Love Rivals: The Day I Saw Your Tears

126. If Not A Good Daughter, Atleast A Good Daughter-in-law

I struggled to eat with my left hand, the soup spilling over and staining my shirt. Sarah, noticing my frustration, gently took the bowl and spoon from my hands. "I’ve got this," I mumbled. "I can manage."

She scooped up a spoonful of soup and, with a slight smirk, brought it to my lips. "Manage?" she said, a playful edge to her voice. "By making a mess of yourself?"

I caught her gaze and smiled softly. "I've been managing since yesterday," I replied, a hint of tiredness in my tone.

Her teasing expression faded, and she lowered her eyes, her voice growing quiet. "I’m sorry," she said, almost a whisper, her hands trembling slightly as she held the spoon.

I shook my head gently. "No need to apologize. What matters is that you're here now, with me."

As she continued to feed me, the room filled with a more comfortable silence, broken only by the clink of the spoon against the bowl. After a few moments, I couldn't resist lightening the mood. "Why are you being so gentle with me?" I teased, raising an eyebrow. "Could it be that you’re falling for me?"

She paused, taken aback by my words. Her expression shifted, and after a moment of hesitation, she answered, "Do you remember the Shriya's marriage day? That was the first time in a long while my dad showed any affection towards me—because I was worried about you. I... I don’t want to let him down. If I can’t be the daughter he expects, at least I can make him proud as a daughter-in-law."

Her words hit me. I smiled faintly, feeling a mix of satisfaction and a twinge of sadness.

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The next day, I was finally discharged. After reaching home, I headed straight for a shower, eager to wash off the lingering hospital scent.

From outside the bathroom, Sarah called out, "Don’t forget, keep the belt dry!"

I chuckled, "I know, Sarah. I am a doctor, remember?"

After the shower, I faced the inevitable challenge: putting on a shirt with only one fully functional arm. It was the first time I'd been shirtless in front of Sarah, and as I fumbled awkwardly with the fabric, I caught her quick glance before she immediately turned away, flustered.

I was still struggling putting on the shirt.

She turned back hesitantly and approached, her face flushed. "Don’t get any ideas," she said, her voice a little shaky. "I’m just helping, okay? It’s not like I’ve never seen a guy shirtless before. My cousins… well, you get the point. So, don’t think anything of it."

I stood there, thoroughly enjoying the sight of her trying to keep her cool. Her cheeks were pink, and she kept avoiding eye contact, but I noticed her hands tremble slightly as she reached for the shirt.

While she was helping me slip it on, I decided to have a little fun. She started buttoning it up, and I took a step forward, closing the gap between us. She froze for a moment, visibly flustered by our sudden closeness.

Her breath quickened, brushing lightly against my chest, and I could hear her heartbeat, or maybe it was mine. A small grin spread across my lips as I noticed how unsettled she was. I leaned in just a bit more, watching as she became even more rattled. Her hands trembled as she quickly fastened the last button, her eyes darting everywhere but at me.

As soon as she finished, she took a step back and practically bolted from the room. I stood there, watching her go, running my fingers through my damp hair, my heart racing from the brief but electrifying moment between us.

I smirked to myself. Maybe I wasn’t the only one feeling something after all.

Sarah took care of me like a wife would, making sure I was never left wanting for anything. She constantly reminded me to take my medicine, always on time. If I ever seemed distracted or hungry, she fed me without a word of complaint, making sure I was well looked after.

Whenever I got bored, she would sit beside me and we’d play games together, laughing and teasing each other just like we always did. Even if I woke her up in the middle of the night for something trivial, she’d show a hint of irritation, but it was never enough to stop her from helping me. It was in those small moments—when her eyes were heavy with sleep but she still came to my side—that I realized how deeply she cared.

Despite her grumbles, she never turned me away, and every little act of hers tugged at my heart more than I was willing to admit.