Chapter 337

Riyana held her breath. “And?” she pressed. “And lack of nutrition,” he finished. Her shoulders dropped before she could stop herself. Oh. So it wasn’t what she had feared. She didn’t know when that fear had started growing inside her, but it had been there, heavy and quiet. Now it eased, just a little. Jabco scooped up a spoonful of porridge and held it near her lips. “Eat.” She hesitated, then opened her mouth. The porridge was warm and plain, almost tasteless, but her stomach accepted it without protest. Jabco didn’t rush her. He waited patiently between each spoonful, watching her face, her breathing, the way her hand rested limply on the bed. “You didn’t eat anything last night,” he said quietly. “Not at the gala. Not properly at the restaurant.” “I wasn’t hungry,” she replied. “That’s not the same thing as being fine,” he said. She didn’t argue. She was too tired for that. He fed her slowly, one spoon at a time. She hated how weak she felt, hated that she needed this, but she did