“Mrs. Dreskin, you're even lovelier than I thought."

The woman instantly flushed from her face to her ears.

A pain in Claudia's stomach jolted her up from her sleep that night. She sat up clumsily, rousing Bennett as well.

The night lamp cast a feeble glow over the room, but it was bright enough to make out Claudia's distorted, distressed face.

“What's wrong?" Bennett turned the main light on, and the room was suddenly bathed in a brilliant incandescent light, revealing her ghostly pale complexion. Even her normally rosy lips had turned white.

“I think I have diarrhea."

Claudia answered with reluctance. She bowed low, covered her stomach with her arms, and bolted for the bathroom.

She experienced some mild discomfort in the afternoon, but she paid it little mind, She did not know it would turn into an excruciating pain that would wake her up in the middle of the night.

As soon as Claudia entered the bathroom, she felt her stomach lurch. She threw herself in the sink and started vomiting.

Bennett, upon hearing the retching noises she made, pushed the bathroom door open and rushed to her side.

“Did you throw up?"

Claudia raised her head to look at him, The discomfort and the faint feeling of nausea made her stop caring about her unkempt appearance.

Her beautiful eyes watered, furthering the look of distress on her face.

She reached out with a trembling hand and clutched the sleeve of Bennett's pajama top.

"Bennett, I feel terrible. My stomach hurts

Bennett tried to suppress the slight panic he was feeling as he bent down and picked her up.

"It's okay, Cece. I'll take you to the hospital right away."

A sob escaped Claudia's lips as she flattened a hand on her stomach. Her whole face was damp with sweat, and strands of her hair stuck to her cheeks.

It was obvious that she was in a lot of pain.

Bennett carried her downstairs. When they reached the first floor, Claudia felt her stomach churn again.

“I'm going to throw up!"

She slapped a hand over her mouth and pointed to the bathroom with the other.

Bennett hurriedly took her into the bathroom.

Once again, Claudia threw up until she felt completely nauseous. This time, she vomited nothing but gastric acid.