She had caught a cold from being out in the rain and had felt unwell since the morning. Now, she was running a fever.

She had fallen asleep on her desk.

Her face looked delicate and slightly pale, but there was a hint of blush on her cheeks. Her dark hair draped over her shoulders which added to her charm.

From where Marcus stood, he could even glimpse her collarbones.

She looked especially slender at that moment.

He couldn't help but recall how gentle and soft Melissa felt when she was on top of him, and the way she looked when she was glistening with sweat...

These thoughts made Marcus stir unintentionally.

He was uncertain about how to interact with Melissa in the days ahead, but he couldn't shake off his deep yearning for her. Marcus hadn't been intimate with any woman other than Melissa.

His desire made him feel tense all over.

Eventually, he made his way into her office.

Melissa's desk was cluttered with various items, including business cards from car dealerships, booklets from jewelry stores, and brochures from day care facilities and kindergartens.

Marcus touched her desk lightly.

It was like he was taking a glimpse into Melissa's world.

Suddenly, Melissa snapped awake.

But she was still groggy, unsure if it was morning or afternoon, or if the figure before her was real or just a figment of her imagination. She stared at him and whispered his name, "Marcus?"

Marcus was leisurely looking at the brochures scattered on her desk.

He then turned to her and asked, "Albert has a child? Are you telling me you even pick out diapers for his child?"

Confused, Melissa looked where he was pointing.

She had been sorting through options for a school for Matthew, but now those efforts felt pointless. As she had resolved to return to Heron soon.

She tapped her cheeks lightly to clear her mind, then asked, “Did you come to see Mr. Waston?"