Raegan's voice spiked, causing a sharp pain in her throat.

The strain in her voice made her despise him even more.

She lashed out, hitting him. Undeterred, he led her back to the bed, pinning her arms, and admonished, “Calm down.”

A bitter laugh escaped Raegan's lips. Who had driven her to this point?

She sneered, “Spare me your feigned concern. It's nauseating."

His brow furrowed, Mitchel muttered, “Don't be so ungrateful."

Grimacing due to her sore throat, Raegan shot back, "Yes, I'm ungrateful. If you can't stand me, then leave."

The room tensed.

The door swung open. It was Matteo, bearing breakfast.

The tension in the room nearly froze him in his tracks. Matteo quickly set down the tray, mumbling, "Please eat something.”

Matteo exited hastily.

Mitchel, however, remained. He unpacked the breakfast, setting a small table before saying, "Have some."

Raegan remained unmoved as if she hadn't heard him. She turned her face away and didn't look at him.

Spoon in hand, Mitchel scooped up some porridge and fed it to her lips. He commanded, “Eat it."

But Raegan kept her mouth shut, her eyes even closing.

Mitchel scoffed.

"Is there another way you'd like to be fed?"

Raegan was bewildered.

Why did it matter to Mitchel whether she ate or not? It wasn't that she refused to eat. His presence was what made her lose the mood to eat.

"You..."