Your Heart Beats for Another

When I got back, Hudson was already asleep. He had just been discharged from the hospital and still needed time to recover.

Quincey came out of Hudson's room and reassured me, "Jovi, don't worry. As long as Maverick's heart doesn't reject Hudson's body, I'll return him to you."

But the next day, Quincey collapsed and was hospitalized. When I hurried to the hospital, the first thing I was greeted with was Hudson's heavy slap. "Jovienne, you poisoned Quincey? You vicious woman!"

"Don't blame Jovi, Hudson. It's my own fault for eating something bad," Quincey said as she got out of bed, stopping Hudson from attacking me.

When Hudson saw Quincey, who was on the verge of collapsing, he disregarded me and rushed forward to catch her in his arms.

"Quincey, you're too kind. You don't need to protect her."

I covered my cheek, feeling heartbroken, as I looked at Hudson.

"Hudson, do you still remember when you proposed to me, you promised you wouldn't let anyone bully me? Now, you're the one who's bullying me," I thought.

Quincey stayed in the hospital for three days. The doctor had suggested she could be discharged the same day. But Hudson was worried, so he insisted on her getting three days' worth of nutrition drips.

I watched as Hudson took care of Quincey at the bedside. Did he know that when he was unconscious, I took care of him the same way?

"If there's any decency left in you, you would do something to make up for it."

"Yes, as Quincey's close friend, I knew her dietary habits very well. I was jealous of your love for Quincey, so I poisoned her food—Hudson, is that what you really think? But you are still my husband," I mused.

I began taking care of two sick patients and handling all the household chores and meals at Quincey's house.

"Jovi, I know you didn't do it on purpose. It might be because I ate something bad outside. Don't take Hudson's words to heart," Quincey remarked, seemingly guilty.

"Quincey, you know Hudson is my husband, at least for now."

I watched as Quincey's face turned pale in an instant.

"Jovienne, stop with your vile thoughts. Don't even think about it. If you say anything like that to Quincey again, I won't let you off!" Hudson warned, pulling Quincey behind him in disgust.

I took off my apron and placed it on the table.

"Even if your heart used to belong to Maverick, you can't escape the fact that your body is still my husband."

I left Quincey's house. All of this was suffocating me. I needed to bring Pixie back.

Pixie was a parrot I raised. Since Hudson was hospitalized, I had entrusted it to Gideon. When I arrived outside Gideon's place, I heard Pixie say, "Liars. Liars."

"What if I say I'm actually Maverick? Would you believe me?"

I smiled wryly at Gideon, who was standing there with an annoyed expression.

"Gideon, are you joking? Or have you fallen for Quincey, too?"

With frustration building up, I ignored him and picked up the birdcage before leaving wordlessly. Why was everyone around me acting as though they were possessed?

I took Pixie to the park, walking the bird with an elderly man I didn't know. For the first time in a long while, I felt relaxed.

My phone kept ringing. Fearing that something had happened to Hudson, I quickly answered.

"Jovienne, where the hell are you? It's already so late, and you still haven't come back to cook! Do you want Quincey to starve?" Hudson's angry voice echoed through the phone.

I forced a bitter smile. What? Were they going to starve to death without me there?