Catherine was satisfied with Sean's answer.

She thought to herself, "Although Sean doesn't care whether I am ugly or not, I care. I don't like these rashes, just like a toad."

​​

"Don't scratch. Scars will be left." Sean reminded Catherine with care.

Sean kept his eyes on Catherine, preventing her from scratching herself.

Since her body was itching terribly, Catherine couldn't help touching her face. Sean knew Catherine wanted to scratch and immediately stopped her.

Catherine was surprised and thought to herself, "He is looking at his phone. How can he know I am going to scratch my face?"

"It itches," said Catherine.

Catherine felt uncomfortable, as if insects were biting her body.

Since Sean held Catherine's both hands, she had to twist her body so that she could rub her skin with the cloth.

"Can I take a shower?"

"No, you have rashes, and they can't be touched with water. Otherwise, it will get worse."

"So, I can't take a shower these days?"

"You can wipe your body with a warm towel."

"Can you let Susan come here?"

"The medicine is on your skin now. You can wipe your body in the evening."

Catherine was speechless.

Sean held her with both arms. After a while, he helped her wear a loose nightdress and said to her, "Close your eyes and go to sleep. You will feel better."

"But I feel so uncomfortable that I can't go to sleep."

Sean lowered his head and looked at Catherine, "You feel uncomfortable when I hold you?"

"No. The rash makes me uncomfortable," said Catherine.

"Be good. Don't focus on it."

"But…"

"Go to sleep."

Catherine knew she shouldn't scratch it. If she scratched the rash, it would fester, and her face would even be disfigured.

Catherine fell asleep for a while in the afternoon. When she woke up, she felt weak and dizzy. Her eyes had a distant faraway look.

Sean asked her to eat something, but she just ate a little food.

"Would you like to eat something?" asked Sean.

Sean was worried. He saw Catherine just ate some rice and drank half a bowl of soup. It seemed that she was very weak. Her face and lips even looked pale.

Since Sean was afraid that the illness would get more serious, he had asked his chief to make some healthy food. However, Catherine wanted to eat nothing.

Catherine shook her head and said, "I don't want to eat."

Sean touched her forehead and then said, "Eat something more."

Catherine looked at Sean and then touched her face, asking, "Don't you feel my face is disgusted?"

"Don't touch your face," said Sean. He immediately grabbed her hand and said, "You are just like a naughty child."

"Don't you think it is disgusting?"

"Is it very ugly?" asked Sean. Sean wanted to prove that he didn't care what Catherine looks like, so he turned to kiss Catherine.

Catherine was astonished and widened her eyes. she immediately turned around, but Sean kissed her face.

"Sean!"

"Just rash. Don't worry. You will recover a few days later. Hold on."

"Well," said Catherine. She was at a loss.

Sean looked at her and had a strong desire to protect her, "My little darling. I still love you even if you look ugly."

Catherine blinked and thought to herself, "He doesn't care about it? Is it true?"

"Drop your foolish thoughts. Eat something more," said Sean.

"No."

"Think about whether you touched apricot pollen in the past days."

Sean believed that it was unreasonable to be allergic if Catherine didn't touch apricot pollen.

Catherine started to think.

She frowned and thought to herself, "Since I am allergic to apricot, I have never used any cosmetics which are mixed with apricot. Moreover, there is no apricot in school. How could it be? Oh, wait a minute."

Catherine seemed to recall something. She rubbed her temples and said, "I got it."

"Say it."

"Three days later, my teacher invited Pearl to make a presentation of her works. On that day, Pearl asked me to try her clothes on. I refused her at first. But later, after the argument, my teacher let me try the dress. If I refuse, I will lose credits."

Sean was angry when he heard that.

Catherine realized that Sean must be angry when she mentioned Pearl.

She thought to herself, "It seems that he doesn't like her, though they grew up together."

"I didn't know why she let me try the dress at first. She said that the dress looks better if I try it., but I suggested she can try it by herself."

Catherine became weaker and spoke a little incoherently.

"Actually, I was very careful. I smelled the clothes and checked there was no special smell. But I don't know whether there was apricot pollen."

Since the smell of apricot is faint, it is hard to tell.

Moreover, if Pearl put some apricot pollen on the dress, no one would find it.

"I heard that there is an incubation period if someone is allergic. But it will take effect soon if your skin touches apricot pollen again."

Thus, if Catherine touched the apricot again within 12 to 48 hours, the pollen would take effect.

As a reasonable guess, Catherine thought she touched pollen again when she met Madison.

Catherine thought to herself, "On that day, Madison said she forgot to bring her textbook and borrowed my book. I think there is nothing special, just a book."

But something did happen because of the book.

"Few people know I am allergic to apricot pollen. Sophia won't tell anyone, but I am sure whether Madison's family told others," said Catherine.

She thought to herself, "I see. Madison always makes trouble. Since I grew up with her, she knows many things about me. Thus, it is not hard for Pearl to know it."

"Uh-huh. I am not sure whether Pearl did it. But there are no other reasons," added Catherine.

Catherine was dizzy. She buried her head in Sean's arms and said, "Darling, I feel bad."

Sean was so sad when he heard that. Sean held Catherine's waist with both hands and took Catherine back to the bedroom.

"Be good. Go to sleep," said Sean.

"I am dizzy."

"Don't talk. Have a good rest."

"Ok."

Catherine was exhausted. Her throat was so dry as if a fire was burning in her throat.

Soon, Catherine felt drowsy and groggy.

She thought to herself, "If I knew it is a trap, I wouldn't try it even if I lose credits. But I didn't expect that she put pollen on the dress. She knows me very well."

As Pearl heard that Catherine ask for the day off, she knew that the pollen took effect.

Pearl thought to herself, "It is a pity not to see her face. Otherwise, I will take a photo of her and post it online. It must be breaking news."

Suddenly, Pearl recalled something and said to herself, "Oh. I should throw the dress away later."

Sean was furious when he heard what Catherine said.