.

She rested her head against the edge of the tub and closed her eyes.

Almost immediately, Amelia’s face appeared in her thoughts. A small smile slowly appeared on Sylvia’s lips.

"You’re so soft, Minnie," she murmured to herself. "No wonder people can’t help falling for you."

She opened her eyes and rinsed the last of the soap from her skin before climbing out of the tub.

Reaching for the towel Amelia had left neatly folded nearby, she wrapped it around herself before drying her damp hair.

She quietly walked into Amelia’s dressing room. Rows of neatly arranged clothes filled the spacious wardrobe. Her fingers brushed lightly across a few hangers before stopping on a loose blue shirt.

She smiled. "I’ll borrow this."

She picked out a pair of black lounge shorts to go with it before changing into them.

The oversized shirt reached almost to her thighs, while the shorts were barely visible beneath it, leaving her fair, slender legs exposed.

She looked at herself in the mirror and smiled in satisfaction. Then she quietly walked back into the bedroom.

She climbed onto the bed, pulled the blanket over her legs, and waited patiently for Amelia to come back.

~~~~~ Amelia’s POV ~~~~~

I walked downstairs and saw Mom standing in the living room, talking to someone on the phone.

She smiled when she noticed me, and I smiled back and headed toward the kitchen.

The moment I stepped inside, the rich aroma of breakfast greeted me. Mrs. Chloe was already busy preparing several dishes to store in the freezer.

She had always been one of the few people who genuinely cared about me, no matter how cold or rude I acted sometimes.

"Good morning, Mrs. Chloe," I greeted as I walked in.

She turned around with a warm smile. "Good morning, Miss Amelia."

She wiped her hands on her apron. "What can I do for you?"

I rubbed the back of my neck awkwardly.

"I... need something nutritious for a sick person."

Mrs. Chloe smiled warmly. "Is it for Miss Sylvia?"

I nodded shyly. "It is."

She chuckled softly. "I’ve never seen you take care of someone before."

A small embarrassed smile appeared on my face as I walked over to stand beside her.

Mrs. Chloe opened the refrigerator and took out a few eggs. Then she bent down and pulled some chicken from the freezer.

"I know exactly what to make."

She placed everything on the counter before taking out a small pot.

"A warm bowl of chicken congee."

She filled the pot with water and placed it on the stove before turning on the heat.

"We’ll garnish it with thin slices of ginger and chopped scallions."

As she spoke, she measured out some rice and began washing it under running water.

"We’ll also prepare a soft-boiled egg, a small bowl of clear chicken broth, and a cup of chamomile tea."

I blinked immediately. "All of that?"

She laughed. "You asked for something nutritious."

She smiled as she rinsed the rice again.

"This is perfect for someone recovering from a fever. It’s warm, gentle on the stomach, and easy to digest."

I nodded. "Can I help?"

Mrs. Chloe paused what she was doing and looked at me for a few seconds and simply smiled.

Then she gently shook her head. "No, Miss Amelia."

"I’ll take care of everything."

I couldn’t help letting out a small sigh. I already knew she’d say that.

Mom would never allow me to work in the kitchen, and everyone in the house knew it.

Still...

I wished I could help, even if it was just a little.

Just as Mrs. Chloe lowered the lid onto the pot, the soft vibration of my phone broke the quiet.

Buzz.

Buzz.

I reached into my pocket and pulled it out. I glanced at the screen as it lit up.

Camila.

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