From the get-go, Everett's main goal was simple: to secure the antidote for Dorothy as soon as possible.
Everything else was a smokescreen, a ploy to throw Quincy off the scent, to make her believe he was, perhaps, a tad more flexible about their impending nuptials.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtHe feared a flat-out refusal, the sunwavering stance as before, might drive Quincy to desperation, putting Dorothy back in her crosshairs.
After witnessing what happened with Heather, he couldn't bear the thought of Dorothy being dragged into their mess once more.
"She's been parading around town as your fiancée, you know." Dorothy quipped, her lips curling into a smirk. "I can't shut her up, can I?" "True! First, there was Heather, blabbering about your childhood friendship turning into romance, and now Quincy, going on about how you're about to pop the question! Everett, you're quite the catch, aren't you? Two beauties vying for your affection." Everett raised an eyebrow, "Jealous?" "Can't you tell? I'm practically sour." "Oh." He nodded, unfazed, "Speaking of which... there was Kenneth, still not out of the picture, then cLane, and wasn't there a Byte 7 at spoint? Letthink-" "Ha, there's a long list!" Dorothy wrapped her arms around his neck, "And let's not forget the CEO of Lopez Corporation, with his 'keep out' face, who's been pining forsince middle school." He chuckled, nodding in agreement, "Indeed." "Too bad for them, I'm quite the catch, haven't decided who to settle for yet!" "Kenneth still has a chance?" "Maybe! Everett, if you don't want him taking your spot, you'd better stay alive." A flicker in Everett's eyes, a sudden twitch of his eyelids, he sensed something was amiss.
"You haven't taken the antidote?!" Dorothy leaned in, pressing her lips against his.
"If curingmeans you have to suffer in my place, I don't want it." "... Did Quincy tell you?" She shook her head, "No, but she slipped up. She mentioned that after taking the medicine, I would affe experience dizziness or hallucinations anymore." That moment, Dorothy pieced it together, thinking of Everett.
The symptoms...
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmThey were exactly like her own when her illness first manifested! She remembered seeing her mother's ghostly figure everywhere, urging her to avenge her, to jump off buildings, to join her in death! And now, Everett suddenly falling ill at work, with no diagnosis from the hospital, combined with Quincy's offhand remark, it all clicked for Dorothy. "Did she give you the antidote?" "Yes." Everett immediately grasped her wrist, "Take it now. It'll completely neutralize the poison! Quincy said your health is frail, you won't dast long." "And what about you?" "I'll find a way! The poison's effects can be temporarily alleviated, strong can outlast Quincyl e You can't you can't end up in the ER again!" The death of his mother had struck a devastating blow to Everett.
If Dorothy were to end up the sway, covered with a white sheetm rolled out in front of him, he knew he wouldn't be able to go on.
"You said it yourself, the effects can be temporarily alleviated." "I'll force Quincy to produce another antidote!"
"Then wait for her to produce another antidote, and give it tothen.” Everett froze, his grip on her wrist tightening.
"What do you mean?" "I've already given the antidote to you."