Chapter 2261

“Are you too idle? Go do your homework.”

Elliot puffed out his cheeks, let out a small huff, and stomped off toward the nursery.

Cecilia shot Nathaniel a glare. “Why are you always so harsh with him? Can’t you speak a little more gently for once?”

Nathaniel looked helpless. “How is he going to get hurt from a couple of words?”

“He’s my son. He can’t grow up soft like a little girl.”

Cecilia didn’t bother arguing anymore.

She turned and went to the bathroom to wash up.

The moment she stepped inside, Nathaniel followed and stopped right outside the door.

He didn’t dare leave.

When Cecilia came out, she found him still standing there.

“Why are you here?”

“Just walking around. I happened to end up here.”

Nathaniel lied without missing a beat.

Seeing him like this made it even harder for Cecilia to accept.

“Why are you glued to me lately? Can’t you act normal? You keep watching me every day like this—I really can’t get used to it.”

Nathaniel heard the rejection in her voice.

But he couldn’t help himself.

If he wasn’t keeping an eye on her, he felt like something might happen.

“Got it. I won’t do it again. Go to sleep. I’ll wash up too.”

Only then did Cecilia leave.

She lay down on the bed, already drowsy, and soon fell asleep.

In the bathroom, Nathaniel moved quickly.

He came out moments later, a bathrobe loosely draped around him.

He slipped into bed beside Cecilia, lifted the blanket, and naturally pulled her into his arms.

Cecilia shifted uncomfortably. Just as she started to move away, he pulled her closer.

“This is uncomfortable,” she murmured.

Nathaniel reluctantly loosened his hold.

“Okay. Go to sleep.”

But without holding her, his chest wouldn’t settle. Unease churned inside him, keeping sleep out of reach.

It wasn’t until close to dawn that he finally drifted off.

And then the nightmare came.

In the dream, Cecilia was being taken away—and he couldn’t do anything.

“Ceci! Ceci!” Nathaniel shouted.

The cry tore out of the dream and into the room.

Cecilia, who had been sleeping deeply, jolted awake.

Still groggy, she opened her eyes. “Why are you calling me?”

But there was no response.

Frowning, she rubbed her eyes and turned to look at him.

His face was flushed, damp with sweat.

“Nathaniel?” she called. “Were you the one calling me? What’s wrong?”

She reached out and pressed her hand to his forehead.

Heat burned against her palm.

“Nathaniel, you have a fever?!”

She couldn’t understand how he’d gone from fine to burning up like this.

Nathaniel opened his eyes. The moment he saw her, he forced himself through the haze and asked, “Ceci… are you okay?”

This idiot.

“I’m fine. You’re the one with a fever. Hurry and get dressed—I’ll call the family doctor.”

As she spoke, Cecilia grabbed her phone and called the private physician.

The doctor rushed over as soon as he heard.

After taking Nathaniel’s temperature, he frowned.

“39.5°C. With a fever this high, why wasn’t I called sooner?”

Cecilia had no answer, but she still said, “I don’t know what happened. At first, I heard him talking in his sleep. When I got up, that’s when I realized he had a fever.”

Nathaniel’s head was already burning with fever, his thoughts muddled.

Still, he held tightly onto Cecilia’s hand, refusing to let go.