Mathilda’s POV

My eyes burned, and my whole body felt like it was on fire. I didn’t know what to do anymore. I had tried to wait, but it had been too long. Fredric had been gone for almost four hours.

Technically, four hours was the minimum amount of time he spent with Paula. But this time, I couldn’t take it anymore. Should I call him?

Before I could make up my mind, the car door suddenly opened — and there they were. Fredric and Paula. Together.

Paula slipped into the back seat, and though I couldn’t fully see her face in the dim light, I caught a glimpse of a wicked little smile.

“Hey, Mathilda— oh! You’re burning up!” Paula yelped when her hand brushed my arm. “Baby, she’s feverish — I think she has a temperature.”

Fredric touched my forehead. “Yeah, she said she wasn’t feeling well. Whatever, we’ll go home after this.”

Paula laughed lightly. “Oh, Mathilda’s probably used to fevers like this. You know, poor girls’ bodies are so different from ours. Her system must be in shock, con